Gender


Over the past three decades, wider recognition has been given to the structure of gender relationships and roles that affect development policies, programmes and projects, irrespective of whether or not those activities are specifically targeted towards a particular sex. Moreover, there is a much wider understanding of the linkages between gender issues and general development problems such as poverty, lack of political power and environmental degradation. As both a cause and a result of this increased awareness, numerous methods and tools have been developed to facilitate the consideration of gender issues in the full range of development activities. FAO's Socio-economic and Gender Analysis Programme (SEAGA) recognizes the importance and centrality of gender analysis, and bases itself on, while also adding to, the range of methods and tools that have been proved successful in analyzing gender relations.

Gender refers not to women or men per se, but to the relations between them, both perceptual and material. Gender is not determined biologically, as a result of sexual characteristics of either women or men, but is constructed socially. It is a central organizing principle of societies and often governs the processes of production and reproduction, consumption and distribution. Gender roles are the "social definition" of women and men, and vary among different societies and cultures, classes and ages, and during different periods in history. Gender-specific roles and responsibilities are often conditioned by household structure, access to resources, specific impacts of the global economy, and other locally relevant factors such as ecological conditions. In summary:

  • Women's and men's roles are socially defined, i.e. gender roles
  • Gender roles are dynamic; they vary over time and place
  • Gender roles are closely linked to the division of labour
  • Development must address the needs and priorities of both women and men
  • All planning has to be informed by an understanding of the broad set of social and gender relations through which production is organized and needs are met
  • A gender-aware approach to development helps to improve development policy and practice.

Gender analysis seeks answers to fundamental questions such as who does or uses what, and how and why. Gender analysis helps us avoid incorrect assumptions. The purpose of gender analysis is not to create a separate body of social knowledge about women, but to rethink current processes - such as natural resource use and management, economic adjustment and transformation, or demographic changes - to better understand the gender factors and realities within them. Armed with this knowledge, it should be possible to avoid the mistakes of the past and tailor interventions to better meet women's and men's specific gender-based constraints, needs and opportunities.

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