GENDER EQUALITY

Bachelor of Science in Environmental Science

Group II
 CONCEPT AND DEFINITION OF GENDER EQUALITY

Gender equality, also known as sexual equality or equality of the sexes, is the state of
equal access to resources and opportunities regardless of gender. Gender, according to United
Nations Organization, refers to the social attributes and opportunities associated with being
male and female and the relationships between women and men and girls and boys, as well as
the relations between women and those between men. These attributes, opportunities and
relationships are socially constructed and are learned through socialization processes. They are
context/ time-specific and changeable. Gender determines what is expected, allowed and
valued in a women or a man in a given context. In most societies there are differences and
inequalities between women and men in responsibilities assigned, activities undertaken, access
to and control over resources, as well as decision-making opportunities. Gender is part of the
broader socio-cultural context. Other important criteria for socio-cultural analysis include
class, race, poverty level, ethnic group and age.

Gender equality, therefore, refers to the equal rights, responsibilities and opportunities
of women and men and girls and boys. Equality does not mean that women and men will
become the same but that women’s and men’s rights, responsibilities and opportunities will not
depend on whether they are born male or female. Gender equality implies that the interests,
needs and priorities of both women and men are taken into consideration, recognizing the
diversity of different groups of women and men. Gender equality is not a women’s issue but
should concern and fully engage men as well as women. Equality between women and men is
seen both as a human rights issue and as a precondition for, and indicator of, sustainable people-
centered development.

However, similar to all the other concepts, gender equality can be used in different ways
and can convey different meanings. Gender equality might mean that women and men should
be treated equally, or differently, it may imply that women and men should be paid the same
for doing the same work or that they should be treated with different medicines and methods
in order to make healthcare equal.

According to The Swedish Gender Equality Agency, Include Gender Organization, the
focus of gender equality varies depending on the meaning assigned to the concept. It may be a
matter of achieving a quantitatively even distribution of women and men or of implementing
measures to change the power balance between the sexes.
 Gender equality in quantitative perspective implies a focus on an even distribution of
women and men in the workplace, schools, power positions, and at different organizational
levels in community institutions. An equal gender distribution is said to occur when the balance
between women and men in a group is at least 40/60. Quantitative gender equality work also
concerns resources and indicate that women and men should enjoy the same financial resources
in a given field. Thus, it concerns matters that can be counted and measured using gendered
statistics.

Qualitative gender equality, on the other hand, focuses on the situation of women and
men, respectively. More specifically, it concerns attitudes, norms, values and ideals affecting
the ability of women and men to influence in school, in the workplace, in politics and in other
areas.

The qualitative gender equality addresses structures that do not necessarily change as a
result of a more even distribution of women and men. Qualitative gender equality work calls
for a critical approach, including careful assessment of which perceptions about women and
men exist and are taken as given. And of the consequences of these perceptions for, for
example, individual employees, citizens or patients. Qualitative gender equality work aims to
counteract stereotypical gender norms with the ultimate objective of having women and men
enjoy the same opportunities and access to power and resources.

IMPORTANCE OF GENDER EQUALITY

Numerous legal and legislative frameworks have been adopted to ensure gender
equality. Yet, implementation has been weak in moving from policy to action. Integrated action
by multiple stakeholders – including governments, development partners, civil society and the
private sector – is needed to address gender inequality and promote women and girls’
empowerment.

Government would need transformative cross-cutting policy solutions, technological

innovations and targeted financing to ensure that every person – regardless of their sex, color,
creed, ethnicity or nationality – is on an equal footing and can advance themselves without any
barriers.
 Despite the good intentions of governments and wider society, women still face huge
inequalities. If we are to achieve a sustainable future where no one is left behind, much work
to close the gender gap remains.

Gender equality is intrinsically linked to sustainable development and is vital to the

realization of human rights for all. The overall objective of gender equality is a society in which
women and men enjoy the same opportunities, rights and obligations in all spheres of life.
Equality between men and women exists when both sexes are able to share equally in the
distribution of power and influence; have equal opportunities for financial independence
through work or through setting up businesses; enjoy equal access to education and the
opportunity to develop personal ambitions, interests and talents; share responsibility for the
home and children and are completely free from coercion, intimidation and gender-based
violence both at work and at home.

Within the context of population and development programs, gender equality is critical
because it will enable women and men to make decisions that impact more positively on their
own sexual and reproductive health as well as that of their spouses and families. Decision-
making with regard to such issues as age at marriage, timing of births, use of contraception,
and recourse to harmful practices (such as female genital cutting) stands to be improved with
the achievement of gender equality.

However it is important to acknowledge that where gender inequality exists, it is

generally women who are excluded or disadvantaged in relation to decision-making and access
to economic and social resources. Therefore a critical aspect of promoting gender equality is
the empowerment of women, with a focus on identifying and redressing power imbalances and
giving women more autonomy to manage their own lives. This would enable them to make
decisions and take actions to achieve and maintain their own reproductive and sexual health.
Gender equality and women’s empowerment do not mean that men and women become the
same; only that access to opportunities and life changes is neither dependent on, nor constrained
by, their sex.
 ISSUES ON GENDER EQUALITY

Inequalities faced by girls can begin right at birth and follow them all their lives. In
some countries, girls are deprived of access to health care or proper nutrition, leading to a
higher mortality rate.

As girls move into adolescence, gender disparities widen. Child marriage affects girls
far more than boys. Globally, as per UN Sustainable Development Goals, nearly 15 million
girls under age 18 are married every year— or 37,000 each day. Marrying young also affects
girls’ education. About one third of developing countries have not achieved gender parity in
primary education. In sub-Saharan Africa, Oceania and Western Asia, girls still face barriers
to entering both primary and secondary school.

Unchallenged cultures of male dominance lead to the subordination and even exclusion
of many women. This effectively sidelines more than half of the world's talent, experience and
knowledge, leaving our societies operating at under 50% capacity

One major problem women face is that credit markets are not gender-neutral. A recent
study by the World Bank found that in countries where women face legal restrictions on their
ability to work, head a household, choose where to live or receive inheritance, they are less
likely than men to own an account, save money or borrow. Women often lack the assets that
financial institutions demand as collateral. All these facts and figures highlight the cross-cutting
nature of gender inequality and underline the glaring gaps that result. They should be viewed
as a call for action. These imbalances hamper the full participation of women in the social and
economic development of their countries, and of the globe. What are the costs on the
sustainable development of the continent, and the world?

Changing women’s legal status and property rights would have a positive effect on
women’s income, which would in turn affect their accumulation of assets such as pensions and
insurance. Government and law-making bodies need to focus on programs that reform
inheritance, or land redistribution, or women’s ability to own personal income and assets.
These factors matter greatly for a woman’s ability to exit a marriage, cope with shocks and
invest and expand her earning and economic opportunities.

Looking specifically at women; there is a growing and compelling body of evidence

that shows that women not only bear the brunt of poverty but that women’s empowerment is
central precondition to its elimination. Women’s and girls’ empowerment is essential to expand
economic growth and promote social development. The full participation of women in labor
forces would add percentage points to most national growth rates— double digits in many
cases.

PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT AND PROMOTION

A. How does gender equality affects society?

Gender Equality in various aspect of society is essential determinant of growth and

development. It is vital to continue this target to obtain the gains from improved female
education while exercising concern not to overlook men’s own gender particular problems.
Gender equality is definitely a dominant economic tool for economic and social development,
requiring the foundation of opportunities for both sexes to maintain long –term growth,
economic efficiency, social development and good governance.

B. Why should gender equality matter to me?

Gender equality does not mean that women and men will become the same but that
women’s and men’s rights, responsibilities and opportunities will not depend on whether they
are born male or female. Regardless of where you live in, gender equality is a fundamental
human right. Advancing gender equality is critical to all areas of a healthy society, from
reducing poverty to promoting the health, education, protection and the well-being of girls and
boys alike.

C. What can I do to promote gender equality?

If you are a girl, you can stay in school, help empower your female classmates to do
the same and fight for your right to access sexual and reproductive health services.

If you are a woman, you can address unconscious biases and implicit associations that
can form an unintended and often an invisible barrier to equal opportunity.

If you are a man or a boy, you can work alongside women and girls to achieve gender
equality and embrace healthy, respectful relationships.

You can fund education campaigns to curb cultural practices like female genital
mutilation and change harmful laws that limit the rights of women and girls and prevent them
from achieving their full potential.
REFERENCES

 United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and Empowerment of Women. UN Org.
Retrieved from https://www.un.org/womenwatch/osagi/conceptsandefinitions.html
 The Swedish Gender Equality Agency. Include Gender Org. Retrieved from
http://www.includegender.org/facts/gender-equality
 Frequently Asked Questions. United Nations Population Fund. Retrieved from
https://www.unfpa.org/resources/frequently-asked-questions-about-gender-equality
 Geraldine Fraser-Moleketi, former Special Envoy on Gender at the African
Development Bank Group. SDGs 2017 A UNA-UK Publication. Retrieved from
www.sustainablegoals.org.uk/without-gender-equality-we-cannot-achieve-the-sdgs
 Gender Equality: Why it Matters. UN Organization. Retrieved from
https://www.un.org/uploads/2016/08