Table of Contents

DEFINITION OF TERMS.....................................................2

What is Gender?.................................................................2

What is Gender Equality?...................................................2

What is Gender Inequality?................................................3

Gender Inequality for Women............................................5

Gender Inequality on Men..................................................7

Gender Inequality and Girls................................................8

Promoting Gender Equality..................................................12

Addressing Gender Bias.......................................................13

IN CONCLUSION...............................................................14

REFERENCES.....................................................................16

1
DEFINITION OF TERMS

What is Gender?
According to UNICEF gender refers to a social
construction of what it means to the society to be male or
female. What a man/woman does is mostly dependent on
the socialisation agents that surround them. It
encompasses the roles, the behaviours, and other
characteristics that distinguish men from women.
Traditionally the roles of men are to fend for the family
and women are expected to be the caregivers in the
family. The perception of gender varies with each
society as expectations tend to be different in each
culture.

What is Gender Equality?

Gender equality means equal enjoyment by men and
women for opportunities, resource and rewards. A
crucial element of equality is the empowerment of
women to influence and share decision making about
societal priorities and development directions. Gender
equality can also be considered as a means of reducing

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the social gap between men and women. The concept of
gender equality states that women and men should not be
given opportunities based on their manliness or
womanliness.\

What is Gender Inequality?

Gender inequality refers to the unequal treatment,
opportunities, and rights of individuals based on their
gender. It involves the social, economic, and political
disparities between men and women, often resulting in
women being disadvantaged and marginalized. Gender
inequality can manifest in various areas, such as:

 Education: Limited access to quality education

for girls and women.

 Employment: Unequal pay, job opportunities,

and career advancement.

 Healthcare: Inadequate healthcare services,

especially reproductive healthcare.

 Political Representation: Underrepresentation of

women in political leadership positions.7
3
  Violence: Gender-based violence, sexual
harassment, and domestic abuse.

 Stereotyping: Reinforcement of harmful gender

stereotypes and biases.

 Economic Empowerment: Limited access to

financial resources, credit, and property
ownership.

 Decision-Making: Exclusion from decision-

making processes and leadership roles.

 Social and Cultural Norms: Enforcing rigid

gender roles and expectations.

Gender inequality affects not only women but also men,

as it perpetuates harmful gender norms and limits
everyone's potential. Addressing gender inequality is
essential for creating a more just, equitable, and
inclusive society.

4
Gender Inequality for Women
Gender inequality has far-reaching consequences for
women, affecting their social, economic, and political
lives in multiple ways. Some of the key impacts include:

- Limited access to education, hindering personal

growth, economic empowerment, and career
advancement

- Economic disparities, including wage gaps, limited job

opportunities, and reduced access to leadership positions,
leading to financial insecurity

- Unequal opportunities in the workforce, with women

underrepresented in higher-paying and decision-making
roles, facing glass ceilings and biases

- Gender-based violence, including domestic violence,

sexual harassment, and trafficking, causing physical and
psychological harm and restricting women's freedom

- Limited political representation, hindering the ability to

address issues affecting women and influence policies
promoting gender equality
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- Restricted access to reproductive healthcare, including
family planning, prenatal care, and safe childbirth,
undermining women's autonomy and well-being

- Social and cultural expectations perpetuating gender

norms and stereotypes, limiting women's choices and
opportunities, and placing a greater burden on unpaid
care work.

These factors intersect and compound, perpetuating

gender inequality and restricting women's potential.
Addressing these issues is crucial for promoting gender
equality and empowering women to fully participate in
society.

Gender Inequality on Men

Gender inequality has a profound impact on men's lives,
manifesting in various ways, including:

- Traditional gender roles: Men are often expected to

conform to societal norms of masculinity, leading to
pressure to be strong, stoic, and emotionally restrained.
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This can limit their ability to express vulnerability, seek
help, and negatively affect their mental health and well-
being.

- Family and caregiving responsibilities: As gender roles

evolve, men are taking on more caregiving roles, but
face challenges balancing work and family
responsibilities due to societal judgment and stereotypes.

- Health disparities: Gender inequality contributes to

health disparities among men, as traditional masculinity
norms discourage seeking medical help or discussing
health concerns openly, leading to delayed diagnoses and
poor health outcomes.

- Legal and social biases: Men face legal and social

biases, such as bias in child custody cases and challenges
seeking support for issues like domestic violence or
sexual assault, due to societal perceptions that these are
primarily women's issues.

- Workplace expectations: Gender inequality affects men

in the workplace, where they face pressure to conform to
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traditional masculine norms, limiting career choices and
work-life balance. Men may also face discrimination in
fields traditionally dominated by women.

These factors highlight the importance of addressing

gender inequality to promote gender equality and
improve the lives of men, as well as women.

Gender Inequality and Girls

Gender inequality has a profound impact on girls,
affecting various aspects of their lives, including:

- Education: Girls face obstacles in accessing education

due to factors like lack of funds, cultural biases favoring
boys' education, early marriage, and child labor,
depriving them of knowledge, skills, and personal and
professional growth opportunities.

- Health: Gender inequality leads to healthcare

disparities, limiting girls' access to reproductive
healthcare, family planning, and prenatal care. Harmful
practices like female genital mutilation and child
marriage also harm their physical and mental well-being.
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- Safety: Girls are more vulnerable to gender-based
violence and harassment, experiencing domestic
violence, sexual abuse, trafficking, and discrimination,
resulting in long-lasting physical, emotional, and
psychological consequences.

- Economic empowerment: Gender inequality restricts

girls' economic opportunities, perpetuating poverty and
dependence. They face workplace discrimination,
unequal pay, and limited access to leadership positions,
hindering career advancement and financial
independence.

- Autonomy: Gender inequality limits girls' ability to

make choices about their own lives, with others often
dictating their decisions and options.

These far-reaching effects of gender inequality

underscore the need to address and overcome them,
promoting gender equality and empowering girls to
reach their full potential.

Effects of Gender Inequality on Boys

9
Gender inequality affects boys in various ways,
including:

- Education: Boys may face pressure to conform to

traditional masculine norms, discouraging them from
fully engaging in their studies. Additionally, educational
systems may have biases that disadvantage boys, such as
gender-based tracking or lack of targeted support,
hindering their academic success.

- Inheritance: Gender norms and legal frameworks often

favor males, resulting in boys receiving a larger share of
inheritance or familial resources, creating pressures and
expectations for them to assume financial responsibilities
and perpetuate gender inequalities.

- Leadership: Societal expectations associating

leadership with masculinity can pressure boys to
conform to stereotypical gender roles, limiting
opportunities for personal and professional growth for
those who don't align with traditional notions of
masculinity.

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- Gender roles: Gender inequality reinforces restrictive
gender roles and expectations, limiting boys' ability to
express themselves authentically and pursue their
interests and passions. Societal pressure to conform to
rigid gender norms, such as being strong and
independent, can stifle their individuality and potential.

These manifestations of gender inequality highlight the

need to address and overcome them, promoting gender
equality and empowering boys to reach their full
potential.

Promoting Gender Equality

Education and Awareness

- Educate yourself and others about gender equality

issues

- Raise awareness through discussions, workshops, and

campaigns

- Challenge stereotypes and biases

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Equal Opportunities

- Advocate for equal opportunities in education,

employment, and leadership

- Support policies and initiatives for equal access and

fair hiring practices

Empowerment

- Encourage women's empowerment through skills

development, mentorship, and leadership training

- Promote healthy relationships and respectful attitudes

towards women

Addressing Gender Bias

- Challenge and confront gender bias and sexism

- Encourage others to do the same and foster a

supportive environment

Engaging Men and Boys

- Involve men and boys as allies in promoting gender

equality
12
- Encourage them to challenge traditional gender roles
and stereotypes

Policy and Legal Reforms

- Advocate for policy changes that promote gender

equality

- Support organizations and campaigns working towards

legal reforms

Additional Strategies

- Encourage work-life balance and flexible working

hours

- Promote diverse and inclusive representation of women

in the media

- Challenge stereotypes and promote positive

masculinity

- Address men's health and well-being

- Ensure equal access to education and healthcare for

girls
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- Promote girls' empowerment and leadership skills

- Engage boys and men in promoting gender equality

- Encourage community involvement and inclusive

education

By implementing these strategies, we can work towards

promoting gender equality and addressing the challenges
faced by women and girls.

IN CONCLUSION
This booklet has comprehensively examined the far-
reaching impact of gender inequality on men, women,
and children. To effectively address and eliminate
gender inequality, it is crucial to implement the
strategies outlined in this booklet. By promoting gender
equality, we can foster inclusive communities where
individuals can thrive and reach their full potential,
leading to improved health, education, understanding,
and relationships. By working together towards gender
equality, we can create a more just and equitable society
for all.
14
REFERENCES
Men Engageand UN Women (2015). Men Masculinity,
and Changing Power: Discussion paper on Engaging
men in Gender

quality. UNFPA

Nugroho A., Delgado M.,Baghdasaryan B,.Vindrola

S,.Lata D and Mehmood G.,(2022). Tackling Gender
Inequality from the early years: Strategies for building a

15
gender transformative preprimary education system
UNICEF:Florence,Italy

Tebeje B (2004). Gender Issues for Health Extension

Workers. Jimma University:Ethiopia

UNICEF (2017). Gender Equality: Glossary of Terms

and Concepts. UNICEF: Florence,Italy

Zimstats(2020) Understanding Gender Equality in

Zimbabwe:Women and Men in Zimbabwe Report 2019.
ZNSA:Ha

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