Women And The Economy

What is Gender?

What is Gender? Gender is used to describe those characteristics of men and women which are socially determined, in contrast to those which are biologically determined. The word ‘gender’ was used by Ann Oakley and others in the 1970s to emphasise that everything women and men do, and everything expected of them, with the exception of their sexually distinct functions (childbearing etc.) can change, and does change, over time and according to changing and Gender is used to describe those characteristics of men and women which are socially determined, in contrast to those which are biologically determined. The word ‘gender’ was used by Ann Oakley and others in the 1970s to emphasise that everything women and men do, and everything expected of them, with the exception of their sexually distinct functions (childbearing etc.) can change, and does change, over time and according to varied social, economical, political, and cultural factors. changing and varied social, economical, political, and cultural factors. People are born female or male, but learn to be girls and boys who grow into women and People are born female or male, but learn to be girls and boys who grow into women and men. They are taught what the appropriate behaviour and attitudes, roles and activities are for men. They are taught what the appropriate behaviour and attitudes, roles and activities them, and how they should related to other people. are for them, and how they should related to other people. This learned behaviour is what makes up gender identity, and determines gender roles and This learned behaviour is what makes up gender identity, and determines gender roles responsibilities. Gender roles vary greatly from one culture to another, and from one social, political, and economic group to another within the same culture. and responsibilities. Gender roles vary greatly from one culture to another, and from one social, political, and economic group to another within the same culture. Why is Gender importantWhy is Gender important

Since the mid 1980s there has been a growing consensus that sustainable development Since the mid 1980s there has been a growing consensus that sustainable development requires an understanding of both women’s and men’s roles and responsibilities within the requires an understanding of both women’s and men’s roles and responsibilities within the community and their relations to each other. This has come to be known as the Gender community and their relations to each other. This has come to be known as the Gender and and Development (GAD) approach. Development (GAD) approach.

The main objective of GAD is mainstreaming women’s needs and perspectives into all activities. Mainstreaming acknowledges that all development operations have a gender impact and do not automatically benefit men and women equally.

Thus it is necessary to adopt GAD approach for development programmes to benefit both men and women, and also for sustainable development and positive impacts on the society as whole.

The main objective of GAD is mainstreaming women’s needs and perspectives into all activities. Mainstreaming acknowledges that all development operations have a gender impact and do not automatically benefit men and women equally. Thus it is necessary to adopt GAD approach for development programmes to benefit both men and women, and also for sustainable development and positive impacts on the society as whole.

Stereotypes

Men are Women are

Strong, arrogant, violent, domineering, decisive, non-communicative. Weak, modest, peaceful, submissive, indecisive, communicate.

Sex and Gender

Biology differentiates the sexes.

Society differentiates male and female roles.

Gender roles ascribed to men and women vary greatly from culture to culture.

Sex: An aspect of one’s biological makeup that depends on whether one is born with distinct male or female genitals and a genetic program that releases either male or female hormones to stimulate the development of one’s reproductive system.

Gender: One’s sense of being male or female and playing masculine or feminine roles in ways defined as appropriate by one’s culture and society.