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Development jargon decoded: gender mainstreaming Development jargon decoded: gender mainstreaming
(8 days later)
Age: 28 going on 38. The concept of gender mainstreaming made a tentative initial appearance on the international stage at the third UN world conference on women, held in 1985. The Nairobi meeting's final report urged the introduction of measures designed to bring "women into the mainstream of the development process on an equal basis with men". But it wasn't until a decade later, at the fourth UN world conference on women in Beijing, that a platform for action (pdf) was established calling on governments and other actors to "promote an active and visible policy of mainstreaming a gender perspective into all policies and programmes".Age: 28 going on 38. The concept of gender mainstreaming made a tentative initial appearance on the international stage at the third UN world conference on women, held in 1985. The Nairobi meeting's final report urged the introduction of measures designed to bring "women into the mainstream of the development process on an equal basis with men". But it wasn't until a decade later, at the fourth UN world conference on women in Beijing, that a platform for action (pdf) was established calling on governments and other actors to "promote an active and visible policy of mainstreaming a gender perspective into all policies and programmes".
Appearance: Think Emma Watson, whose ability to bring "depth to the shallow" recently persuaded a leading magazine to name her woman of the year. We're talking womanly and feminine. Although on no account use the words "woman" or "female".Appearance: Think Emma Watson, whose ability to bring "depth to the shallow" recently persuaded a leading magazine to name her woman of the year. We're talking womanly and feminine. Although on no account use the words "woman" or "female".
Eh? Why not? Because they're not part of the development lexicon, dummy.Eh? Why not? Because they're not part of the development lexicon, dummy.
But you said gender mainstreaming was designed to put women on an equal footing with men in the development process, so what's wrong with talking about wom– Shhhhhh!!! Don't mention women. I mentioned them once, but I think I got away with it. The accepted term is "gender".But you said gender mainstreaming was designed to put women on an equal footing with men in the development process, so what's wrong with talking about wom– Shhhhhh!!! Don't mention women. I mentioned them once, but I think I got away with it. The accepted term is "gender".
Well, if you expect me to use the word "gender" like that, you've got another thing coming. Suit yourself. But there's a reason no one talks about "women equality", you know.Well, if you expect me to use the word "gender" like that, you've got another thing coming. Suit yourself. But there's a reason no one talks about "women equality", you know.
Because "woman" is a noun rather than an adjective? Don't be silly. That hasn't stopped the Guardian writing headlines about "women activists" and "women protesters", has it? Next you'll be telling me the word "mainstream" isn't a verb.Because "woman" is a noun rather than an adjective? Don't be silly. That hasn't stopped the Guardian writing headlines about "women activists" and "women protesters", has it? Next you'll be telling me the word "mainstream" isn't a verb.
But it isn't. Look, I don't make the rules, grammatical or otherwise.But it isn't. Look, I don't make the rules, grammatical or otherwise.
Stop avoiding the issue and just tell me why major institutions like the UN use the term "gender" when they so often appear to mean "women". Do they get nervous around girls or something? You wouldn't rule it out, given that they so seldom come into contact with them. At the last count, women held only 37.4% of the plum positions at the UN, a figure expected to rise by just 0.4% annually as they crawl towards a nominal 50% target.Stop avoiding the issue and just tell me why major institutions like the UN use the term "gender" when they so often appear to mean "women". Do they get nervous around girls or something? You wouldn't rule it out, given that they so seldom come into contact with them. At the last count, women held only 37.4% of the plum positions at the UN, a figure expected to rise by just 0.4% annually as they crawl towards a nominal 50% target.
They're not practising what they preach? Not so you'd notice. What's more, experts have noted the, ahem, "inherent measurement difficulties that trouble both the scholarly and professional literatures on gender mainstreaming". Make of that what you will.They're not practising what they preach? Not so you'd notice. What's more, experts have noted the, ahem, "inherent measurement difficulties that trouble both the scholarly and professional literatures on gender mainstreaming". Make of that what you will.
Surely you're not suggesting the awkward language surrounding gender mainstreaming stems partly from male insecurity? Well, I certainly wouldn't make a big thing of it.Surely you're not suggesting the awkward language surrounding gender mainstreaming stems partly from male insecurity? Well, I certainly wouldn't make a big thing of it.
Quite. So is there a clear explanation of the term? Well, in 1998 an expert panel commissioned by the Council of Europe defined it as "the (re)organisation, improvement, development and evaluation of policy processes, so that a gender equality perspective is incorporated in all policies at all levels and at all stages, by the actors normally involved in policy-making" (pdf).Quite. So is there a clear explanation of the term? Well, in 1998 an expert panel commissioned by the Council of Europe defined it as "the (re)organisation, improvement, development and evaluation of policy processes, so that a gender equality perspective is incorporated in all policies at all levels and at all stages, by the actors normally involved in policy-making" (pdf).
And how has that worked out in practice? In Vienna, they implemented gender mainstreaming by putting a picture of a long-haired woman wearing boots on emergency exit signs. Previously, it was a man.And how has that worked out in practice? In Vienna, they implemented gender mainstreaming by putting a picture of a long-haired woman wearing boots on emergency exit signs. Previously, it was a man.
Long hair? Boots? Isn't that a bit, um, sexist? Let's just say it's not surprising that some believe a post-2015 development target devoted to gender equality is needed.Long hair? Boots? Isn't that a bit, um, sexist? Let's just say it's not surprising that some believe a post-2015 development target devoted to gender equality is needed.
Sounds like progress since 1985 has been slow. Is there any good news on this subject? Yes. According to UN Women, "Equality does not mean that women and men will become the same."Sounds like progress since 1985 has been slow. Is there any good news on this subject? Yes. According to UN Women, "Equality does not mean that women and men will become the same."
I suppose we should be grateful for small mercies. Shouldn't we just.I suppose we should be grateful for small mercies. Shouldn't we just.
Do say: "Gender mainstreaming is a globally accepted strategy for promoting gender equality."Do say: "Gender mainstreaming is a globally accepted strategy for promoting gender equality."
Don't say: "Are you being verbed?"Don't say: "Are you being verbed?"
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