Gender Analysis Toolsfor gender sensitive fieldwork and project

development

A gender analysis is a systematic effort to identifyand understand the roles, needs, opportunities, and lifecircumstances of women and men in a given – or moreoften a changing – socio-economic context. In additionto collecting relevant statistics (i.e. unemployment rates,pay rates, percentage of men and women in a given sector,etc.) it includes:

What is gender analysis?

• gender differences in the division of labor and theaccess to and control over resources;• practical needs and strategic interests of womenand men;• power differentials and dynamics between menand women;• social, economic, political constraints and

opportunities facing women and men; and• assessing institutional capacities to promote

gender equality.

What is gender analysis?

Gender analysis is an essential component of (not a replacement for or addition to) an overall analytical process that a successful program of social change requires.

If we do not fully understand the trends and dynamics that define and perpetuate gender inequality – a core dimension of development - we will be unable to mount a successful strategy to promote gender equality and sustainable human development.

Why is conducting gender analysis important?

1. As a first step, searching out new and sex-disaggregated data on your topic.2. Broadening consultations and information sources to include women’s organizations, and those working on gender.3. Analysing social, economic, and political power dynamics.4. Understanding and analysing the difference between men’s and women’s strategic and practical needs.5. Interpreting and analysing the above from a “gender perspective” ie drawing on relevant theories and drawing conclusions.

What does conducting gender analysis entail?

“Practical needs”, include, for example, physical safety, nutritious food, shelter, easy access to clean water, health and affordable and accessible health care, and employment or income.

“Strategic interests”, typically, play out over a longer time horizon, and address a need to shift relative power, provide equal opportunities, and eliminate all forms of oppression that hinder men and women’s full humanity.

What does conducting gender analysis entail?

• Our societies are shaped by a gender-based power structure, which divides the population into men and women, and values their contributions unequally.

• This power structure is so long-standing and pervasive that many of us have come to see it as “normal” and “natural” – although it is not.

• The gender-based power structure is systemic – which means that this power structure shapes the institutions and systems in which we participate, even if as individuals we support gender equality.

• Because gender is largely a cultural and social construct, gender roles and relations can and do change over time.

Gender Analysis Theories?

• The gendered division of labour (i.e., the fact that most paid and unpaid work is generally divided between “men’s work” and “women’s work”) is the starting point for many gender imbalances and inequalities in society.

• Because men and women frequently occupy/work in different spaces, their needs, priorities, experiences, and perspectives are influenced by the lived realities

that more often than not limit women’s choices and opportunities.

• Access to resources is distinct from control over resources, and control over resources in virtually all societies is unevenly distributed between men and women.

Gender Analysis Theories: the basics

• Resources include not only material resources but also time, knowledge, and information. Because of their multiple roles in the home and community, women are often “time-poor” – but for the same reasons they are rich with knowledge and experience that is not always valued.

• De jure (legal) gender equality does not always translate into de facto (practical) gender equality.

• Culture, attitudes, and stereotypes profoundly influence access to and control over resources, and thus the realization of de facto gender equality..

Gender Analysis Theories: the basics

All project/policy planners should understand these basic gender theories. A general understanding of these theories will allow you to:

• Understand how and why policies and projects might affect men and women differently

• Formulate key research questions about (potential or real) gender impact

• Competently evaluate project proposals and research results

How much do I need to know?

Key areas to question to inform gender analysis

• Access to, use and control of resources: What is the dependence of women and men on various natural resources (such as forests)? Are there any groups of men and women that are more disadvantaged than others, in terms of benefitting from the natural resources? How? What can be done to improve their lives?

• Division of Labour: What are the main activities of men and women (paid and unpaid)? Please look at both home-based and income generating activities. Which activities require maximum time and effort? Is there any seasonal pattern in their work-loads? In what ways, the project has reduced the workloads for men and women? What else can be done?

• Participation and decision making: To what extent, have men and women participated in the various project activities? What other potential tasks could women in this community play in this project? What barriers/ challenges are they likely to face? What additional inputs would they need to do that well?

• While asking effective gender questions helps point gender analysis in the right direction, good gender analysis should also seek to provide answers to these questions.

• One common problem with gender research is that it often describes the situation and notes differences between men and women, but fails to address the root causes that perpetuate gender inequality and discrimination.

• It should also be asking: Why does this difference between men and women exist? What is significant about this difference?

Drawing Conclusions

• EXAMPLE: Simply noting that women represent only 38% of the economically active population does not highlight the important reasons why this disparity exists. Is it due to: cultural prohibitions? direct discrimination within the labour force? limited opportunities caused by low levels of education, poverty, poor health, unpaid work responsibilities?

• Cross-check with other data in order to support your claims. Policies need to be based on facts, not assumptions!

For example

• This example looks at the practical need for women to avoid contracting HIV. Women were first trained on protecting themselves. This was unsuccessful. Educational workshops targeting men’s behaviours and consciousness were started.

• By undertaking a gender power analysis, staff realized that only by addressing women’s strategic interests for more control over their lives could they advance the program’s goal.

Successful gender analysis: an example

• Gender analysis provides the necessary information base for gender mainstreaming.

• In order to effectively serve the gender mainstreaming process, gender analysis requires sex-disaggregated data or information, and competent analysis of this information from a gender perspective.

• Analysis from a gender perspective needs to be based on relevant established theories about gender relations.

• Formulating good gender questions will point the analysis in the most productive direction.

• The analysis should include relevant conclusions about the causes and effects of any gender disparities it uncovers.

Summary?

Tools for Collecting Information on Gender Issues

• Harvard Analytical Framework, Moser framework, Gender Analysis Matrix etc

• Community level tools on gender relations, socio-economic structure and resources

• Direct observation • Discussions with focus groups• Household surveys

Community-level PRA Tools

• Data collection tools: community meetings, surveys, representative focus groups, informal meetings

• Village Resources Map

• Village Social Map

• Gender Analysis Matrix: impacts

• Target Analysis: who does what?

• Activity Profile to Assess the Workloads of Women in Relation to Men

Seasonal Activity Calendar Daily routine

A Resource Map: what does it tell us?

An Access and Control Profile: what does it tell us?

Division of labour: what does it tell us?