Gender and Development
|Assessment Submission Form | | |
Write your own definition of the terms “sex” and “gender”.
Sex and gender are two separate but often interlinked concepts. Sex can be defined as the biological and physiological features which differentiate between male or female, such as males having testicles and females having ovaries. There are however more than two sexes, some people are born with both genitalia and are referred to as being intersexed. Gender is socially constructed and refers to the learned behaviours, practices, and cultural ideas used to identify a person as being masculine or feminine, people “do” gender. Gender is a dynamic process with historical and cultural differences (Richardson, 2007, p.7-13; West and Zimmerman, 1987, p.127-137).
Question 2
What is your understanding of “gender inequality” and what are its impacts?
Gender inequality is a consequence of the gender roles society gives to women and men. Women and men are socialised into their gender role and are taught from a young age what society expects of them as a woman or man. These gender roles have produced patriarchal hierarchies where men are dominant and are more powerful and privileged than women. Gender inequality has created a power inequity between men and women. Women do not have the same opportunities and are not treated equally as men in many areas including economic, education, politics, parenting, and domestic work (Richardson, 2007, p.7-13; El-Bushra, 2000, p.57-61).
Question 3
Comment on why an understanding of gender inequality is important to any discussion of development, globalisation and global inequalities? Why?
Any significant dialogue with regard to development, globalisation and global inequalities must firstly include an understanding of gender inequality and its implications.
Write your own definition of the terms “sex” and “gender”.
Sex and gender are two separate but often interlinked concepts. Sex can be defined as the biological and physiological features which differentiate between male or female, such as males having testicles and females having ovaries. There are however more than two sexes, some people are born with both genitalia and are referred to as being intersexed. Gender is socially constructed and refers to the learned behaviours, practices, and cultural ideas used to identify a person as being masculine or feminine, people “do” gender. Gender is a dynamic process with historical and cultural differences (Richardson, 2007, p.7-13; West and Zimmerman, 1987, p.127-137).
Question 2
What is your understanding of “gender inequality” and what are its impacts?
Gender inequality is a consequence of the gender roles society gives to women and men. Women and men are socialised into their gender role and are taught from a young age what society expects of them as a woman or man. These gender roles have produced patriarchal hierarchies where men are dominant and are more powerful and privileged than women. Gender inequality has created a power inequity between men and women. Women do not have the same opportunities and are not treated equally as men in many areas including economic, education, politics, parenting, and domestic work (Richardson, 2007, p.7-13; El-Bushra, 2000, p.57-61).
Question 3
Comment on why an understanding of gender inequality is important to any discussion of development, globalisation and global inequalities? Why?
Any significant dialogue with regard to development, globalisation and global inequalities must firstly include an understanding of gender inequality and its implications.
References: El-Bushra, J. (2000) “Rethinking gender and development practice for the twenty-first century”. Gender and Development, 8(1):55-62 Mosse, J.C. (1993) “Why Development is a Gender Issue”. Half the World, Half a Chance: An Introduction to Gender and Development. Oxford: Oxfam. Nussbaum, M. (2002) “Women’s Capabilities, Development and Rights”. In: Molyneux M. & S. Ravazi eds. Gender, Justice, Development and Rights. Oxford: Oxford University Press Richardson,D. (2007) “Conceptualizing Gender). In: Richardson, D and V Robinson eds. Introducing Gender and Women’s Studies. 3rd Edition. London: Palgrave MacMillan. West, C. and Zimmerman, D. H. (1987) “Doing Gender”. Gender and Society, 1(2):125-151 White, S.C. (1997) “Men, Masculinity and the Politics of Development”. In: Gender and Development, 5(2):14-22