BUILDING WOMENS CONFIDENCE IN CLOSING THE GENDER GAP Professor - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

BUILDING WOMEN’S CONFIDENCE IN CLOSING THE GENDER GAP Professor Friday Okonofua MARCH 8, 2016

Wha hat t is is Gender? Gender?

• In

In a a discu discussion of ssion of th this n is natu ture, e, th that bring t brings tog s toget ethe her r peo people ple of

• f div

diver erse se bac backg kgroun

• unds,

ds, it it wil ill l be a be appo pposi site te to to first define what is meant by the term “Gender”.

• The

he i is s be beca cause use of

• f th

the te e tend nden ency y for

• r peo

people (bo ple (both th aca academics demics and and non non-ac acad ademics emics alik alike) e) to to see see gen gende der r as as being the being the pr promotion of

• motion of women onl
• men only.
• By

By con contr trast, ast, gen gender der focu

• cuses

ses on the

• n the r

rela elationship tionship be betw twee een n men men and and w wome

• men,

n, th their eir roles,

• les, ac

acce cess ss to to and and con contr trol

• l over r

er resour esources, ces, the the compar comparativ tive e divi divisi sion

• n of
• f

la labor bor, , the their ir inter interests ests and and nee needs ds.

• It

It is is a soc a sociologica iological c l con

• nstr

struc uction tion th that t ha has dif s differ eren ent t inter interpr preta etations tions and and conce conceptu ptuali aliza zation tion in d in dif iffer erent ent cultur cultures. es.

Definition of Definition of Gender Gender

• The term “Gender” came into use in 1972 as a result of

the the need need to r to ref efer er to the social r to the social rela elationship tionship bet between een men and men and wome

• men
• It

It ca came ou me out of t of a ne a need ed to to ad addr dress ess th the un e uneq equa ual l dif differ erenc ences betw es between een men and men and women,

• men, specificall

specifically, , bey beyond

• nd the

the w wor

• rds used to di

ds used to differ erent entia iate betw te between een people people (c (class lass, , sta status, tus, race ace, et , etc) c)

• Being referred to as “male” and “female” are sex

categories, while “masculinity” and “femininity” are gen gender der ca cate tegor gories ies

• Se

Sex ca x can be n be seen seen as dic as dicho hoto tomou mous s var varia iable ble while hile ge gend nder er cou could ld be defined be defined as as a cont a continuum inuum

Definition of Definition of Gender Gender

• “The relations between men and women,

both perceptual and material” – FAO

• “The socially constructed roles, behaviors,

activities and attributes that a given society considers appropriate for men and women” – WHO

• Suggested Conference Definition:

The social meaning given to the biological differences between men and women and the socially constructed relations between men and women.

Gender and Human R Gender and Human Rights ights

• Within

ithin the co the conte ntext xt of

• f g

globali lobaliza zation, tion, gend gender has er has incr increas easing ingly y beco become a me a major major huma human rights n rights dis discour course se

• The UN

he UN recogniz ecognizes es all all humans as humans as ha having ving inaliena inalienable ble and equal and equal rights rights to to oppor

• pportunities

tunities - the the tenden tendency to y to deny deny thos those rights e rights to to women

• men in

in all all par parts ts of

• f the

the wor

• rld is

ld is a f a for

• rm

m of

• f huma

human rights n rights viola violation tion.

• Ther

here is e is a g a growin wing g recog ecognition nition tha that Human t Human De Developm elopment ent if if not en not engend gender ered is ed is endanger endangered ed

• Indices

Indices for measuring

• r measuring gender

gender, , human right human rights s and and de developm elopment ent ha have eme e emerged in ged in the the global lobal ar arena. ena.

Equity Equity, J , Justice ustice

• The er

he eradica adication tion of

• f all

all for

• rms

ms of

• f discrim

discrimina ination, tion, be the be they y eco economic, nomic, social, social, politi political cal and and cultur cultural, al, is is indis indispen pensa sable f ble for the pr

• r the prote
• tection of

ction of human human rights, a rights, a commitment commitment tha that all t all go gover ernment nments s ha have e en endo dorsed sed

• It

It is is a ma a matter tter of

• f justi

justice, ce, fair airness, eq ness, equity uity and and equ equal al repr epresent esentation tion

• Most
• st sta

states ar tes are par e parties ties to a variety o to a variety of nor norma mativ tive e do docu cumen ments ts (CE (CEDAW, Beiji Beijing ng, , Cair Cairo, , et etc) th c) that pr t provide vide ref efer erenc ence e to specific man to specific manda dates tes and and inter interna national tional commitments commitments for the pr

• r the prote
• tection of

ction of inter interna national tional commitments commitments

• Go

Gover ernment nments s must must alw always b ays be r e reminded of eminded of the these se shar shared ed values. values.

Engendering Human Righ Engendering Human Rights ts ----

• Gende

Gender r inequa inequali lity ty exists w xists when hen ther there i e is s und under er-valua valuation tion and and non non-rec ecog

• gnition

nition of

• f wome
• men

n in in wor

• rk
• Ineq

Inequality uality is is not not onl

• nly a

y a pr problem of

• blem of acc

access ess to to the the means but a pr means but a problem of

• blem of fr

freed eedom

• m den

denied ied or

• r cu

curta tail iled ed

• Human De

Human Development elopment reco ecogniz gnizes es gen gender der discrim discrimina ination tion in: in:

– Freedom to eedom to ent enter er int into

• contr

contractual actual rela elations tions and decide on and decide on pr proper

• perty

ty – Freedom to par eedom to partici ticipa pate i te in public lif n public life and ha e and have politi e political cal leader leadership ship – Freedom to r eedom to receiv eceive tr e training, aining, enter enter and to and to compete in t compete in the he la labor mar bor market et – Freedom to liv eedom to live e (inc (including luding the pr the prevention ention of

• f gender

gender-based based mor mortali tality ty)

Gender De Gender Development elopment Inde Index (GDI) x (GDI)

• Me

Meas asur ures es ac achie hievem emen ent t in the in the sa same me ba basic sic ca capa pacities cities as as HD HDI, I, bu but t tak takes es no note te of

• f

ine inequ quality ality in in ac achie hievem emen ent t be betw twee een n wome

• men

n an and d men men

• The

he grea eater ter the the ge gend nder er dis dispa parity rity in ba in basic sic capabilities, the lower a country’s GDI co comp mpar ared ed with with HDI HDI

• The

he GDI GDI reflects eflects ge gend nder er imbalan imbalance ces s in in ba basic sic he health, alth, ed educ ucation tion an and inc d incom

• me

Gender Gender Empo Empower erment Inde ment Index (GEI) x (GEI)

• Exa

Examine mines w s whe hethe ther w r wom

• men

en an and d me men n ar are e able ble to to ac activ tivel ely y pa participa ticipate te in in ec econ

• nom
• mic

ic an and d po polit litica ical l lif life

• Thr

hree ee dimen dimension sions: s:

– Economic Economic par participa ticipation tion and decision and decision making making as as measur measured ed by by the % the % of

• f f

female administr emale administrator tors s and mana and manager gers, s, pr prof

• fessionals

essionals and tec and technical hnical wor

• rker

ers. s. – Political

• litical par

participa ticipation tion and and decision decision making making as as measur measured ed by by % % of

• f sea

seats ts in par in parliament liament by by women

• men

– Power o er over econom er economic r ic resour esources ces is is mea measur sured ed by women’s estimated earned income.

Gender Gender and R and Repr epresenta esentation tion

• Equal

Equal inc inclus lusion ion of

• f men

men and w and women

• men in

in all all asp aspects ects

• f
• f de

developm elopment ent and and soc society iety pay pays s of

• ff for the
• r the

coun countr try y as as a a whole hole.

• Na

Nations tions cannot af cannot affor

• rd

d to to ignor ignore e the contributions the contributions and economic and economic and social and social ca capacities pacities of

• f both

both men men and w and women

• men in

in all all sph spher eres.

• es. T

The he de developm elopment ent of

• f

any any coun countr try tha y that t does does wil will l ultima ultimatel tely y suf suffer in er in the the medium medium and long and long ter term.

• Lac

Lack of k of par participa ticipation tion of

• f w

women

• men w

would

• uld mean

mean tha that t a maj a major

• r par

part of t of the the ski skilled lled and w and well ell educ educated ted human r human resour esources ces would be w

• uld be wasted

asted

Gen Gende der, , Rep eprod

• duc

uction tion an and De d Develop elopmen ment

• Wit

ithout hout the si the signifi gnificant contri cant contribution of bution of t the he repr eproduc

• ducti

tive l e labor bor, , often

• ften gene

generated ted by by women,

• men, the pr

the produc

• ducti

tive e sphe sphere cann e cannot

• t

func functi tion

• n
• The

he empo empower erment ment of

• f w

women

• men bene

benefi fits ts chil hildr dren and en and famil amilies.

• ies. In

Investment in estment in female emale empo empower erment and ment and educ educati tion

• n incr

increases eases women’s productivity while decreasing fer erti tili lity ty and and inf infant mor ant mortal talit ity. . These hese ar are e de develop elopmen ment t multi multiplier pliers.

• s. N

Nor

• r sing

single le fac actor tor has so muc has so much i h impact on mpact on so so many many div diver erse se

• utcomes.
• utcomes.

Gender and subs Gender and substanti tantive e fr freedom eedom

• Ar

Arma mata ta Sen Sen ar argues gues tha that de t developm elopment ent is is the the incr increas easing ing of

• f huma

human fr n freedo eedom:

• About

About expan xpanding i ding indiv ndividual idual fr freedo eedoms ms, , suc such as h as

– Freedoms ms to to do do w what t you want t to to do do; – To

• be

be w wha hat y t you

• u w

wan ant to t to be be.

• Freedo

eedom is m is at the s t the same ame time time the ma the main in goal goal and and the main the main means means of

• f ac

achie hieving ving de develop elopmen ment

• And,

And, it it is is at the t the root

• ot of
• f gend

gender equ er equity ity and g and gende ender r equa equality lity. . W Without ithout fr freedo eedoms ms, , many many choice hoices s ar are e sim simpl ply y not a not avai vaila lable, ble, and m and many any oppo

• pportunities

tunities in in lif life e remain emain inaccess inaccessible. ible.

Conte Contextualizing xtualizing Gender within Gender within Human De Human Developmen elopment

Human Development encompasses simultaneously:

• Efficiency – Efficient use of resources and increase of their

availability

• Equity: Distributive justice, especially for choices and
• pportunities
• Freedom and empowerment
• Sustainability, not just for present but for next ones too.

Assumptions Assumptions and Pr and Presumptions esumptions in in Human Human De Development elopment

• De

Development elopment aid is g aid is gen ende der r ne neutr utral, al, it it ten tends ds to to be gen be gender der bli blind.

• nd. It assumes tha

It assumes that men t men and and wome

• men ha

n have the same e the same nee needs ds so a pr so a projec

• ject

t tha that t is de is developed eloped for

• r incr

increasing their easing their o

• ver

erall all choices automa hoices automati ticall cally l y lead to an i ead to an incr ncrease ease in in their their o

• ver

erall all c choices hoices.

• De

Development ai elopment aid and planning d and planning being being gend gender er neutr neutral, al, m means eans t tha hat it t it is is reall eally designed y designed to to tar targe get the t the majori majority o ty or the r the visi visible, ble, whic hich often h often means means men. men.

Gender Equality in Nigeria Gender Equality in Nigeria

• Da

Data ta sho shows ws dis discrimina crimination tion agains gainst t women

• men

per persis sists ts des despite pite high high na national tional rankin anking g on HDI.

• n HDI.

Ma Many ny poor c poor countries

• untries outperf
• utperfor
• rm

m ric richer her coun countries, tries, In ter In terms ms of

• f par

participa ticipation tion and in and inclus lusion, ion, women

• men

far are better e better in in Bots Botswana, ana, Costa Costa Rica Rica and Namibia and Namibia than the than they y do do in Gr in Greece eece, , Ital Italy y and and Japan pan

• Countries

Countries with with wor

• rse

se dis disparities parities betw between GDI een GDI and and HD HDI I values values ar are Saudi e Saudi Ar Arabia, bia, Oman, Oman, Nigeria, Nigeria, Pakis akistan, tan, Yemen emen and and India India

• Countries

Countries tha that t ha have the e the clos losest est cor corresp esponde

• ndence

nce betw between HD een HDI I and GD and GDI I ar are e Sw Sweden, Denmar eden, Denmark, k, Austr ustralia, alia, La Latvia tvia and Bulg and Bulgaria aria

Nigeria: Gender I Nigeria: Gender Indica ndicator tors

• Se

Sex Ra x Ratio (m/f) tio (m/f) 1.04 1.04

• Lif

Life e Expec Expecta tanc ncy R Ratio tio (f (f/m /m) ) 1.021097046 1.021097046

• Fer

ertilit tility y Ra Rate te 4.73 4.73

• Income

Income Ratio tio (f (f/m /m) 0.42 0.42

• Lit

Liter erac acy Ratio tio (f (f/m /m) 0.8 0.8

• Ter

ertia tiary enr enrolme

• lment

nt r ratio tio 0.55 0.55

• Wome
• men in

n in par parliam liament ent (in (in %) %) 6.4 6.4

• Wome
• men as

n as Go Gover ernor nors 0/36 0/36 c

Nigeria: Gender I Nigeria: Gender Indices ndices

• Human

Human De Developm elopment ent Inde Index 142/169 142/169

• Socia

Social l Institutio Institutions ns and Gend and Gender er Inde Index 86/102 86/102

• Gender

Gender Inequal Inequality ity Inde Index

• /138

/138

• Gender

Gender Equity Equity Inde Index 147/157 147/157

• Women’s Economic Opportunity Inde

Index x 99/134 99/134

• Global

Global Gender Gender Ga Gap p Inde Index 118/134 118/134

The Standing of Nigerian Women in Political Participation and Performance from 1999 till Date.

Source: modified from Lance-Onyeiwu, Maureen (2011), Except from UN Women’s Preliminary Analysis of the Results of the 2011 General Elections in Nigeria

S/N Position No of Avail able Seats No of Women in 1999 No of Women in 2003 No of Women in 2007 No of Women in 2011 No of women in 2015 1 Presidency 2 2 Senate 109 3 4 8 7 7 3 House of Reps 360 12 23 26 26 19 4 Governorship 36 0+ 5 Deputy Governorship 36 1 2 6 3 5 6 36 States Houses of Assembly 990 12 38 54 62 Total 1533 28 67 94 98

Some Some unr unresolv esolved ed gender inequality gender inequality issues issues in in Nigeria Nigeria

• Ear

Early y mar marria riage ge

• Pol
• lyga

ygamy my, in , inhe heritanc ritance, e, wido widowho hood

• d rites,

rites, etc etc

• Violen

iolence ce aga gainst inst women

• men
• Fema

emale le genital muti genital mutila lati tion,

• n, etc

etc

• Ma

Mater terna nal l mor mortalit tality

• Owne

Ownership ship rights rights

c

Gen Gende der r an and d righ rights ts – st stil ill l na nasc scen ent t in in Niger Nigeria ia

• Alt

Although hough Nigeria r Nigeria ratified the tified the main inter main interna national and r tional and regional gional women’s rights protection instruments, discrimination again gainst w t wome

• men pe

n persis ists ts widel idely bot both in h in law law and and pr pract actice. ice. The C he Coalit

• alition o

ion of th the e Camp ampaign aign is is con concer cerned ned th that 2 t 25 y 5 year ears since Nigeria’s ratification of the Convention on the Elimina Elimination of tion of all f all for

• rms

ms of

• f Dis

Discrimina crimination tion Agains Against t Women

• men

(CED (CEDAW), th W), the e go gover ernme nment nt has has f failed ailed to to ado adopt pt a la a law to to allo allow CED EDAW W to to be i be invok

• ked

ed bef befor

• re

e Nig Niger erian ian cour courts ts

• There is persisting violations of women’s rights as

epit epitomiz

• mized b

ed by: – Per ersis iste tence nce of

• f dis

discr crimin iminato tory law laws – Lac Lack k of

• f har

harmoniz monization tion betw between st een statut tutor

• ry

y and cust and customar

• mary

y law laws – The a he applica pplication tion of

• f Sh

Sharia aria laws laws in no in norther thern sta n states tes – Violen iolence a ce again gainst w t wome

• men

– Lac Lack of k of acc acces ess to to dec decis ision ion-making posit making positions, ions, etc etc c

Soc Socio io-ec econ

• nomic
• mic Vulne

ulnerabili bility ty

• Poverty and women’s low economic status
• Women have low decision-making power
• Less political power place women in little position to

negotiate their health

• Religious and cultural interpretations may endorse

women’s inferior status and subordinate their health status

• Men tend to be better educated than women about all

issues, including health issues

Ste Steps ps in In in Inter terpr preta etation of tion of I Ill ll-he health alth Deter Determinan minants ts of

• f Hea

Health lth Car Care e Ut Util iliza ization tion

Recognition of Symptoms of Ill-health Denial & delay in seeking health care

Acceptance of Ill-health

Choice of health provider

Self treatment

Informal sector, Traditional healer etc Private Orthodox Public Orthodox

Ef Effec ects ts of

• f Gend

Gender er on

• n Health

Health Car Care e Utiliz Utilization tion

• Al

Although though w women ar

• men are mor

e more l e lik ikel ely t y to

• recog

ecogniz nize e symptoms symptoms of

• f ill

ill-he health, th alth, they a ey are mor e more li e likel ely y than men than men to d to delay t elay trea eatment tment

• Women ar
• men are

e mor more l e lik ikel ely y to to seek seek self self tr trea eatment, tment, p peer t eer trea eatment or inf tment or infor

• rmal

mal sector sector tr trea eatment, r tment, rather ther than than or

• rthod

thodox x tr trea eatment tment

• A woman’s role as a care giver comes before

he her r own nee wn needs ds

Factor actors s Ass Associa

• ciated

ted with with Gen Gender der Dispa Disparit rity y in in Hea Health lth Car Care Utili e Utiliza zation tion

• Pover

erty ty – the the f feminiza eminization of tion of po pover erty ty

• Deci

Decision sion-mak making P ing Power er: : Wome

• men

n often

• ften nee

need d the consen the consent t of

• f the

their ir h husba usbands nds to a to acces ccess s health car health care

• Sha

Shame me and and sti stigma gmati tiza zati tion

• n – mor

more li e likel ely to y to af affect w ect women

• men
• Ignor

Ignorance ance and and il illi liter terac acy

Conventions that address women’s he health alth vu vulner lnerabili bility ty

• Inter

Interna nati tional C

• nal Conf
• nfer

erence ence on

• n Popula
• pulati

tion and

• n and

De Development ( elopment (IC ICPD) PD), 199 , 1994

• Fift

Fifth W h Wor

• rld Conf

ld Confer erence ence on

• n Women, 1995
• men, 1995
• Con

Convention ention on

• n the Eli

the Elimi mina nati tion

• n of
• f

Di Discrim scrimina inati tion

• n Agai

Against W nst Women (C

• men (CED

EDAW) W)

• Mi

Mill llennium ennium De Development G elopment Goals

• als (M

(MDG DGs), s), 2000 2000

The he UN UN Mil Millenn lennium ium De Develop elopmen ment t Goa Goals ls

1 Er Erad adica icate te ext xtreme eme po pover erty ty an and d hunger hunger 2 Ac Achie hieve e un univ iver ersal sal pr primar imary y ed educ ucation tion 3 Pr Promo

• mote

te ge gend nder er eq equa uali lity an ty and emp d empower er wome

• men

4 Red educ uce e child mor hild morta tali lity ty 5 Impr Improve e ma mate terna nal l he health alth 6 Comb Combat t HIV/AI HIV/AIDS, DS, malar malaria ia an and d ot

• the

her r disea diseases ses 7 Ensur Ensure e en envir viron

• nmen

menta tal l sust sustaina ainabili bility ty 8 De Develop elop a a globa lobal l pa partn tner ership ship for

• r de

develop elopmen ment

Gen Gende der, , MDG MDG Goa Goals ls an and d Hea Health lth

• The

he M MDGs DGs ar are 8 go e 8 goals to als to be be ac achie hieved ed by 201 by 2015 5 th that t respond to the world’s main developmental challenges

• Of

Of th the 8 go e 8 goals, t als, thr hree ee (Goals (Goals 4, 4, 5, 5, & & 6) spe 6) specificall cifically y address issues related to women’s health

• One goal

One goal (Goal 3 (Goal 3) ) is is de devote

• ted

d to to pr promoting gend

• moting gender

er eq equity an uity and th d the e emp empower ermen ment of t of wome

• men
• Goals 1

Goals 1, 2 , 2 & 8 & 8 ha have e indir indirect ect ef effect ects s on hea

• n health,

lth, gen gender der and and de development elopment

The he MDGs MDGs

• Synthe

ynthesi size i e in n a si a sing ngle p le pac acka kage ge many of many of the the m most

• st

im impor portan tant commi t commitments tments made made separ separatel tely y at the t the inter interna national conf tional confer erenc ences es and and s summi ummits ts of

• f the

the 1990s 1990s

• Reco

ecogniz gnize e e explici xplicitl tly y the the inter interdep depend endenc ence e bet between een growth, th, po pover erty ty redu eduction and ction and sustaina sustainable ble de development elopment; ; and and

• Ac

Ackno knowledge ledge tha that de t development elopment rests ests on the

• n the

foun

• unda

dations tions of

• f democ

democratic go tic gover ernan nance, ce, the the r rule ule of

• f law

law, , gen gender der equ equity ity, r , respec espect t for

• r human

human rights, p rights, peac eace e and and sec secur urity ity, a , and nd soc social just ial justice ice

Pr Promo

• moting

ting Gen Gende der r Equ Equity ity in in Hea Health lth

Obtain Health disaggregated data

Identify socio-cultural factors which promote gender inequality in health Advocacy to promote gender equity, especially women-led advocacy

The 17 Sustainable Development Goals -2015- 2030

Pr Promo

• moting

ting Gen Gende der r Equ Equity ity in in Hea Health lth

• Increase in women’s education and health literacy
• Socio-economic and political empowerment of

women e.g. micro-credits, affirmative action on political appointments, etc

• Health safety nets, such as free maternal health

services

• Public health education

• Ai

Aimi ming ng to the top t to the top thr hrough

• ugh excellence

cellence wi without thout cutti cutting cor ng corner ners

• Af

Affi firma mati tive e action action may be good, may be good, but but shou should ld not be r not be reli elied on too fr ed on too freque equentl ntly

• Ensu

Ensuri ring ng gend gender er equity equity in the pr in the provisi vision of

• n of

de developmental elopmental oppo

• pportunit

tunities ies

• Pr

Promoting

• moting gend

gender er equity in all equity in all s spher pheres es of

• f l

lif ife e wi will ll be be one of

• ne of t

the most impor he most important tant challenge hallenge fac acing ing de develop elopmen ment t in in the co the coming ming de deca cade de.

Promoting Gender Assertiveness

A Proposed agenda for Change

• Provide mentors, connections &
• pportunities to make political involvement

seem an easier and more appealing task to young women.

• Demilitarise politics and make it safer for

everybody, in particular for women

• Provide role models as a critical step in

helping young women to envision themselves in the political realm.

• Show young women how politicians

accomplish goals helps them to believe that running for office could be worth the effort.

Agenda for Change cont.

• No one ever gets a high-flying political position on

a platter of Gold.

• Boost young women’s confidence in their issue and

political knowledge, and provide them with information on issues that would make them feel qualified to run for office.

• Explain the political opportunities available at the

local or community level to engage young women’s interest – local office can be a stepping stone to higher political aspirations.

• Work with men and institutions to actively convert

politics from traditional to transformational.

This his wor

• rkshop

kshop will ho will hopefull pefully y pr provide vide an oppor an opportunit tunity y to dee to deepen pen the unde the understanding standing of

• f the

the challen hallenge ge

• f
• f gender inequality

gender inequality in Nigeria, in Nigeria, and and ena enable ble the de the development elopment of

• f

appr ppropria

• priate r

te recom ecommend mendations tions going f going forw

• rwar

ard

c

Thank hank Y You !

• u !

c