Sex:

Sex refers to the biological differences between men and women, boys and
girls. It is defined as the property by which organisms are classified as males or
females based on reproductive organs and functions (www.thefreedictionary.com).
Biological and physiological differences between males and females are
represented by sex such as reproductive organs, chromosomes and hormones
etc. distinguish men and women, boys and girls (WHO, 2010).

Gender:
Gender refers to the social differences and relations between men and women
which are learned, vary widely among societies and cultures, and change over
time. The term gender does not replace the term sex, which refers exclusively
to biological differences between men and women. For example, statistical data
are broken down by sex. The term gender is used to analyse the roles,
responsibilities, constraints, opportunities and needs of women and men in all
areas an in any given social context. Gender roles are learned behaviours in a
given society, community or other social group. They condition activities, tasks
and responsibilities are perceived as male or female. Gender roles are affected
by age, class, race, ethnicity and religion, and by the geographical, economic
and political environment.
Gender describes socially constructed differences between men and women,
boys and girls etc.
Gender is defined on the basis of social norms,
behaviors, activities, relationship, responsibilities which are assigned by the
society as appropriate for male and female (WHO, 2010). Understanding of
gender varies in different races, nations, castes, ethnic groups, religions.

Difference between sex and Gender:

Sex refers to the biological characteristics that categorise someone as either
female or male; whereas gender refers to the socially determined ideas and
practices of what it is to be female or male Whilst often used interchangeably, sex
and gender are in fact distinct terms.
Sex: a persons sex is biologically determined as female or male according to
certain identifiable physical features which are fixed. Womens marginalisation has
often been seen as natural and a fact of their biology. However these biological
differences cannot explain why women have less access to power and lower
status than men. To understand and challenge the cultural value placed on
someones biological sex, and unequal power hierarchies, we need the relational
concept of gender.

Gender: how a persons biology is culturally valued and interpreted into locally
accepted ideas of what it is to be a woman or man. Gender and the hierarchical
power relations between women and men based on this are socially constructed,
and not derived directly from
biology.
Gender identities and associated
expectations of roles and responsibilities are therefore changeable between and
within cultures. Gendered power relations permeate social institutions so that
gender is never absent.

Gender analysis:
examines the differences in women's and men's lives, including those which lead to
social and economic inequity for women, and applies this understanding to policy
development and service delivery is concerned with the underlying causes of these
inequities aims to achieve positive change for women
The term 'gender' refers to the social construction of female and male identity. It
can be defined as 'more than biological differences between men and women. It
includes the ways in which those differences, whether real or perceived, have been
valued, used and relied upon to classify women and men and to assign roles and
expectations to them. The
significance of this is that the lives and experiences of women and men, including
their experience of the legal system, occur within complex sets of differing social
and cultural expectations'.

Gender analysis recognises that:

*women's and men's lives and therefore experiences, needs, issues and priorities
are different
*women's lives are not all the same; the interests that women have in common may
be determined as much by their social position or their ethnic identity as by the fact
they are women
*women's life experiences, needs, issues and priorities are different for different
ethnic groups
*the life experiences, needs, issues, and priorities vary for different groups of
women (dependent on age, ethnicity, disability, income levels, employment status,
marital status, sexual orientation and whether they have dependants)

*different strategies may be necessary to achieve equitable outcomes for women

and
men and different groups of women.

Gender analysis aims to achieve equity, rather than equality.

Gender equality is based on the premise that women and men should be treated
in the same way. This fails to recognise that equal treatment will not produce
equitable results, because women and men have different life experiences.

Gender equity takes into consideration the differences in women's and men's lives
and recognises that different approaches may be needed to produce outcomes that
are equitable. Gender analysis provides a basis for robust analysis of the differences
between women's and
men's lives, and this removes the possibility of analysis being based on incorrect
assumptions and stereotypes.

Gender discrimination:
women work 67% of the worlds working hours
2 out of 3 of the worlds illiterate people are women
womens earnings range from 50-85% of mens earnings
globally women make up just over 10% of representatives in national government

The systematic, unfavourable treatment of individuals on the basis of their

gender, which denies them rights, opportunities or resources Across the world,
women are treated unequally and less value is placed on their lives because of
their gender. Womens differential access to power and control of resources is
central to this discrimination in all institutional spheres, i.e. the household,
community, market, and state. Within the household, women and girls can face
discrimination in the sharing out of household resources including food,
sometimes leading to higher malnutrition and mortality indicators for women. (See
Intra-household Resource Distribution). At its most extreme, gender discrimination
can lead to son preference, expressed in sex selective abortion or female

feticide. In the labour market, unequal pay, occupational exclusion or segregation

into low skill and low paid work limit womens earnings in comparison to those of
men of similar education levels. Womens lack of representation and voice in
decision making
bodies
in
the community and the state perpetuates
discrimination, in terms of access to public services, such as schooling and health
care, or discriminatory laws.

Difference between Gender Equality and Gender Equity

In the gender literature, we often come across two concepts: gender equality' and
gender equity'. They are sometimes used interchangeably, but they do not quite
refer to the same thing. We shall briefly explain the difference between them.
"Gender equality requires equal enjoyment by women and men of socially-valued
goods, opportunities, resources and rewards."
In other words, gender equality refers to equal access to social goods, services and
resources and equal opportunities in all spheres of life for both men and women.
When there is gender inequality, it is women that are more likely to be
disadvantaged and marginalised; but we should not ignore the negative impact that
gender inequality can have on men as well. For example, societal norms regarding
the appropriate behaviour for men tend to put them under pressure as regards the
need to provide materially for their family, and also deny them opportunities of
being more nurturing towards their children and wife. Therefore
gender equality is the concern of all and changes must be brought about for both
men and women. However, this is not to say that men and women are equally
affected by gender inequality. It remains true that women have the greater share of
disadvantages. However, gender equality, as defined above, does not often result in
equal outcomes for men and women. Being given the same chances in life is not
sufficient to bring about true equality. Women and men have different needs and
experiences and accommodation should be made forthese differences.
For example, giving boys and girls equal access to all the courses offered in a school
may not result in girls taking advantage of this opportunity if some courses are
predominantly filled with male students and have only male teachers. There is still
the unfortunate tendency to consider male norms as a measure for women's
position. Providing women and men with the same opportunities is the first step; but
for true gender equality to be achieved there is a need for gender equity.
"Gender equity is the process of being fair to women and men." (UNFPA) Women
and men.should not only be given equal access to resources and equal
opportunities, but they should also be given the means of benefiting from this
equality. This is where the concept of gender equity' comes into play..Gender equity

implies fairness in the way women and men are treated. The different life
experiences and needs of men and women are taken into consideration and
compensation is made for women's historical and social disadvantages. The lower
status of women in society often constitutes a handicap and provisions should be
made to redress this inequality before they can take advantage of the opportunities
provided. Gender equity thus serves to level the playing field and empower women.
Therefore, we can say that equity is essential to achieve true equality.

Definition of Gender mainstreamimg:

Gender mainstreaming is the public policy concept of assessing the different
implications for women and men of any planned policy action, including legislation
and programmes , in all areas and levels. Mainstreaming essentially offers a
pluralistic approach that values the diversity among both women and men.
Most definitions of gender mainstreaming conform to the UN Economic and Social
Council formally
defined concept: Mainstreaming a gender perspective is the process of assessing
the implications for women and men of any planned action, including legislation,
policies or programmes, in all areas and at all levels. It is a strategy for making
women's as well as men's concerns and experiences an integral dimension of the
design, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of policies and programmes in
all political, economic and societal spheres so that women and men benefit equally
and inequality is not perpetuated. The ultimate goal is to achieve gender equality.

Transformation by Mainstreaming:
Mainstreaming is not about adding a "woman's component" or even a "gender
equality component" into an existing activity. It goes beyond increasing women's
participation; it means bringing the experience, knowledge, and interests of women
and men to bear on the development agenda.
It may entail identifying the need for changes in that agenda. It may require
changes in goals, strategies, and actions so that both women and men can
influence, participate in, and benefit from development processes. The goal of
mainstreaming gender equality is thus the transformation of unequal social and
institutional structures into equal and just structures for both men and women.
Basic Principles of Mainstreaming

Responsibility for implementing the mainstreaming strategy is system-wide, and

rests at the highest levels within agencies, according to Carolyn Hannan, Director of
the UN Division for the Advancement of Women. Other principles include:
Adequate accountability mechanisms for monitoring progress need to be
established.
The initial identification of issues and problems across all area(s) of activity should
be such that gender differences and disparities can be diagnosed.
Assumptions that issues or problems are neutral from a gender-equality
perspective should never be made.
Gender analysis should always be carried out.
Clear political will and allocation of adequate resources for mainstreaming,
including additional financial and human resources if necessary, are important for
translation of the concept into practice.
Gender mainstreaming requires that efforts be made to broaden women's
equitable participation at all levels of decision-making.
Mainstreaming does not replace the need for targeted, women-specific policies
and programmes, and positive legislation; nor does it do away with the need for
gender units or focal points.

Gender Needs
Since women and men play different roles, have differential access to and control
over
resources and face different types of constraints, they usually have different needs
and priorities. When planing development interventions, it is often assumed that
household members have the same needs. In these cases, women's needs are often
not expressed.
Practical gender needs (PGN): Need related to the women; men and children
play in society. Activities which address the practical needs of women include a)
reducing their workload; b) increasing their incomes, among others. (OXFAM; 1995
41). PGN do not address the subordinate position of women in society; therefore,
they are not directly linked with women's empowerment.
Strategic gender needs (SGN): A need that:

questions the traditional roles that women and men play in society. SGN is a
response to inequalities in decision-making positions and long-term benefits (Moser,
C.; 1989 36 ).
Addressing the strategic needs of both women and men requires long-term
planning, and requires work with both to bring about changes in gender relations.
Activities which address strategic gender needs include: a) achieving equality of
legal rights such as land tenure; b) improving access to productive resources; c)
enhancing participation in decision-making; d) acquiring equal opportunities in
employment; e) taking up positions of power; and f) gaining the right to participate
in decisions about development interventions.
Example
Some 70 percent of full-time farmers in Malawi are women and one third of rural
households are headed by women; yet women have less access than men to
agricultural extension, credit, technology or inputs. As a result, they comprise a
large portion of the rural poor and are less able than other farmers to cope with the
consequences of drought. The needs of such women, especially those of rural
households headed by women, should be addressed in both an emergency free
distributions of maize and food-for-work, development projects. If WFP is going to
introduce a gender-sensitive, community-based policy concerning food distribution,
it will be necessary to avoid a static perspective on what constitutes the differential
needs of men and women. It must also consider the different requirement of women
and men at different stages of the life cycle. In this respect, the elderly children and
adolescents are also part of a gender-sensitive approach that acknowledges the
differential needs of a population.
Gender relation:
Hierarchical relations of power between women and men that tend to disadvantage
women These gender hierarchies are often accepted as natural but are socially
determined relations, culturally based, and are subject to change over time. They
can be seen in a range of gendered practices, such as the division of labour and
resources, and gendered ideologies, such as ideas of acceptable behaviour for
women and men.

Patriarchy:
Systemic societal structures that institutionalise male physical, social and
economic power over women. Some feminists use the concept of patriarchy to
explain the systematic subordination of women by both overarching and localised
structures. These structures work to the benefit of men by constraining womens
life choices and chances.

WOMENS EMPOWERMENT:
Beijing Declaration: Womens empowerment and their full participation on the basis
of equality in all sphere of society, including participation in the decision-making
process and access to power, are fundamental for the achievement of equality,
development and peace.