GENDER DEFINITIONS

GENDER
The word “gender” differentiates the sociologically attributed
aspects of an individual’s identity from the physiological
characteristics of men and women. Gender has to do with
how we think, how we feel and what we believe we can and
cannot do because of socially defined concepts of
masculinity and femininity.

SEX VS. GENDER:

A distinction needs to be made between biologically
determined ‘sex’ and socially constructed ‘gender’.
“‘Gender’ refers to socially constructed roles of
women and men ascribed to them on the basis of
their sex, whereas the term ‘sex’ refers to biological
and physical characteristics. Gender roles depend
on a particular socio-economic, political and cultural
context, and are affected by other factors, including
age, race, class and ethnicity. Gender roles are
learned and vary widely within and between
cultures... [and] can change. Gender roles help to
determine women’s access to rights, resources and
opportunities.” (Implementation of the outcomes of
the Fourth WCW, A/51/322, paragraphs 7-14)

Equity and Equality

To treat men and women ‘equally’ may not mean that they
are being treated ‘equitably’. Gender equality means equal
treatment of women and men in laws and policies, and
equal access to resources and services within families,
communities and society at large. Gender equity means
fairness and justice in the distribution of benefits and
responsibilities between men and women. It often requires
women-specific programs and policies to end existing
inequalities. .

GENDER MAINSTREAMING
Mainstreaming is a process rather than a goal. It consists of
bringing what can be seen as marginal into the core
objectives and main decision-making process of an
organization.

It is deemed necessary to “mainstream” gender equality

issues within an organization to ensure that the ideas and
practices of the organization play an important role in
determining the rationale for the allocation of resources and
learning opportunities within societies.
Efforts to integrate gender equality concerns into existing
institutions of the mainstream have little value for their own
sake. A gender perspective is being mainstreamed to
achieve gender equality and improve the relevance and
effectiveness of development agendas as a whole, for the
benefit of all women and men.

GENDER ANALYSIS:

Gender analysis is a systematic process of identifying the

differences in, and examining the related needs of the roles,
statuses, positions and privileges of women and men. This
analysis is based on the premise that gender is a critical
variable in the development process.
It is the study of the differences in women and men's roles
and access to and control over resources. It is a tool for
improving understanding of how differences between men
and women influence their opportunities and problems, and
can include the identification of challenges to participation in
development. It is a subset of social analysis, the study of
human differences and their social impacts.

GENDER MAINSTREAMING:

Gender mainstreaming is the process of bringing a gender perspective to activities of

government at the policy, programme and project levels