Steps to Gender Equality ENGAGEMENT MECHANISMS Gender analysis EQUITY MECHANISMS Gender Equity is the process of being fair to men and women. To ensure fairness, measures must often be put in place to compensate for the historical and social disadvantages that prevent women and men from operating on a level playing field. Equity is a means. Equality and equitable outcomes are the results.   Gender Equality means that women and men have equal conditions for realizing their full human rights and for contributing to, and benefiting from, economic, social, cultural and political development. Gender equality is therefore the equal valuing by society of the similarities and the differences of men and women, and the roles they play. It is based on women and men being full partners in their home, their community and their society. This slide shows one path to gender equality. The starting point: A person or a group of people decide a form of gender inequality must end. The disparity will no longer be passively accepted. The disparity is analyzed and proven. The harmful effects of the disparity are made visible. Data is collected as evidence. This is the process of gender analysis. The gender data is used to get others to commit to change. Often the first tier of change is an ‘equity mechanism’. For example: equal pay legislation; mandatory free education for all girls and boys; quotas for women in local government. These create the permissive structures and formal environments for men and women to perform the same roles and have the same rights. However, equity mechanisms alone often do not lead to gender equality. They are often only an important step in the process. Just because legislation says all girls and boys should be in school, does not mean that all children are. Deeper gender analysis is now needed into what are the barriers. Socio-cultural, economic and/or political realities may need to change. (If the issue of inequity is within an organization/structure, then the ‘deep culture’ of that organization will need a comprehensive and sensitive gender analysis.) A good gender analysis will identify ‘who’ needs to be engaged as an ally for change. It will also identify engagement mechanisms to bring these people on side. These engagement mechanisms often include: mentoring, networking, sensitizing, recognizing, collaborating, publishing, advocating. Successful engaging of enough of the right influential people will bring action: girls and boys into the class; more male teachers into a female-dominated profession; more women in political office etc. When males and females are both in the boardroom, in the classroom, on the community water committee….. the dialogue starts. It is through communication that men and women get to know the ideas, contribution and skills the other sex possess. It is this ‘sharing the same space’ that leads to women and men equally valuing the other. That is the essence of gender equality. Commitment to act Gender analysis Gender inequity/inequality © 2003 Linda Pennells

Steps to Gender Equality Gender Equity is the process of being fair to men and women. To ensure fairness, measures must often be put in place to compensate for the historical and social disadvantages that prevent women and men from operating on a level playing field. Equity is a means. Equality and equitable outcomes are the results.   Gender Equality means that women and men have equal conditions for realizing their full human rights and for contributing to, and benefiting from, economic, social, cultural and political development. Gender equality is therefore the equal valuing by society of the similarities and the differences of men and women, and the roles they play. It is based on women and men being full partners in their home, their community and their society. This slide shows one path to gender equality. The starting point: A person or a group of people decide a form of gender inequality must end. The disparity will no longer be passively accepted. The disparity is analyzed and proven. The harmful effects of the disparity are made visible. Data is collected as evidence. This is the process of gender analysis. The gender data is used to get others to commit to change. Often the first tier of change is an ‘equity mechanism’. For example: equal pay legislation; mandatory free education for all girls and boys; quotas for women in local government. These create the permissive structures and formal environments for men and women to perform the same roles and have the same rights. However, equity mechanisms alone often do not lead to gender equality. They are often only an important step in the process. Just because legislation says all girls and boys should be in school, does not mean that all children are. Deeper gender analysis is now needed into what are the barriers. Socio-cultural, economic and/or political realities may need to change. (If the issue of inequity is within an organization/structure, then the ‘deep culture’ of that organization will need a comprehensive and sensitive gender analysis.) A good gender analysis will identify ‘who’ needs to be engaged as an ally for change. It will also identify engagement mechanisms to bring these people on side. These engagement mechanisms often include: mentoring, networking, sensitizing, recognizing, collaborating, publishing, advocating. Successful engaging of enough of the right influential people will bring action: girls and boys into the class; more male teachers into a female-dominated profession; more women in political office etc. When males and females are both in the boardroom, in the classroom, on the community water committee….. the dialogue starts. It is through communication that men and women get to know the ideas, contribution and skills the other sex possess. It is this ‘sharing the same space’ that leads to women and men equally valuing the other. That is the essence of gender equality.