Theorizing the Implications of Gender Order for Sustainable Forest Management

Jeji Varghese,Maureen G Reed

doi:10.1155/2012/257280

Jeji Varghese, Maureen G Reed

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1155/2012/257280

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Abstract

Sustainable forest management is intended to draw attention to social, economic, and ecological dimensions. The social dimension, in particular, is intended to advance the effectiveness of institutions in accurately reflecting social values. Research demonstrates that while women bring distinctive interests and values to forest management issues, their nominal and effective participation is restricted by a gender order that marginalizes their interests and potential contributions. The purpose of this paper is to explain how gender order affects the attainment of sustainable forest management. We develop a theoretical discussion to explain how women's involvement in three different models for engagement—expert-based, stakeholder-based, and civic engagement—might be advanced or constrained. By conducting a meta-analysis of previous research conducted in Canada and internationally, we show how, in all three models, both nominal and effective participation of women is constrained by several factors including rules of entry, divisions of labour, social norms and perceptions and rules of practice, personal endowments and attributes, as well as organizational cultures. Regardless of the model for engagement, these factors are part of a masculine gender order that prevails in forestry and restricts opportunities for inclusive and sustainable forest management.

Highlights

In Canada, it can no longer be assumed that timber is the sole product of forestry
By starting at the bottom of the concept map and working our way to the top, we examined how gendered rules of entry, divisions of labour, social norms and perceptions, personal endowments and attributes, and organizational cultures result in and reinforce a particular gender order that constrains both nominal and effective participation within three engagement models for forestry management
We argued that engagement models are embedded within a masculine gender order that severely restricts women’s nominal and effective participation

Summary

Introduction

In Canada, it can no longer be assumed that timber is the sole product of forestry. The broadening of interests in forests has been characterized by increased pressures from diverse interest groups to be involved in sustainable management of public resources. This social sustainability criterion includes fair and effective decision making (Criteria 6.4) and raises questions about inclusiveness, that is, how to ensure that a broad range of interests and values are included in these processes, given the heterogeneity of the population, in terms of differences in terms of influence, dependency, and, crosscutting variables such as gender and ethnicity In this conceptual article, we identify three models of engagement in SFM—expert-based, stakeholder-based, and civic engagement—and consider the ways in which each model includes issues and concerns of one social group historically excluded from forestry management—women. While there is ample reason to believe that women bring different values, perspectives, expectations, and concerns to forestry issues, women have yet to advance these concerns directly We suggest that this discrepancy can be explained by understanding how a particular gender order shapes ideas about what interests become represented in forest management forums. We define gender order, describe how it operates within forestry communities, and illustrate how it shapes ideas and processes associated with inclusive forest management

Rationale

Defining Key Concepts

Discussion and Conclusion

Findings

Objective unattached