Understanding Of Gender Equality Research Articles

The Fragmented Inclusion of Gender Equality in AU-EU Relations in Times of Crises

Facing internal and external crises, the European Union and the African Union have revitalized their interregional cooperation. This article theorizes interregional norm dynamics and explores how, in times of crises, gender equality norms are shaped in interregional relations between the African Union and the European Union. The question is all the more relevant because gender equality is shaped very differently in the European Union and the African Union policies. The African Union has adopted a rather holistic understanding of gender equality, while the European Union approach is constrained by a market-making logic. Also, since the 2008 economic crisis, gender equality policies within the European Union seem to stagnate while they seem to expand in the African Union. Our analysis of core texts shows that at interregional level attention to gender equality is fragmented. Even though in some respects the African Union gender equality norms are more encompassing, and gendered effects of crises in the European Union would merit renewed attention to gender equality, the European Union norms and interests dominate the agenda. Showing how power asymmetries between and disjointed logics of regional organizations impact interregional gender equality norms, the article contributes to the scarce literature on interregional norm dynamics.

Еволюція доктринальних джерел з питань гендерної рівності

The purpose of the scientific article is a comprehensive study of the development of sources in the field of gender equality, as well as coverage of worldviews on issues of gender equality, formed by the understanding of scientists in the context of philosophy, history, pedagogy, psychology, religious studies, cultural studies, philology, sociology, economics, law, which have become basis for the formation of doctrinal sources in the field of gender equality. The methodological basis of scientific research is a combination of the principles of scientific knowledge, philosophical, general scientific and concrete science methods, with the help of which it was possible to study the history of the formation and development of sources in the field of gender equality, as well as the interdisciplinary connections of the research results. The scientific novelty of the publication is that the systematization of sources in the field of gender equality is improved and their fundamental basis is given; for the first time, it was proposed to consider gender equality not only from the point of view of law, but as an interdisciplinary category; further development of doctrinal sources in the field of gender equality is considered. The conclusions of the scientific article are reduced to the following provisions, namely: the first mention of gender equality arose at a certain historical stage in the development of law (the second half of the XVII ‒ the second half of the XVIII century). The idea of gender equality was constantly evolving, first at the state level of the developed countries of the world, then at the international level, which in turn provoked changes in the understanding of the essence and significance of gender equality for other countries. Recently, there has been activity in the activities of international organizations and states to achieve gender equality, the empowerment of men and women, as well as a change in understanding of gender equality from a utopian idea to a fundamental human right, principle. The study found that gender equality is not only a legal issue, but has an interdisciplinary nature and is also viewed through the prism of philosophy, history, pedagogy, psychology, religious studies, cultural studies, philology, sociology, economics. Keywords: gender; gender equality; types of sources, classification, doctrinal sources.

PEMAHAMAN KESETARAAN GENDER

The increasing number of divorce cases from year to year at Pati Religious Court indicates an increase in the quantity and quality of wife's dissatisfaction with their marriages, especially their husbands, who do not associate them well, do not carry out their duties and obligations properly, and husbands who act harshly towards his wife, so that there were cases of domestic violence. The courage of the wife to file a divorce which is the focus of this research is to be further investigated whether there is an understanding of gender equality that influences his decision. This research is a field research (field research), this research is descriptive analytic, namely an investigation that tells, analyzes and classifies data qualitatively. The source of primary data is data obtained from interviews with judges who decided on divorce cases in PA Kab Pati, and women who divorced. Data collection uses the method of documentation and interviews. In the interview, a sampling method is used, namely a purposive sampling system. Here, the author does not interview all existing judges and informants (divorce actors), but rather chooses judges and divorced informants who can represent several categories according to the research design and are representative to be used as data sources. In the process of finding data to maintain its validity, triangulation is carried out, namely checking the degree of trust in information both in terms of technique, source and time. Data are analyzed qualitatively using inductive and interpretative analysis instruments. This inductive and interpretative way of thinking is used in order to build a conception of interpretation regarding the high divorce proposed by women in PA Pati and its causal factors. The results of this study that gender understanding for informants who filed for divorce in Pati Regency PA was shown from their awareness of their rights in marriage. This can be seen from their responses to understand the concept of marriage, gender roles in the family and domestic violence. So that their rights must be fought because they do not want to dissolve in painful household shackles. Thus the understanding of gender influences the high divorce in Pati Regency. The factors causing divorce in the District of Religion Religious Court in 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2018 in August were due to one leaving the party and no responsibility at the same time being the highest cause. The cause of the moral crisis was ranked second, then economic factors, jealousy, constant quarrels and disputes, domestic violence, and the presence of parents who forced their children to marry. This is in line with the factors that caused informants to file for divorce.

Glory of Women in Family (Islamic Feminism Perspective)

Family is the basic foundation of the spread of Islam. In the family there is power that becomes control of the development of the family itself. Gender equality often occurs in a family, in this case the similarity between mother and father or commonly known as equality. In everyday life it is often disputed about the work of men and women that are expected to be in accordance with their nature. This view still revolves around biological factors where weak-bodied women should get light jobs while men who are physically strong should get jobs that show more power. This study focuses more on the glory of women in the family with an Islamic feminism perspective. This research method uses descriptive methods using a qualitative approach to describe data relating to the glory of women in the family. The research data is in the form of quotes, words, phrases, and story sentences. The source of the data in this study was the observation of several sakinah families in the Sidoarjo city area. The results of this study suggest that in Islam there is also an understanding of gender equality between men and women. This case is according to the instructions of the Qur'an and also Al-Hadist. There are also several rights for women to be glorified in their families. So women are not looked down on by their family members and are also not viewed negatively by family and society. Keywords: Family, Islam, Glory, Women, Feminism, Gender Equality, Qualitative Descriptions.

PENGEMBANGAN BUKU AJAR MATA PELAJARAN PENDIDIKAN PANCASILA DAN KEWARGANEGARAAN BERPERSPEKTIF KESETARAAN GENDER PADA SEKOLAH DASAR KELAS LIMA DI KABUPATEN INDRAMAYU

The background of this study is the lack of understanding of gender equality in elementary school students which raises various attitudes and actions that tend to be discriminatory and unfair to one party, especially felt by female students. The purpose of this study is to build students' understanding of gender equality through the development of citizenship education textbooks for the fifth grade of elementary schools in Indramayu Regency. The research approach used is the Reaserch And Development (R & D) research. The subjects in this study were fifth grade elementary school students in Indramayu Regency who were used as research samples. The number of schools studied were 18 elementary schools from the western part of Indramayu, central part of Indramayu and eastern part of Indramayu. The results of the study show that students understanding of gender equality changes and is better after obtaining Pancasila and Civic Education subject matter by paying attention to the equality of Gender contained in the book on gender Pancasila and Civic Education compiled by researchers.

Working Together: Human Rights, the Sustainable Development Goals and Gender Equality

Working Together: Human Rights, the Sustainable Development Goals and Gender Equality

Working and Organizing as Women’s Groups: Reflection on the Struggle of Pro-Women Policy Advocacy in Indonesia, 1998 - 2017

The struggle of Indonesian women’s movement to advocate for pro-women legislations during 1998 – 2017 has its significant achievements and lessons to learn. The paper reports on how women’s groups organized themselves for policy advocacy works under the Jaringan Kerja Prolegnas Pro Perempuan (The Network for Pro-Women National Legislation Programme, hereinafter referred as JKP3) in the Reformation Era. The research methods employed are a literature review, participative observation in various activities conducted by the network, as well as the analysis of field notes and documents. It can be concluded that the network is strong with guiding principles and perspectives, which is feminist and for gender equality, and tries its best to ensure that all policies are pro-women and pro-gender equality. The network faces significant obstacles and challenges from external parties, namely from the government, the legislators in the parliament, and from the wide public. The obstacles and challenges are the lack of concern and understanding of gender equality, rejection of pro-women perspectives with the legitimation of religious teachings to limit women’s rights or roles, the lack of bureaucratic concern and the very political attitude of legislators. Meanwhile, the network also faces various and significant challenges related to the working dynamics within the network. While working on the same issue, there are institutional competitions, differences in perspectives as well as in working styles and strategy. They point to the findings of significant lessons-learned about approaches and strategies. The paper ends with discussion and recommendation for further advocacy work and research on pro-women policy advocacy.

Constituting gender and gender equality through policy

PurposeIn Sweden, gender mainstreaming policies have a long political history. As part of the national gender equality strategy of the Swedish forest industry, the ten largest forestry companies committed themselves to gender mainstream their policies. Limiting the impact of policies and the agency of change, the purpose of this paper is to focus on the varied and conflicting meanings and constitution of the concepts, the problem and, in extent, the organisational realities of gender mainstreaming.Design/methodology/approachIn both, implementation and practice, gender mainstreaming posse challenges on various levels and by analysing these documents as practical texts from the WPR-approach. This paper explores constructions of gender and gender equality and their implications on the practice and the political of gender mainstreaming in a male-dominated primary industry.FindingsThe results show that the organisations themselves were not constituted as the subject of the policy but instead some of the individuals (women). The subject position of women represented in company policy was one of lacking skills and competences and in the need of help. Not only men and the masculine norms but organisational processes and structures were also generally invisible in the material. Power and conflict were mainly absent from the understanding of gender equality. Instead, consenting ideas of gender equality were the focus. Such conceptualisations of gender equality are beneficial for all risk concealing power structures and thereby limit the political space for change.Originality/valueBy highlighting the scale of policy and the significance of organisational contexts, the results indicate how gender and gender equality are constitutive through the governing technologies of neoliberal and market-oriented ideologies in policy – emphasising the further limiting of space for structural change and politicalization within the male-dominated organisations of Swedish forest industry.

Whose Gender Equality Counts?: The Case of Russian Migrant Couples in Norway

The article addresses the problem of “normalizing” migrants within a nation state by means of a gender system. The example of Russian immigrants in Norway shows how crossing a physical border moves people across different gender systems. In this transition migrants (re-)negotiate their gender identities and understandings of gender equality. At the same time, trying to integrate into the host society, they problematize the normalizing power of gender systems functioning in a particular society. The article is arranged in three parts starting with an overview of Russian migrants in Norway as a group. The second part describes different gender systems, which Russian immigrant couples cross. The third part shows how Soviet, Post-Soviet and Norwegian gender systems affect the experiences and expectations of Russian migrants in Norway and how gender intersects with nationality and a nation-state gender system. In conclusion, the potential for changing a nation-state gender system and integrating diversity is discussed.

‘We are equals’; datum or delusion: perceptions of Muslim women academics in three Malaysian universities

Islam underlines equality between women and men regarding their spiritual and intellectual potential. However, given interpretations of religious texts are often availed to suppress women in most Muslim societies, with serious implications for gender equality in the domestic and the professional spheres. This article draws on data from a study of Muslim women academics from three Malaysian universities to highlight the impact of dominant discourses on these women’s professional lives and their perceptions of gender equality, and discusses its implications for their professional journeys. The article argues that the feudal patriarchal structures of most Muslim societies, reinforced by vested interpretations of religious texts, validate a powerful discourse of male authority which contributes to the perception that submitting to male authority is a Muslim woman’s religious obligation. The seductive power of these discourses couched in religious authority influences the terms of their professional engagement and their conceptualisations and understanding of gender equality.

Discourse analysis of gender equality and non-discrimination laws and strategies

Based on the contemporary research on gender and language, using the method of discourse analysis applied to the laws and policies, this article explains how certain linguistic practice, in the context of the administrative discourse, produces meaning that may or may not contribute to its better understanding and more efficient implementation. Through discourse analysis of gender equality and non-discrimination laws and strategies in Serbia, it has been shown how and with what consequences the socio-political and academic elites affect defining and promoting certain concepts (gender, sex, gender equality, discrimination) in one social and historical moment. The paper is placed in the theoretical framework of three visions of gender equality: perspective of equal treatment, women?s perspectives and gender perspective (Booth, Bennett 2002), that are corresponding to the three strategies for achieving gender equality: equal treatment, specific policy of gender equality and gender mainstreaming (Verloo, 2001). The discourse analysis of the Law on Gender Equality (2009), the National Strategy for the Improvement of the Position of Women and Advancement of Gender Equality (2009), the Law on Prohibition of Discrimination (2009) and the Strategy for Prevention and Protection against Discrimination (2013), has shown the context of use and meaning of terms gender and sex, as well as implications it has on their potential to change the existing paradigms and understanding of gender equality, and the implementation of policies in Serbia. Analysis of the use of terms sex and gender in the most important legal and strategic documents for achieving gender equality, showed that the choice of certain categories and terms is always a political choice. The authors show how these documents are written in the key of two gender perspectives and strategies: equal treatment and the specific policy of gender equality, while the third - introduction of a gender perspective and gender mainstreaming is almost not mentioned, although it is consider to have the greatest potential for transformation of existing patterns of power and hierarchy in society (Booth, Bennett, 2002; Verloo 2005; Walby, 2011). While it is clear that neither laws nor strategies can reflect the complete corpus of knowledge and ideology of gender equality and feminist theory, it is essential that they, at the discourse level, act as a source of new knowledge and understanding of these concepts. Better connection between these documents and the contemporary feminist theory, the use of knowledge accumulated within gender studies, as well as their consistent linguistic and terminological compatibility and innovation, would contribute to a better understanding of concepts, terminology and knowledge of gender equality among the general public.

A systematic review and qualitative synthesis of adolescents' views of sexual readiness.

The aim of this study was to synthesize the qualitative evidence investigating adolescents' views on heterosexual readiness. Adolescents' understandings of sexual readiness are often missing in research and debates on sexual health and related concepts like sexual consent. Research to date has predominantly focussed on age and socio-cultural predictors of sexual debut, thus failing to explain how adolescents themselves conceptualize their readiness for heterosexual relations. A systematic review and thematic synthesis of qualitative evidence. CINAHL, Psychinfo, PubMed, Web of science were searched, 1985-Feb 2016. Critical Appraisal Skills Programme checklist was used to assess methodological quality. A thematic synthesis focused on commonalities and variations in the data from included studies on adolescents' perspectives of their readiness for sex. Sixteen studies were included. Themes identified were: social learning, relationships and implications for sexual health promotion and practice. Adolescents may not view initiating sex as problematic, focusing instead on the rewards sex brings and less on health concerns. Adolescents tend to reproduce dominant gender norms of masculinity and femininity in communication about sexual decision-making, which are sometimes influenced by social scripts of career aspirations and ethnic identity. Age was also significant in adolescents' accounts. Early adolescence is a critical period when understandings of gender equality become embedded, thus an opportunity to engage adolescents in critiquing ideas about gender equality and sexual rights. Further research exploring adolescents' understandings of sexual readiness is required. We recommend a participatory approach to support the inclusion of adolescent voices to inform contextually relevant sexual health promotion strategies.

Personal journey of development through the Gender Responsive and Participatory Budgeting (GRPB) project, Penang

The main focus of this paper is women’s empowerment in the context of the Gender Responsive and Participatory Budgeting (GRPB) Project in Penang, Malaysia. It includes a critical reflection on my own learning process regarding my personal improvement and empowerment in terms of expanding my knowledge and understanding of gender equality. This is then related to my commitment to the community via the GRPB project. Problems, limitations, and challenges in terms of achieving women’s empowerment are also addressed, taking into consideration the experience I gathered through various personal and community contexts.

Sex trade, social and legal aspect of the phenomena and the Albanian criminal legislation provisions

The purpose of this paper is to analyse the effects of Article 113 of the Albanian Criminal Code on women. This article appears to be gender neutral, but it’s enforcement affects women disproportionately and face them with forms of indirect gender discrimination. Through monitoring of Tirana Judicial District Court’s decisions, with object article 113 of the ACC, “Prostitution”, for a four year period from 2010 through 2013 and interviews with women who have exercised prostitution, there are brought in attention the profiles of the individuals who exercise prostitution and also social aspects of this phenomena. The hypothesis raised in this paper is that the profile of an individual who exercises prostitution is a vulnerable woman, with low education, unemployed, with low income, who is faced with family and social problems. This paper analyses the relation between the social aspects and legal dynamics of article 113 of ACC. The changes of 2012 introduced in the article 113 of the ACC brought sanctions for persons who buy the service of prostitution reflecting the process of social changes and understanding of gender equality. The issue of the next steps to address this phenomenon is analysed in this article too.

Pragmatic Discourse and Gender Inequality in China

Using courtroom dialogs from actual court trials in China as data, this article analyzes an emerging “pragmatic discourse,” deployed by judges to assist, but at the same time to constrain divorcing women. Through questions, statements, rebuttals, and other interactional devices, Chinese judges define the premises that underpin the law's understanding of gender equality and women's welfare. By looking at how discourses are deployed by judges and litigants, we link micro linguistic practices to more general social forces and processes. Despite their honest effort to protect women's rights, Chinese judges often inadvertently reinforce and reproduce the patriarchal norm. The data demonstrate how the hegemonic patriarchal order reasserts itself in an institutional forum that is meant to promote gender equality. The interaction of the discourses also highlights the tensions in Chinese society and displays the effect of changing social environment on the legal operation.

Community understandings of and responses to gender equality and empowerment in Rakai, Uganda

Women's rights and gender empowerment programmes are now part of the international agenda for improving global public health, the benefits of which are well documented. However, the public health community has, yet, to address how people define and understand gender equality and how they enact the process of empowerment in their lives. This study uses safe homes and respect for everyone (SHARE), an anti-violence intervention in rural Rakai, Uganda, as a case study to investigate perceptions of gender equality. Investigators analysed 12 focus groups of adult women and men to explore how macro-level concepts of gender equality are being processed on an interpersonal level and the effects on health outcomes. Respondents generally agreed that women lack basic rights. However, they also expressed widespread disagreement about the meanings of gender equality, and reported difficulties integrating the concepts of gender equality into their interpersonal relationships. Community members reported that equality, with the resulting shift in gender norms, could expose women to adverse consequences such as violence, infidelity and abandonment with increased sexual health risks, and potential adverse effects on education. Efforts to increase women's rights must occur in conjunction with community-based work on understandings of gender equality.

Constructions of innovation and gender (equality) in Swedish universities

Purpose – This paper utilizes the concept of innovation as a form of methodological starting-point in order to analyse the gendered meanings of marketization in Swedish universities. The purpose of the paper is to scrutinize how the concept of innovation is produced in Swedish universities, and how these versions of innovation are gendered and related to different understandings of gender equality. Design/methodology/approach – The analysis departs from a critical perspective to studies of gender equality and is anchored in a critical policy analysis approach – the “what's the problem represented to be? Approach” developed by Bacchi. This approach is used in the analysis of interviews with top-level leaders at two Swedish universities and how they perceive innovation. The results are related to a governmentality framework in order to explain the gendered innovation discourse in academia. Findings – One of the main results is that innovation is represented in a broad way when discussed at a more abstract l...

European Gender Equality Under and After State Socialism: Legal Treatment of Prostitution in the Czech Republic

The thesis looks at the legal responses to prostitution in Czechoslovakia and the Czech Republic under State Socialism and in Transition, and the understanding of gender equality therein. It argues that both, the legal regimes and the understandings of prostitution, varied between these periods. Under State Socialism, professional prostitutes were criminally liable under provisions on parasitism. In Transition, the ‘boom’ of prostitution after 1989 lead to the adoption of containment provisions, the violation of which results in fines for prostitutes. While being repressive toward prostitute as a work-shirker, the Socialist State, inspired by Marxist ideology, had aspirations to eliminate prostitution, which it saw as exploitation of women. Policy influencing actors in Transition, on the other hand, have become resigned to its existence. Prostitution has been seen as pathological but inevitable. As prostitutes have been mostly considered agents making free choice, they have been treated as legitimate objects of containment, state regulation and control. Gender equality, it is argued, was insufficiently considered during both periods. Because feminists (the sex-work and the sexual domination positions) fundamentally disagree about the best legislative regime, the thesis chose to work with the standard of ‘well-being of the prostitute’. At least, this requires for prostitutes not to be treated worse than procurers or clients, for example with regards to administrative, health or criminal obligations and liability. The thesis argues that State Socialism as well as Transition failed this minimal test – both regimes are marked by an absence of feminist analysis of the phenomenon of prostitution and a legal conceptualization of it as a gender equality issue.

Responding to the gender and education Millennium Development Goals in South Africa and Kenya: reflections on education rights, gender equality, capabilities and global justice1

This paper explores understandings of gender equality and education and the nature of global goal and target setting, drawing on empirical data collected in central and local government departments in Kenya and South Africa reflecting on their implementation of Millennium Development Goal (MDG) 1, concerned with poverty, MDG 2, concerned with education, and MDG 3, concerned with gender equality. The study raises questions about the ownership of the MDGs and the reasons for the kinds of changes in meaning about gender and rights made by differently situated officials.

Contemporary family life: A joint venture with contradictions

Based on a longitudinal interview-study of ten heterosexual couples and first-time parents, in Denmark the author argues that addressing contemporary everyday family life as a joint venture with contradictions contributes new insights into the complexities, contradictions, and ambiguities linked to parents' daily practices with their child. Previous research has identified a paradox between the ideal of gender equality on the one hand, and the differentiated and gender-based division of housework and care on the other. In this article, however, it is argued that changes are accruing even though parents still appear to adopt gender-based models when it comes to the day-to-day care and the distribution of domestic chores. Through empirical analyses it is demonstrated how the advent of the child becomes a fulcrum, and also how female and male parents' expectations, beliefs and practises are rooted in traditional notions of complementary gender roles as well as in new understandings of gender equality based on ideals of mutual trust, respect and support. As a result, it is important to investigate how parenthood, family life and parental roles are constantly reflected upon and reproduced, negotiated and transformed through multifaceted and even contradictory strategies.