GENDER AND DEVELOPMENT

Gender
 one of the universal dimensions on which status differences are based;  social construct specifying the socially and culturally prescribed roles that men and women are to follow  shapes the lives of all people in all societies  influences the schooling we receive, the social roles we play and the power and authority we command

Theories of Gender Development

1. Social Learning Theory  Parents, as the distributor of reinforcement, reinforce appropriate gender role behaviors  Children are reinforced or punished for different kinds of behavior as they learn appropriate gender behavior 2. Cognitive-Developmental Theory  Derived from Kholbergs speculations about gender and development  Children engage in symbolic thinking by about two years of age and from this ability, they acquire their gender identity and they begin the process of acquiring gender-appropriate behavior 3. Gender Schema Theory  Schema is a mental blueprint for organizing information and children develop and formulate an appropriate gender  Such a schema helps a child to develop gender identity and formulate an appropriate role

Gender Stereotyping
 Beliefs that human hold about the characteristics associated with males and females

GENDER AND EQUALITY

 Gives women and men the same entitlements to all aspects of human development a. Economic, social, cultural, civil and political rights b. The same level of respect c. The same opportunities to make choices d. The same power to shape the outcomes of these choices Research Findings a. Gender inequality tends to slow economic growth and make the rise from poverty more difficult b. Women and girls tend to work harder than men are more likely to invest their earnings in their children Womens empowerment is particularly important for determining a countrys demographic trends that in turn affect its economic success and environmental sustainability

Gender
 Costume, a mask, a straitjacket in which men and women dance their unequal dance (Gerda Lerner, The Creation of Patriarchy)  Of all the ways that one group has systematically mistreated one another, none is more deeply rooted than the way men have subordinated women. All other subordinations pale by contrast (Alan Wolfe, The Gender Question)  The subordination of women preceded all other subordinations and that to rid of all those other isms racism, classicism, ageism, etc. it is sexism that must first be eradicated.  Gender means sexlessness or equality of the sexes   Sexism immediately connotes discrimination or prejudice against sexes especially against women. Feminism is the advocacy of womens rights on the ground of equality of the sexes.

Gender Equality
 Gained wide acceptance as an important goal for many countries around the world  Vital component of population policies

Advancing gender equality and equity and the empowerment of women, and the elimination of all kinds of violence against women, and ensuring womens ability to control their own fertility, are cornerstones of population and development related programs. Strong evidence from around the world confirms that gender equality accelerates overall economic growth, strengthens democratic governance and reduces poverty and insecurity (Kemal Davis, UNDP Administrator). Giving women equal rights and opportunities can only serve to enhance this contribution and to bring us closer to the goal of eliminating poverty, hunger and disease. The full participation of women at all levels of decision making is a basic human right, one that is critical to peace and development. Promoting gender equality and the empowerment of women is an effective strategy to ensure that the other Millennium Development Goals are achieved. Republic Act No. 7192 otherwise known as Women in Development and Nation Building Act, promulgated February 12, 1992 in the Philippines.

  

Andrew V. Paje Reflection

GENDER TOWARDS SUBSTANTIAL DEVELOPMENT

Gender refers to the specific set of characteristics that identifies the social behavior of women and men and the relationship between them. Gender alludes not simply to women or men but to the relationship between them and the way it is socially constructed. Since gender biases exist and these biases prevent people from attaining their full potentials, development is impeded. To ensure that explicit, implicit, actual and potential gender biases are removed, the government embarked on gender and development (GAD) as one of its priority programs. GAD is a significant step of the government that focuses on the principle that development is for all. Everyone in society, female or male, has the right to equal opportunities to achieve a full and satisfying life. Women and men enjoy the same conditions for realizing their full human rights and potentials to contribute to development as well as benefit from the results. I just hope that this program would earn favorable and commendable response as we gear towards the new millennium for it I believe that gender equality and women empowerment are factors in achieving the substantial development.

Danilo V. Rogayan Jr. Reflection

GENDER EQUALITY IN NATION BUILDING

Gender equality means women and men have equal opportunities to realize their individual potential, to contribute to their country's economic and social development and to benefit equally from their participation in society. Gender inequality restricts a country's economic growth. Removing inequalities gives societies a better chance to develop. When women and men have relative equality, economies grow faster, children's health improves and there is less corruption. Gender equality is an important human right. While gains have been made, gender inequalities in health and education are still striking given that two-thirds of the 800 million people in the world who lack basic literacy skills are female. Women hold an average of three per cent of seats in national parliaments in Pacific island countries, and an average of 19 per cent of seats in East Asia and half a million women die each year from complications during pregnancy - 99 per cent of them in developing countries. Investments in women's and girls' education and health yield some of the highest returns of all development investments, including reduced rates of maternal mortality, better educated and healthier children and increased household incomes. Achieving gender equality extends beyond improving female health and education. It means access to economic resources, participation and leadership in decision making, respect for the human rights of women, and an increased capacity to tackle gender inequalities. These are the four interrelated factors that development investments need to address to advance gender equality. Strategies and targets need to engage women and girls more effectively, and the effectiveness of these strategies needs to be monitored. Development results cannot be maximized without attending to the different needs, interests, priorities and roles of women, men, boys and girls, and the relations between them. Development programs cannot succeed without the participation and cooperation of all members of the community.