Understanding gender equality
Module 2
Training notes
The purpose of this module is to explore the concept of gender equality with all stakeholders to ensure that when we move on to the next module, gender based social barriers to WRLOs, we are working from a common definition. If participants are already well versed in gender equality, a brief refresher of key concepts should be enough to progress straight to Module 3. The exercises in this module are designed for people who have not done previous training on gender equality. It also informs the material in modules 4, 5, 6 and 7.
Aims
The module aims to provide a baseline we can use when discussing gender equality in the context of refugee women and girls.
Suggested time needed to run the full module
The basic material can be covered in 2 hours with the use of two short exercises. A more thorough coverage and analysis can take 4 hours, using additional exercises provided, or by accessing some of the excellent gender equality training found online such as from UN Women.
Gender equality – A useful definition
Gender equality refers to the equal rights, responsibilities and opportunities of women and men and girls and boys. Equality does not mean that women and men will become the same but that women’s and men’s rights, responsibilities and opportunities will not depend on whether they are born male or female.
Gender equality implies that the interests, needs and priorities of both women and men are taken into consideration, recognising the diversity of different groups of women and men. Gender equality is not a women’s issue but should concern and fully engage men as well as women. Equality between women and men is seen both as a human rights issue and as a precondition for, and indicator of, sustainable people-centred development.
UN Women: https://www.un.org/womenwatch/osagi/conceptsandefinitions.htm
PowerPoint slides
This PowerPoint presentation will take the group through the rationale for the session, and introduce the Tools and exercises. Do as many of the exercises as can be accommodated in the time available, preferably using real life examples. Please familiarise yourself with the background readings before presenting the slides.
Tools and exercises
If the group or community with whom you are working have not done any previous gender training, we suggest that you complete the tools and exercises with all key stakeholders, and with representatives from the refugee communities as well as community leaders if possible. It is important that participants have a common understanding about how the term Gender Equality is being used in this Training program, and to fulfil the aims of the various modules.
A tool to identify locally appropriate ways of promoting gender equality with potential solutions to barriers.
Gender norms and inequality are maintained by social, cultural, economic, religious, legal and political systems.
- Tool to Promote Gender Equality Appropriately: Word Version
- Tool to Promote Gender Equality Appropriately: PDF Version
Exercises to do with community groups and other stakeholders
The same exercise (above) can be used when working with stakeholders community groups and service provider networks, to gain their insights. Consider what the gender issues were, what impact they have on the local situation and the relative power of stakeholders to address them.
- Exercise 2
- In small groups, share a story from your own experience where gender inequality has been a significant factor. It can be a story from your personal life, or the story of someone you know or have heard about.
Consider what the gender issues were, and what impact they had on the situation. How might these be changed?