Gender Analysis: Tips And Tools

Mahmuda Anwar
EDRD 6000, March 2013
 Some BasicDefinitions
Sex-refers to the biological difference between men and women. The differences are
concerned with men’s and women’s bodies

Gender-refers to the social difference between men and women based on activities,
roles and responsibilities connected to be a male or female. These differences are
changeable overtime

Equity- refers to fairness and justice in the distribution of responsibilities and

benefits between men and women. It leads togender equality

Equality- refers to equal rights, responsibilities and opportunities for menand

women(and girls and boys)

Gender Relations-refers the social relationships between men and women. Gender
relations vary according to time , place and other relations such as class, race,
ethnicity , disability and so on(March, Smyth & Mukhopadhyay , 1999)
 Gender Concepts
Women in Development(WID)
This concept, introduced in the 1970s, focuses on women’s practical needs. It aims to
change the condition of women through women’s participation. Specific women’s project and
support form all development actors were centered to make women more efficient in development
activities/projects.

Gender And Development(GAD)

This concept focuses on gender relation, and addresses inequalities in women’s and men’s
social roles in relation to development. It aims to change the position of women and incorporate
gender consideration into mainstream.
This approach argues that sustainable development is only possible if women and men
are equally involved and that equality of women is not just a women’s issue, it is a goal that requires
the active participation of both men and women(“Gender Analysis Guideline”, 2012).

Gender Mainstreaming
The concept focuses on institutionalizing gender sensitivity and equality. It aims to
mainstream all gender concerns into every aspect of an organizational priorities andprocedures.
“Mainstreaming gender is both a technical and political process which requires shifts in
organizational cultures and ways of thinking, as well as in the goals, structures, and resources
allocation of international agencies , government, andNGOs”(Kardam,1998).
 What is GenderAnalysis?

Gender analysis is a systematic analytical process that

examines the relationship between men and women, and the
inequalities of those relationships in relevance of gender roles
and power dynamics in a given context (“Tips for”,2011,p-2).

Main Goals of GenderAnalysis

 To better understand a community for developmental work
 To ensure gender equality in development context

Source of picture :http://tinasheonline.com/2012/09/gender-based-analysis-immigrantyouth-social-innovation/

 When to conduct Gender Analysis

Policy/Program/project
Design

Policy/Program/project Gender Policy/Program/project

Evaluation
Analysis Planning

Policy/Program/project
Implementation
Stages of GenderAnalysis
Adapted from “Gender Analysis Toolkit”, 2009
Whatquestions do we ask for Gender Analysis

Questions about Questions about

Roles and Access & Control Questions about
Responsibilities the Influencing
Factors
Who has what?
Who doeswhat? Why not equal?
Who decidesfor
How? Cultural factors?
whom?
When? Social factor?
Who hasaccess?
Where? Economical ?
Who benefits?
With whom? Others?
Who losses?
 How to find the answers of the questions

Development context tool kit, livelihood toolkit and stakeholders

priorities for development toolkit can be used for asking questions about
current situations and future planning(FAO,2001).
The development context tools are-Village resource map, transects, trend
lines, village social map , Venn diagram and institutional profiles.
Livelihoods tools are- farming system diagram, benefits analysis flow chart,
daily activities clocks, seasonal calendars, income and expenditure
matrices and resource picture cards.
Stakeholders Priorities Tools are- Pair wise ranking matrix, flow diagram,
problem analysis chart, venn diagram of stakeholders, stakeholders conflict
and partnership matrix , and best bets actionplan.

Source: SEAGAField Handbook,FAO,2001

Gender Analysis FrameWorks
Gender Analysis Frame Works are practicalinstruments
designed to understand the gender dynamics within a project
or a context. Framework used for analysis of tools.

Purposes of Gender Analysis FrameWork

 Context Analysis
 Visualisation of keypoints
 Planning of Development works
 Communications
 Monitoring & Evaluation
Name of FrameWork Key concepts Strength Weakness/Challenges

The Harvard Analytical This is a grid/matrix for collecting data on gender •Easy adaptable to all sectors •Focusing on gender roles
Frame Work roles at individual and community level. It has four •Provides micro level data rather than gender
main components: activity profile; access and control •Helps planners design more relations
over resources ; influencing factors; and project cycle efficient projects and improve •Lackof power analysis
analysis. overall productivity •Time consuming
The Moser It identifies women’s triple role as productive, •Accessible and easy applicable •Assumes women are
Frame Work reproductive and community activities. It is a •The concept of “triple role ” homogenous
(Also known as the planning methodology which tells: division of labour makes all areas of work visible •Time consuming
triple rolesframework) at micro level; gender differences in access to and •Does not highlight other
control over resources; decision making, and forms of inequalities such
WID/GAD policy matrix. asclass and race
Gender Analysis Matrix This is a community–based technique to analyze •Fosters “bottom-up’ analysis •Difficulties defining
gender differences at household and community level through a community
and considers impact on labour, time, resources and community participation •Excludes macro
social cultural factors. and institutional analysis
Capacities Used by external agencies in emergency relief •CVA can be used at all levels- •Does notinclude an
and interventions to meet immediate needs, and to build from the community to the explicit agenda for
Vulnerabilities on people’s strengths to support at long-term social national and even international women’s empowerment
Analysis(CVA) and economic development. level
Fram
e Work
Women’s This frame work might be used to assess how a Focus on gender relation rather •Ignores other aspects of
Empowerment development intervention or programme might than only women’srole empowerment(rights,
Fram support greater women’sempowerment. claims and responsibilities)
e Work
Social The approach uses an institutional analysis in order to •This approach can be use both •Complex analysis
Relatio identify how institutions(community, market , state in policy analysis and in •Emphasis on
n Approach and family) create and reproduceinequalities. development programmes structure and ignores
agency
The People- This framework is an adaptation of the Harvard • Easy to use • Top-down approaches
Oriented Planning Analytical Frame Work and uses to the situation of • Give a clear picture
FrameWork refugees . Aims of the frame work is: to ensure that
 Tips for Gender Analysis
I came up with the term “PERFORM” which when expanded summarizes the key
considerations for gender analysis specially in the ruralcontext

Participation of community members isessential

Ensure full diversity of women’s and men’s voices and experiences are captured

Respect values, culture and norms of the society

Find a place for using the tools which is accessible to allmen and women

Organize the process in natural settings

Represent same issue from different perspectives(triangulation)

Monitor the whole process from the position of an observer or a facilitator

Note: Consider sexual minorities if any(gay/transgender)

 References
• Canadian International Development Agency.n.d. Gender Analysis. Retrieved from
http://tamarackcommunity.ca/downloads/gender/Tools.pdf

• Food And Agriculture Organization(FAO). (2001). SEAGAField Handbook. Rome.

Retrieved from www.gdnonline.org/resources/seaga-field-handbook.pdf

•Gender Analysis Toolkit.(2009). Queensland Government. Retrieved from

http://www.communities.qld.gov.au/women/resources/resource-types/gender-analysis-toolkit-resource

• Gender Analysis Guideline.(2012). Retrieved from

www.aid.govt.nz/.../Gender%20Analysis%20Guideline_0.pdf

• Kardam , N.(1998).Changing Institutions in Women’s Interests.

Retrieved from http://www.bridge.ids.ac.uk/Dgb5

• March,C.,Smyth,I., Mukhopadhyay , M.(1999). A Guide to Gender-Analysis Frame works . Oxfam:Oxford

• Tips for Conducting a Gender Analysis at the Activity or Project Level. (2011,March 17). USAID.
Retrieved from http://transition.usaid.gov/policy/ads/200/201sae.pdf

• World Health Organization(WHO).(2002).Gender Analysis: A Review of Selected Tools.

Retrieved from http://www.who.int/gender/documents/en/Gender.analysis.pdf