Gender equality glossary

Equality The equal valuing and treatment of all people so they have the same rights to the economic, social, cultural and political developments within society.   Gender Socially constructed roles and attributes ascribed to men and women. These are learned and change over time, which means they can be changed for the improvement of all. They vary widely between societies and can be influenced by ethnicity, culture, class, age, religion, and historical and economic factors.   Gender analysis The process of considering the differential impact that gender has on societies and organisations, in terms of individuals' access to power, opportunities and resources. Gender analysis of a development project reviews the impact of planned changes on the women/girls and men/boys and on the economic and social relationships between them. Issues considered in a gender analysis can include the gendered division of labour; access to and control over resources and the distribution of benefits; social, economic and environmental factors that influence all of the above; and decision-making capacity. It entails collecting sex-disaggregated data and gender sensitive information about the population concerned.   Gender and Development (GAD) An approach to improving the status of women which includes the active participation of both men and women, as opposed to only considering the remediation of women's circumstances. GAD focuses on social, economic, political and cultural forces that determine how men and women can access and control resources.   Gender equality The equal valuing of the roles of women and men leading to both sexes being able to equally contribute to and benefit from economic, social, cultural and political developments within society.   Gender equity The process of creating equitable outcomes for men and women. This may include equal or differential treatment, depending on the nature of the disadvantage or impediment preventing a more equitable outcome. Strategies such as affirmative action initiatives are an example of differential treatment to achieve a more equitable outcome. Sex The biological differences between men and women   Gender equity The process of creating equitable outcomes for men and women. This may include equal or differential treatment, depending on the nature of the disadvantage or impediment preventing a more equitable outcome. Strategies such as affirmative action initiatives are an example of differential treatment to achieve a more equitable outcome.   Sexism Discrimination on the basis of sex   Women in development (WID) An approach to development that focuses on women as a separate group and their specific situations and needs. WID activities frequently involve only women as participants and beneficiaries of development initiatives. Source: Adapted from UNESCO Gender Mainstreaming http://portal.unesco.org/en/ev.php-URL_ID=11483&URL_DO=DO_TOPIC&URL_SECTION=201.html