Gender and Gender Based Violence Institute of Development

Gender and Gender Based Violence Institute of Development Studies Jaipur

Gender based Violence • Issue of VAW gained increasing centrality in 1975 -95 globally, nationally and regionally. • UN Decade for Women; WID initiatives; GAD efforts - successful in identifying problems critical to women's participation that were not previously understood as development and human rights issues. • One such area is violence against women.

1970’s • The work of Esther Boserup, Women’s Role in Economic Development (1970), provided intellectual underpinning for WID arguments which had lasting impact on the women and development discourse.

Esther Boserup • Challenged the assumptions of the ‘welfare approach’ • Highlighted the important role women played in agriculture economy of Sub-Saharan Africa. • Also challenged the conventional wisdom that women were less productive and not entitled to a share of scarce development resources

Gender and Development • The UN Millennium Declaration (2000) makes an explicit commitment to Gender Equality as an end in itself • “ No individual and no nation must be denied the opportunity to benefit from development. The equal rights and opportunities of women and men must be assured”.

Ga. D contd… • Gender Inequality more pervasive than other forms of inequality. • A feature of social relations in most societiesdifferent forms in different cultures. • Can be seen in – distribution of roles and responsibilities, access to resources, power and decision making

Sex and Gender • SEX- biological state of being male or female, born with, cannot be changed • GENDER-Socially constructed, not born with, can be changed

Gender • Is not another word for women • Does not focus on women alone • Does not denote sexual difference

Concept of Gender and Gender Relations • Gender -- rules, norms, customs and practices by which biological differences between males and females are translated into socially constructed differences between men and women and boys and girl • Results in the two genders being valued differently and in their having unequal opportunities and life chances.

Concept of Gender contd… • Gender Relations- an aspect of broader social relations, shaped and sanctioned by norms and values. • Central to these are culturally specific notions of masculinity and femininity. • Do not operate in social vacuum • Four key institutions: family/community/market and state

UNDERSTANDING GENDER • Gender refers to the socially constructed roles and responsibilities of boys and girls, women and men • Gender roles are learned from families and communities • Differ by culture and religion and periods of history

Gender Equality • Gender Equality: equality of treatment under law and equality of opportunity • A necessary condition for human development

Factors contributing to existing gender inequalities in Rajasthan • Several interrelated factors – Patriarchal values, ideologies and practices • Expected to fit the image of a ‘good’ woman • Gender discriminatory practices-low value at birth/pre-birth

Contd… • Seen in reproductive role i. e. homemakers and child bearers; men as providers. • Poor access to resources as education, health and nutrition • Rights severely curtailed, authority and decisionmaking remains largely with men

Sex Ratio Urban Rural Juvenile sex ratio Urban Rural (Source: Census 2001) 922 890 932 909 886 914

Juvenile Sex Ratio • Declined in 21 out of 32 districts from 916 in 1991 to 909 in 2001, total decline of 7 decimals • Worse in western and northern regions compared to southern and south-eastern regions. • 13 districts lower than 900

Article 2 UN Declaration • "Violence against women shall be understood to encompass, but not be limited to, the following: Physical, sexual and psychological violence occurring in the family, including battering, sexual abuse of female children in the household, dowry-related violence, marital rape, female genital mutilation and other traditional practices harmful to women, nonspousal violence and violence related to exploitation.

Gender Based Violence • Physical, sexual and psychological violence occurring within the general community, including rape, sexual abuse, sexual harassment and intimidation at work, in educational institutions and elsewhere, trafficking in women and forced prostitution. • Physical, sexual and psychological violence perpetrated or condoned by the state, wherever it occurs"

Institutional Mechanisms to address gender inequalities • • State Commission for Women Mahila Thanas Vishakha Judgment State Policy for Women