scholarly journals Discourse analysis of gender equality and non-discrimination laws and strategies

Temida ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
pp. 95-117
Author(s):  
Zorana Antonijevic ◽  
Kosana Beker
Keyword(s):  
Discourse Analysis ◽  
Feminist Theory ◽  
Gender Equality ◽  
Gender Mainstreaming ◽  
Equal Treatment ◽  
Sex And Gender ◽  
Gender Perspective ◽  
Specific Policy ◽  
The Law ◽  
And Gender

Based on the contemporary research on gender and language, using the method of discourse analysis applied to the laws and policies, this article explains how certain linguistic practice, in the context of the administrative discourse, produces meaning that may or may not contribute to its better understanding and more efficient implementation. Through discourse analysis of gender equality and non-discrimination laws and strategies in Serbia, it has been shown how and with what consequences the socio-political and academic elites affect defining and promoting certain concepts (gender, sex, gender equality, discrimination) in one social and historical moment. The paper is placed in the theoretical framework of three visions of gender equality: perspective of equal treatment, women?s perspectives and gender perspective (Booth, Bennett 2002), that are corresponding to the three strategies for achieving gender equality: equal treatment, specific policy of gender equality and gender mainstreaming (Verloo, 2001). The discourse analysis of the Law on Gender Equality (2009), the National Strategy for the Improvement of the Position of Women and Advancement of Gender Equality (2009), the Law on Prohibition of Discrimination (2009) and the Strategy for Prevention and Protection against Discrimination (2013), has shown the context of use and meaning of terms gender and sex, as well as implications it has on their potential to change the existing paradigms and understanding of gender equality, and the implementation of policies in Serbia. Analysis of the use of terms sex and gender in the most important legal and strategic documents for achieving gender equality, showed that the choice of certain categories and terms is always a political choice. The authors show how these documents are written in the key of two gender perspectives and strategies: equal treatment and the specific policy of gender equality, while the third - introduction of a gender perspective and gender mainstreaming is almost not mentioned, although it is consider to have the greatest potential for transformation of existing patterns of power and hierarchy in society (Booth, Bennett, 2002; Verloo 2005; Walby, 2011). While it is clear that neither laws nor strategies can reflect the complete corpus of knowledge and ideology of gender equality and feminist theory, it is essential that they, at the discourse level, act as a source of new knowledge and understanding of these concepts. Better connection between these documents and the contemporary feminist theory, the use of knowledge accumulated within gender studies, as well as their consistent linguistic and terminological compatibility and innovation, would contribute to a better understanding of concepts, terminology and knowledge of gender equality among the general public.

scholarly journals EU Equality Commitments and Shifting Meanings of Gender Equality

2009 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Erin J. Black
Keyword(s):  
Gender Equality ◽  
Policy Making ◽  
Gender Mainstreaming ◽  
Equal Treatment ◽  
Policy Frames ◽  
Policy Making Process ◽  
Positive Action ◽  
And Gender ◽  
Action Measures ◽  
Treatment Policies

This article follows the development of a European Union gender equality regime through three broad periods: equal treatment policies, positive action measures, and Gender Mainstreaming. The policy-making process entails conflict between competing policy frames; unequal resources behind each secures the dominance of an economic frame. Strategical framing practices have been employed by equality advocates to overcome this disadvantage. This article traces the gradual shifts in meaning within each period until equality goals are integrated into the dominant economic policy frame. It concludes that equality advocates need to engage in deeper analyses of power in order to sustain attention to equality goals over longer periods of time.

scholarly journals Sex and Gender Equality Policies in Education in Three Southern European Societies: the cases of Andalusia and Valencian Community (Spain) and Portugal

2020 ◽  
Vol 29 (1) ◽  
pp. 137-151
Author(s):  
Mar Venegas Medina ◽  
Alicia Villar-Aguilés ◽  
Sofía Almeida Santos
Keyword(s):  
Gender Equality ◽  
Sexuality Education ◽  
Political Orientation ◽  
Gender Mainstreaming ◽  
International Strategy ◽  
Sex And Gender ◽  
European Public ◽  
Recent Developments ◽  
And Gender ◽  
Diversity In Education

Gender mainstreaming is an international strategy in Europe relating to gender equality using an intersectional approach. It deals, specifically, with new challenges for sexuality and diversity in education. From within this context, this paper focuses on two goals. The first is to analyse sex and gender equality policies in education, since the 2000s, in three Southern European societies: Andalusia and Valencian Community, in Spain, and Portugal. The second goal is to arrive at some comparative conclusions about the recent developments in sex and gender equality policies in education in these three societies. We end with some comparative conclusions. First, there is the political orientation of governments, which seems to be of relevance. Second, there are the policies and plans reviewed, which show a move from (binary) gender equality to a more inclusive gender equality that intersects with sexuality and diversity. Sexuality education, already available in Portugal, is still absent from Spanish schools. These three experiences can inform European public policies.

scholarly journals CONSTRUCTION AND DECONSTRUCTION OF GENDER IN THE CONTEMPORARY HUMANITIES

2019 ◽  
pp. 5-16
Author(s):  
Olga A. Voronina ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Gender Identity ◽  
Gender Equality ◽  
Judith Butler ◽  
The Body ◽  
Social Knowledge ◽  
Feminist Philosophy ◽  
Sex And Gender ◽  
Gender Perspective ◽  
Constructivist Model ◽  
And Gender

The purpose of this article is to analyze the evolution of the concept of gender in social knowledge and the humanities. The term «gender» encompasses biological (sexual), psychological, social, cultural, symbolic aspects of human life. Even before the introduction of this term into scientific publications in the 1960s, the phenomenon itself was discovered in three types of knowledge: in psychology and psychiatry when studying various forms of sexuality and sexual identity, in anthropological and ethnographic studies, and in the feminist philosophy of culture. This largely determined the main directions in the study and understanding of gender for several decades. The theory of socio-cultural construction of gender played the main role. It developed in parallel with other critical and constructivist scientific concepts, which in no small part led to its adoption by «academics» and the inclusion of the gender perspective in the body of scientific research. However, along with the development of postmodern feminist philosophy, the concept of gender undergoes redefinition. The constructivist model of gender is displaced by the performative concept of Judith Butler. She argues that not only gender but the biological sex does not exist outside the cultural framework and power discourse. The binary matrix of gender, gender identity and heterosexuality is approved within the framework of the dominant discourse with the help of various regulatory actions (performatives). Butler rejects this model because she claims that bodies, sex and gender identity have different configurations. The performative concept of sex was actively used in the queer project, as it provided justification for rejecting the normative binary concept of femininity and masculinity and the corresponding heterosexuality. Today, queer includes political movement, research, art, and discursive deconstruction of normative heterosexuality. The variant of mosaic nature, hybridity and relativism of identity proposed in the queer project destroys the possibility of social and political transformations in the sphere of gender equality. Instead, queer activists advocate an elusive equality of opportunity to try on different identities at one’s own discretion. At the present stage, the theoretical radicalism of queer makes the development of new social programs unlikely, while they appear to be necessary. In contrast, gender theory (in its feminist, constructivist, and cultural-symbolic modes) has had a significant scientific and social impact. The use of the gender perspective in social knowledge and the humanities has provided better understanding of the individual and society. The principle of achieving gender equality has been accepted by the world community and has become part of many programs at the international and national levels. However, the problems in the understanding of the relation between sex and gender, discovered in performative and queer theory, become significant against a background of spreading biotechnologies (from sex reassignment surgeries to assisted reproduction). This requires wider research and further discussion among different schools.

Gender equality and gender mainstreaming: the issue of equal opportunities in the European context

2019 ◽  
pp. 9-30
Author(s):  
Vera Lomazzi ◽  
Isabella Crespi
Keyword(s):  
Gender Equality ◽  
Current Approach ◽  
Gender Mainstreaming ◽  
Equal Treatment ◽  
Equal Opportunities ◽  
Equal Rights ◽  
Positive Action ◽  
And Gender ◽  
The Individual ◽  
The Eu

This chapter deals with the definition, understanding and exploration of the issue of gender equality approaches that the EU has developed to promote equal opportunities between men and women. The chapter examines the different strategies used across time to implement gender equality in the EU and how this conceptualisation led to the current approach of gender mainstreaming. In particular, three phases are identified and discussedinthe chapter: equal treatment, positive action and gender mainstreaming. The last one is discussed deeply because itformed a substantial and important backbone in the context of the individual rights of citizens of the Union by creating a basis of equal rights guaranteed to all, regardless of gender. The goal pursued by gender mainstreaming approach consists of a deep change in the organizational culture of society, institutions and workplace, where gender equality should be implemented in a transformed cultural framework.

EU Equality Commitments and Shifting Meanings of Gender Equality

2009 ◽  
Author(s):  
Erin J. Black
Keyword(s):  
Gender Equality ◽  
Policy Making ◽  
Gender Mainstreaming ◽  
Equal Treatment ◽  
Policy Frames ◽  
Policy Making Process ◽  
Positive Action ◽  
And Gender ◽  
Action Measures ◽  
Treatment Policies

This article follows the development of a European Union gender equality regime through three broad periods: equal treatment policies, positive action measures, and Gender Mainstreaming. The policy-making process entails conflict between competing policy frames; unequal resources behind each secures the dominance of an economic frame. Strategical framing practices have been employed by equality advocates to overcome this disadvantage. This article traces the gradual shifts in meaning within each period until equality goals are integrated into the dominant economic policy frame. It concludes that equality advocates need to engage in deeper analyses of power in order to sustain attention to equality goals over longer periods of time.   Full text available at: https://doi.org/10.22215/rera.v5i1.201

Gender Knowledge and Gender Expertise: The Implementation of Gender Mainstreaming in Swedish State Agencies

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lenita Freidenvall
Keyword(s):  
Policy Implementation ◽  
Gender Equality ◽  
Development Program ◽  
Gender Mainstreaming ◽  
State Agencies ◽  
Specialized Knowledge ◽  
Gender Perspective ◽  
And Gender ◽  
Gender Knowledge ◽  
Government Development

Abstract Through an analysis of the Swedish government development program for gender mainstreaming in state agencies—the JIM (Jämställdhet i myndigheter)program—this article analyzes how gender equality is constructed (gender knowledge) and what role specialized knowledge (gender expertise) has in policy implementation. The article claims that even in best-case scenarios, such as Sweden, where intensive efforts to integrate a gender perspective have been undertaken, gender knowledge is based on visions and strategies that do not question prevailing policy paradigms. However, cross-cutting and intersectional conceptualizations of gender equality have created epistemic space for transformative interventions on the part of gender experts.

scholarly journals Developing a Measurement Scale of Gender-Friendly Hospital Environments: An Exploratory Study of Customer Perceptions in Taiwan

2018 ◽  
Vol 15 (10) ◽  
pp. 2227 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ying-Chyi Chou ◽  
Van Dang ◽  
Hsin-Yi Yen ◽  
Pi-Shan Hsu
Keyword(s):  
Gender Equality ◽  
Measurement Instrument ◽  
Hospital Environment ◽  
Equal Treatment ◽  
Measurement Scale ◽  
Customer Perceptions ◽  
Hospital Environments ◽  
Five Factors ◽  
Healthcare Environments ◽  
And Gender

According to the United Nations, males and females should be given equal treatment in physical and psychological services, and healthcare institutions should exert greater efforts to reduce the gap in gender equality. However, this issue has been largely ignored in previous literature on healthcare environments. Designing a hospital environment that focuses on gender differences is critical to academic researchers and practical managers in all healthcare institutions. Thus, as an exploratory effort, this study aims to develop a measurement to assess customer perceptions of gender-friendly hospital environments. To identify and refine the structure of the instrument, two studies are conducted at different hospitals in Taiwan. The exploratory evidence shows there are five factors (i.e., physical design, functional design, marking design, gender perception, and gender-friendly services) and 28 items in the measurement scale of gender-friendly hospital environments. Results also show that gender-friendly hospital environments affect customers’ loyalty and willingness to pay. Based on our findings, hospital practitioners and researchers can adopt the measurement instrument used in this study to deal with the gap of gender equality in healthcare environments.

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