Gender

The Concept of Gender

Meaning of Gender

Gender refers to the state of being male or female. In this context, it relates to the social relationship between men and women and their roles and responsibilities within families, communities, and the country.

Different Gender Concepts

Various concepts are associated with gender, which are crucial in understanding and addressing gender issues:

1. Gender Equality
Gender equality is the practice of fairness and justice to all sexes without discrimination, ensuring equal access to opportunities and resources for everyone.

2. Gender Equity
Gender equity involves measures to bridge the inequality between men and women, giving priority to women to reduce the existing imbalance.

3. Gender Roles
Gender roles are duties assigned to individuals based on their sex by society. These can be categorized into:

• Reproductive Roles: Activities like childbearing and domestic tasks, crucial for social and family stability but often undervalued economically.
• Productive Roles: Economic activities that men and women engage in to earn a living, valued for their direct contribution to the economy.

4. Gender Stereotyping
Gender stereotyping involves holding fixed, often inaccurate, ideas about what men and women can do, reflecting societal attitudes about gender division of labor.

5. Gender Discrimination
This occurs when one sex is treated better or worse than the other, often rooted in traditions and customs that favor men over women.

6. Gender Analysis
A systematic effort to understand the roles of men and women within a society by collecting gender-specific data, essential for gender-sensitive planning and promoting equality.

7. Gender Mainstreaming
Integrating gender issues into development activities at all levels to ensure that both men and women benefit equally from development projects.

8. Gender Blindness
The failure to recognize different gender roles, responsibilities, and hierarchies, leading to ineffective policies and programs.

9. Gender Balance
Ensuring equal participation of men and women, particularly in the workplace.

Gender Issues in Society

Gender issues arise due to inequality between sexes. Common gender issues include:

1. Bride Price
A cultural practice where the groom pays the bride’s family, which can perpetuate the view of women as property.

2. Wife Inheritance
In some societies, a widow is inherited by a male relative of her deceased husband, dehumanizing women and spreading diseases like HIV/AIDS.

3. Female Genital Mutilation (FGM)
The removal of female genital parts, often leading to severe health complications and reflecting gender inequality.

4. Early Marriage
Marrying individuals under the legal age (18 years in Tanzania), resulting in higher illiteracy, health risks, and family instability.

5. Discrimination Against Women
Women often lack rights to land, property, education, and employment due to discriminatory traditions and customs.

6. Cruelty/Violence Against Women
Domestic violence is prevalent in some communities, with traditions and customs justifying the oppression of women.

7. Regarding Women as Sex Objects
Some societies restrict women to domestic roles, denying them education and employment opportunities.

Corrective Measures Against Negative Socio-Cultural Practices

To ensure equality between men and women, the following corrective measures should be taken:

1. Empowerment of Women
Allow women to make decisions and exercise their rights.

2. Mass Education
Educate the public on the dangers of negative practices like early marriage and FGM.

3. Enhancing Existing Laws on Women’s Rights
Strengthen laws to allow women equal participation in socio-economic activities and property ownership.

4. Use of Mass Media
Utilize radio, television, and newspapers to educate people about negative cultural practices and their effects.

5. Adjust the School Curriculum
Teach students about the dangers of negative cultural practices and promote better alternatives.

6. Special Consideration in Education and Politics
Provide women with special seats in parliament and preferential admission to higher education.

Exercise 1

A. Write ‘T’ for a correct statement and ‘F’ for a wrong statement.

• Gender roles are the same in all societies — F
• Science subjects for female students is a gender blind issue — F
• Gender equality can be achieved by empowering women in Tanzania — T
• Gender balance involves increasing the number of women seats in parliament — T
• The long term for TAWLA is Tanzania Women Land Association — F

Exercise 2

B. Fill in the Blanks

1. Write down two reasons why wife inheritance is not encouraged in our society:

• It dehumanizes women, treating them as property.
• It contributes to the spread of diseases such as HIV/AIDS.

1. List down four ways through which women’s rights are violated in Tanzania:

• Denial of education.
• Restricted property ownership.
• Domestic violence.
• Forced early marriages.

1. Name five socio-cultural practices that hinder the equal participation of men and women in society:

• Bride price.
• Female genital mutilation.
• Early marriage.
• Wife inheritance.
• Gender-based violence.

1. Distinguish between gender and sex:

• Gender: Refers to the social roles and responsibilities assigned to men and women by society.
• Sex: Refers to the biological and physiological differences between males and females.

1. State the meaning of the following terms:

• Gender Roles: Duties assigned to individuals based on their sex by society.
• Gender Equity: Measures taken to bridge the inequality between men and women.
• Gender Analysis: Identifying and understanding the roles of men and women within a society.
• Gender Discrimination: Unequal treatment of individuals based on their gender.

Exercise 3

1. Gender oppression is the key to women’s dependence on men. Discuss:

• Gender oppression leads to women being denied education, employment, and property rights, making them dependent on men for economic and social support.

1. In which ways is Tanzania implementing the process of enhancing gender equality?

• Establishing laws that promote equal rights.
• Encouraging women’s participation in politics.
• Providing education and economic opportunities for women.
• Conducting public awareness campaigns about gender equality.

1. “Everyone in the society is born free.” Relate this statement with gender issues:

• This statement highlights that both men and women should have equal opportunities and rights from birth, challenging any practices that lead to gender inequality.

1. Suggest any four collective measures that can be used to combat outdated socio-cultural practices in Tanzania:

• Educating communities about the negative impacts of such practices.
• Strengthening and enforcing laws that protect women’s rights.
• Promoting women’s economic independence through access to education and employment.
• Engaging men in the dialogue about gender equality to foster mutual respect and understanding.

1. Give and explain three reasons that make female genital mutilation a bad social practice:

• Health Risks: Causes complications during childbirth and increases the risk of infections.
• Human Rights Violation: It infringes on the rights of girls and women to bodily integrity and health.
• Educational Impact: Leads to higher school dropout rates as girls often leave school after undergoing the procedure.