The Dynamics of Change in Gender Relations

1.0 Introduction: When discussing the dynamics if change in gender relations we look at the capacity of families and communities to meet their daily basic needs and how the gender roles develop and change at family, community, national and international levels and if they allow a free and equal participation of men and women, boys and girls for communities’ economic development.. This paper will examine various concepts around gender, manifestations of how gender has changed over time at different levels, national and international efforts, some research findings, achievements, remaining challenges and recommendations.

1.1 The Conceptual Framework around gender: Sex and Gender differ in a way that sex is a biological attribute associated with being male or female and may not change and gender is a social attribute recognizing norms, practices, relationships in a society which are liable to change over time in a society. Gender Analysis is the examination of causes for socio and economic inequality for women .Gender Equity is the end result of treating men and women fairly.

1.2 The historical dynamism of Gender and Development: The search for change in gender relations started in the 1950s some approaches relating to women and development emerged starting with the Welfare Approach and the relationship was based on meeting women’s reproductive needs followed by the Women and Development ( WID) Approach adding strategic needs by allocating resources for women’s projects followed by the Gender and Development (GAD) addressing the relations of both men and women. Lastly came the women Empowerment approach supporting them to overcome inequities with men.

1.3 Dynamism of Gender Changes at family tribal/cultural level: Studies by The ILO indicate that discrimination and gravity of traditional stereotyping domestic chores for women and girls is severe in rural areas than in urban locations and these change with technology.

1.4 Addressing Gender Issues at a National Level: Some achievements: Following the Beijing Platform of Action (BPA) and pressure from the coalition of the Civil society, the World Bank Research findings (2007) share that Tanzania has been at the forefront of change by creating a positive legal framework and political context for gender equality. In the 2006 World Economic Forum Global Gender Report Tanzania ranked first out of 115 countries in terms of women’s economic participation as reflected in the MDG No. 3 relating to empowerment of women the “National Development Vision 2025 with the aim of attaining gender equality and empowerment of women through a “Women and Gender Development Policy”(2000), ” The National Strategy for Gender Development specifying how mainstreaming is to be implemented. Tanzania has also ratified the International Instruments such as CEDAW, and new land laws which mainstream women and political representation stands at 33% currently.

1.5 National level challenges: Even after incorporating the Beijing Resolutions, some challenges do retard changes in gender relations like the strategies MKUKUTA and MKURABITA whose fruits are still pending. Specific gender needs of pregnant or lactating women, maternal mortality, female genital mutilation which has now turned to babies and nursing school children are yet to be met. Also, 770 out of 100,000 women die due to maternal mortality. All this need to change positively.

2.0 International Efforts to Address Gender: The Beijing Platform of Action.

Research findings by Lusimbi (2004) showed her dissatisfaction with the government not prioritizing all 12 priorities of action after Beijing and exclusion of women’s work in the GDP calculations and this was an area for change. She appreciates major progresses after Beijing include the initiation of Gender Sensitive Budgeting, aiming and minimizing the economic gap between men and women and also the SAPs, PRSPs and micro finance institutional support to women. Moreover, HIV/ AIDS has impacted women since there is no government support for Home based care and orphans. Also, credit access constraints women due to loan conditions and regulations. Also, the root cause for school girls’ pregnancy was to be determined to change the change is to review the 1996 law.

3.0 Recommendations for integrating gender and CED: Community Economic Development is about change that put men and women into tasks. CED is about improving living conditions of people- women; men and children by making them participate in development processes, for increased ownership. Change entails inclusion of all other marginalized groups in the community like the poor men, the disabled, widows, widowers so that their needs are also carried on board in order to have meaningful community economic development. Therefore, different approaches are needed to produce change relations outcomes that are positive such as, community education on gender issues or gender awareness campaigns, institutionalizing support for women and participatory approaches involving women from family to national level.

References:

1. Masuki, KFG etal Gender Dynamics in the Adoption of intervention for Increasing Agricultural Water Productivity: A case of Water System Innovations in Makanya Catchment, Tanzania.

2. AFROL gender Profiles: Tanzania.

3. UN Fourth World Conference on Women, Beijing China4th – 15^th September ,1995.

4. Gender and PRSP, with Experiences from Tanzania , Bolivia, Vietnam and

Mozambique.

5. Women 2000 and beyond. Published to promote the goals of the Beijing Declaration

and the Platform for Action Sept. 2005.

6. Civil Society participation in PRSP: Tanzania Experience. C M M Kajege.

7. Tanzania Gender and Economic Growth Assessment. International Finance

Corporation, 2007

8. TGNP Research Report on Civil Society Participation in the Implementation OF BPA,

Mary Lusimbi, 2004

9. The UN Fourth World Conference on Women 4^th -15^th September 1995.

Annex 2: List of Acronyms

1. CEDAW- Convention on the Elimination of all forms of Discrimination Against

Women.

2. ILO- International Labour Organisation

3. TGNP – Tanzania Gender Network Programme.

4. SAP- Structural Adjustment Programme.

5. PRSP- Poverty Reduction Strategy.