manual: women workers' rights and gender equality - International ...

Chapter 3
Gender Equality
Introduction
This part contains four major subjects: self-awareness, values and attitudes, division of work and
access and control over resources. The four subjects together form a more or less complete
package about the concept of equality between men and women. A brief explanation about the
four subjects follows below.
Self-Awareness
A first step in training on gender equality is creating self-awareness. Without talking about gender,
people should learn to think about their lives and the routines in their lives. The exercises form a
start for discussions about changing things in life. Choose only one exercise.
Values and Attitudes
The second step deals with existing values and attitudes. The exercises given under this subject
explain the difference between sex and gender and elaborate about gender roles. During the
discussions the main focus is on changing existing gender roles, attitudes and social values.
Choose only one exercise
Division of Work
Regarding the division of work three main steps have to be made. The first exercise deals with the
difference in activities done by men and women. The next exercise focuses on the values attached
to the work done by men and women. Finally, possible changes to the existing division of work are
discussed. Do all three exercises to get a good understanding of the division of work between men
and women and a fair distribution of workload between them.
Access to and Control over Resources
The next step is to identify the availability of resources to both men and women and to discuss
equality in the decision making process regarding these resources.
The main content of the manual is on advancing the position of women workers, as they are
usually the ones who face inequalities and discrimination. The training content and process,
however, are intended for mixed groups. Gender equality is a matter of both sexes and the only
way to change the existing structure is by involving both men and women in the discussions.
However, if there are large gender inequalities and a strict division of labour and decision-making
between men and women among the target population and if women lack confidence, it is
recommended to have training first in women-only groups.
The role of the facilitator is to create solidarity among the women and to build up confidence
among them. Being a member of a group makes women strong. Group members can support each
other. At a later stage the facilitator can ask the group members in such women-only groups
whether they like to invite their husband and/or other male family members to the sessions about
gender equality, because things can only change when both women and men are committed to do
so. The members can then choose whether they like to have mixed group discussions or want to
have discussions within their families by themselves.
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