Module 2. Theorethical Concepts of Gender - FSN Network Portal

Mainstreaming Gender into Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) Programs
Module 2: Theoretical Concepts of Gender
Lesson 5: Social and Gender Analysis
are treated as a burden and boys are treated as an asset to the family.
So, to provide relief from the burden, girls are given in marriage and
deprived of other opportunities. From the time of her marriage, she has
responsibilities in her husband’s family. On the other hand, boys have
a range of opportunities open to them. As a result, the girls lose all
prospects and their world is confined to their husband, children and the
family. On the contrary, boys utilise their opportunities and have more
choices to find their own place in the world.
16 Invite the last group to present their role play on ‘Expression of
opinion and decision making in the family’. At the end of the role
play, congratulate them for their performance and write down the
participants’ findings on the board/chart paper as previously and
discuss them.
Men in the decision-making Women in the decision-making
process
process
- Decision maker of the family - Follower of the decision
17 Discuss how we have seen adult men and women in the family
behaving and reflect on the process of raising boys and girls. This is
the ultimate result of our whole process of growing up.
18 Tell participants that this process is known as the process of
socialisation. In this process there are certain unwritten rules and
regulations, customs and conducts, values and ideas, which are
different for men and for women. Socialisation into the rules and norms
of society is achieved not only within the family but also through the
involvement of various social organisations, such as educational and
religious institutions and portrayal of boys and girls, men and women in
the media. In this process, the society comes to see women as weak
and subordinate, and men as strong and dominant.
19 Tell participants that the only differences between a boy and a girl
when they are born are physical ones. But, during their socialisation,
discriminatory differences are made between boys and girls, which we
have seen clearly from the role plays. Through this discussion, try to
reflect the existing situation of women in the community and the
workplace.
20 Ask participants: “Who is responsible for the way that a boy and a girl
grow up differently?” and listen to the answers from two or three of
them.
21 Write down the word ‘patriarchy’ on the board and tell them that
historically, one of the main reasons for women’s subordination to men
in nearly every society is the system of patriarchy.
22 Ask participants: “What do we mean by patriarchy?” and listen to the
answers from two or three of them.
23 Show the PowerPoint presentation with examples of socialization and
patriarchy.
A Training Manual for Water Professionals developed collaboratively by PROTOS and SNV, 01/02/2007
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