McCormick+Schmitz Handbook for value chain research on - PACA

In this manual, we are dealing mainly with gender differences, i.e., differences in the
social realities of men and women. 6 When we look at social realities through the lens of
gender, we find that many social institutions affect men and boys differently from women
and girls. For example, we may see that the learning materials used in our schools affect
boys differently from girls. A study of children’s textbooks in Kenya, <strong>for</strong> example, shows
that women and girls are portrayed far less often than men and boys (Obura 1991). More
importantly, the pictures and stories about males tend to show them in a more positive
light than those about females. Labour regulations provide another example. Introducing
legislation to upgrade working conditions can have a perverse effect. If the current
work<strong>for</strong>ce is predominantly male or predominantly female, factory owners may choose to
sack the minority group to avoid the expense of providing them with separate toilet
facilities or other amenities.
Gender <strong>research</strong>ers are also concerned with the relations between male and female
members of society. In this case, we speak of “gender relations.” Relations between
husbands and wives, between male and female siblings, between boys and girls in school
are everyday examples of gender relations. Gender relations are not static, but may change
over time. For example, the relationship between husband and wife may change when a
woman takes employment outside of the home. When studying gender and gender
relations, it is important to recognise that many factors besides gender itself may be at
play. For example, the relationship between a female homeworker and the male
intermediary delivering and receiving her work is, on one level, an example of gender
relations, but it also exemplifies differences in power and status.
Gender analysis is a systematic process of examining gender and gender relations in a
particular setting. Its purpose is to help us to understand why development processes often
affect women and men differently. The case of small-scale enterprise in many developing
country cities provides an example. A survey reveals the existence of a large number of
businesses involved in a wide range of activities. It also shows that, on average, those
involved in these businesses earn more than they would if they had minimum-wage jobs.
When the survey data are subjected to further analysis by sex of the business owner, new
insights emerge. The analysis shows concentrations of male and female occupations. Men
6
Sex differences are only occasionally important, as <strong>for</strong> example when the ability to lift heavy loads is an
issue.
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