V.

Transforming Gender Relations

The challenging opportunity has come to address the widespread persistent

gender inequalities. There is a need to have a paradigm shift for critical
reflection and clarification of the transformation of gender relations to
collectively empower individuals- men, women, and gendered individuals in
society.

Transforming gender relations is the term used to convey the implicit idea of
change, what is to change or to be changed varies greatly from societies.
There are two aspects to further elucidate the understanding of transforming
gender relations and they are as follows:

1. Gender Transformation described as an inherently political act that is

closely associated with structural change in gender power relations
and emphasizes collective action, contestation, and negotiation.
2. Gender Empowerment is a term commonly associated with gender
mainstreaming that describes how individual women through individual
agency increase their bargaining power in public and private spheres
to participate fully in economic and political life.

The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development states that “there is a critical
need for transformation change in development so that no one is left
behind”.

1. Violence against Women and International Activism

The UN stated that the violence against women and girls is one of the
world’s most pervasive human right abuses and the world voices is calling
for an end to violence against women and girls. Violence against women and
girls is one of the most widespread violations of human rights.
Before the COVID-19 pandemic hit, 243 million women and girls globally
were abused by their intimate partners. During this pandemic, with lockdown
measures, the countries around the world have seen an alarming rise in
reported cases of violence against women especially domestic violence.

Small actions can make big impacts to end violence against women.
Everyone has a role to play. What role will you play to end the violence
against women? Here are the 10 ways to help fight and end violence: 1)
Listen to and believe survivors; 2) Teach the next generation and learn from
them; 3) Call for responses and services fit for purpose; 4) Understand
consent; 5) Learn the signs of abuse and how you can help; 6) Start a
conversation; 7) Stand against rape culture; 8) Fund women’s organizations;
9) Hold each other accountable: and 10) Know the data and demand more of
it.

Global estimates published by WHO indicate that about 1 in 3 (35%) of

women worldwide have experienced either physical and/or sexual intimate
partner violence or non-partner sexual violence in their lifetime. Most of this
violence is intimate partner violence. Worldwide, almost one third (30%) of
women who have been in a relationship have experienced physical and/or
sexual violence by their intimate partner and as many as 38% of all murders
of women are committed by intimate partners. Yet to date, only two out of
three countries have outlawed domestic violence, while 37 countries
worldwide still exempt rape perpetrators from prosecution if they are
married to or eventually marry the victim. Furthermore, 49 countries
currently have no laws protecting women from domestic violence.

These are the very reasons why women's rights activists continue to struggle
to protect their rights and have continually observed November 25th as a
day against gender-based violence since 1981. This date was selected to
honour the Mirabal sisters, three political activists from the Dominican
Republic who were brutally murdered in 1960 by order of the country’s ruler,
Rafael Trujillo (1930-1961). November 25th also marks the beginning of 16
Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence which end on December
10th, Human Rights Day. This annual campaign is used by individuals and
organisations around the world to call for the prevention and elimination of
violence against women and girls. (Elsevier, November 2020)

1. Gender Equality and International Activism

Gender mainstreaming is described as the public policy of assessing the

different implications for women and men of any planned policy action,
including legislation and programmes, in all areas and levels, with the aim of
achieving gender equality. The concept of gender mainstreaming was first
proposed at the 1985 Third World Conference on Women in Nairobi, Kenya.
The idea has been developed in the United Nations development community.
According to the Council of Europe definition: "Gender mainstreaming is the
(re)organization, improvement, development and evaluation of policy
processes so that a gender equality perspective is incorporated in all policies
at all levels and at all stages, by the actors normally involved in policy-
making. It is only in an integrated gender mainstreaming approach that
international activism can form alliances and common platforms that bring
together the power of faith and gender-equality aspirations to advance
human rights.

Almost everywhere in the world, women are denied their human rights just
because of their sex or gender. Women’s rights should not be seen as special
rights: they are human rights enshrined in international human rights
treaties and other documents and include such rights as freedom from
discrimination, right to life, freedom from torture, right to privacy, access to
health, right to decent living conditions, right to safety, and many others.
However, there are also human rights instruments that take into account the
specific situation of women in society with regards to accessing or exercising
their human rights, or which aim to protect them from violence
International activism on gender equality has transformed the lives of
women for many years and it has strived a long way for change in gender-
based discrimination. Gender equality is not only favouring women, it is also
for the interests of men and boys. Gender equality is a human right, and
gender inequality and discrimination against women harms all humans.

The international women activists believed that when males and females
have the same opportunities to achieve important goals and contribute their
best efforts there are positive effects for women, men, children, families, the
economy and society as a whole. These include decreased reliance on social
services, more positive opportunities for all children, lessening negative
effects of poor living conditions and poverty, greater productivity and
economic growth. Gender equality ensures that individuals are treated fairly,
development is human-centred and we are all advancing together.

1. Gendered Social Problems

For more decades, humanity has gotten closer to achieving gender equality
through international activism and feminism movements. There is a better
representation of women in politics, improved economic opportunities, and
quality health care services in many places globally. However, it is still
believed that it will take another century before true gender equality
becomes a reality. According to World Economic Forum, there are ten (10)
common causes of gender inequality and they are as follows: 1) Uneven
access to education; 2) Lack of employment equality; 3) Job segregation; 4)
Lack of legal protections; 5) Lack of bodily autonomy; 6) Poor medical care;
7) Lack of religious freedom; 8) Lack of political representation; 9) Racism;
and 10) Societal mindsets.

In order to reinforce and gender inequality, other societies decided to

observe the code of conduct that outline social norms and ethical social
responsibilities based on central principles and values of the society.
 1. Sexism and Global Order

This term is very often present in feminist literature as well as in the media
and everyday life, and it is an important concept in understanding
feminism. Sexism means perceiving and judging people only on the basis of
their belonging to a particular sex or gender. It also covers discrimination of
a person on the same basis. It is important to note that sexism applies to
both men and women, however; women are more affected by sexism than
men in all areas of life. Everyday sexism takes different forms, sometimes
not easily recognisable. It is true that the situation of women’s human rights
has improved in recent years, but this does not mean that sexism has ended.

The Three Types of Sexism

 Traditional sexism: supporting traditional gender roles, treating

women as worse than men, employing traditional stereotypes which
portray women as less competent than men.
 Modern sexism: denying gender discrimination (‘it is not a problem
anymore), having a negative attitude towards women’s rights, denying
the validity of claims made by women
 Neosexism: This notion refers to ideologies that justify discrimination
towards women on the basis of competencies – 'men are effectively
better competent for some things'.

In March 2019, the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe defines

sexism as any act, gesture, visual representation, spoken or written words,
practice or behaviour based upon the idea that a person or group of persons
is inferior because of their sex, which occurs in the public or private sphere,
whether online or offline, with the purpose or effect of:

1. Violating the inherent dignity or rights of a person or a group of

persons;
 2. Resulting in physical, sexual, psychological or socio-economic harm or
suffering to a person or a group of persons;
3. Creating an intimidating, hostile, degrading, humiliating or offensive
environment;
4. Constituting a barrier to the autonomy and full realization of human
rights by a person or a group of persons; and
5. Maintaining and reinforcing gender stereotypes.

The Recommendation stresses that sexism is a manifestation of historically

unequal power relations between women and men, which leads to
discrimination and prevents the full advancement of women in society. The
Committee of Ministers asks Governments of member states to take
measures to prevent and combat sexism and its manifestations in the public
and private spheres, and encourage relevant stakeholders to implement
appropriate legislation, policies and programmes.

Learning Activities

Answer the following questions:

1. How do you treat and regard women in society?

2. Describe how you want your mother to be treated by your father.
(Share your experience when needed).
3. Why we should be treated equally in the society we live in? Explain
your answer.
4. How we should treat the gendered individual in our society?
5. Have you been a victim of violence and abuse? By who? What have
you done? If you are not a victim, please write whatever violence or
abuse you have seen or experienced by others.