Jashore University of Science and Technology

Department of Environmental Science and Technology

Course Title: Gender and Environment
Course Code: EST 3111
Date of Submission: 14/06/25
An Assignment
On
Concept of Gender,Approaches to Developmentand Gender

Submitted By Submitted To
Afsana Mimi Asha Dr. K. M. Delowar Hossain
Student ID: 210213 Professor
3rd Year, 1st Semester Department of Environmental
Session: 2021-2022 Science and Technology
Department of Environmental Jashore University of Science and
Science and Technology Technology
Jashore University of Science
and Technology

1
Table of Contents Page
Number

2
Chapter 1: Concept of Gender 2
1. Introduction 2
2. Concept and Meaning of Sex and Gender 2
3. Gender Roles and Needs 2
4. Status of Women in Society 3
5. Triple Burden of Women in Relation to Environment 3
6. Role of Women in Environmental Management and 4
Legal Perspectives
7. Conclusion 5
Chapter 2: Approaches to Development and 6
Gender
1. Introduction 6
2. Women in Development (WID) 6
3. Gender and Development (GAD) 7
4. Gender Mainstreaming (GM) Principles 7
5. Agenda 21 and Gender 7
6. Gender-Based Violence (GBV) 7
7. Impact of Globalization on Gender 9
8. Mechanism of Trafficking and Strategies to Combat 10
9. Conceptual Framework for Women Empowerment 10
10. Gender and Good Governance 10
11. Global Processes for Advancement of Women 10
12. Conclusion 11

3
Chapter 1: Concept of Gender
Introduction
The study of gender is fundamental to understanding social dynamics, inequalities, and development
challenges in the modern world. Gender is not merely about differences between men and women, but
about the roles, responsibilities, and power relations constructed by society. This assignment explores the
core concepts related to gender, including the difference between sex and gender, gender roles and needs,
the status of women, their triple burden in relation to the environment, and their crucial role in
environmental management with associated legal frameworks.

1.1 Concept and Meaning of Sex and Gender

The terms sex and gender are frequently confused, yet they refer to distinct aspects of human identity.
 Sex refers to the biological and
physiological characteristics that define
humans as male or female. These include
chromosomes, hormonal profiles, internal
and external sex organs. Sex is generally
assigned at birth and is considered universal
and unchanging.
 Gender, on the other hand, is a socio-
cultural construct. It refers to the roles,
behaviors, activities, and attributes that a
given society considers appropriate for men,
women, and other gender identities. Gender
varies across cultures and time periods and
is learned through socialization processes.
Understanding the distinction between sex and
gender is essential because many forms of inequality arise not from biology, but from the social
expectations imposed on individuals due to their perceived gender.

1.2 Gender Roles and Needs

Gender roles are the roles and responsibilities that societies assign to individuals based on their gender.
These roles are socially constructed and reinforced through institutions such as the family, education,
religion, and media. For example, women are often expected to perform caregiving, domestic tasks, and
nurturing roles, while men are assigned roles that emphasize authority, strength, and economic provision.
Gender needs are typically classified into two types:
 Practical Gender Needs (PGNs): These arise from women's existing roles and responsibilities.
For example, access to water, food, healthcare, and education.

4
  Strategic Gender Needs (SGNs): These focus on changing gender roles and addressing systemic
inequalities, such as legal rights, protection from domestic violence, and equal participation in
decision-making.

1.3 Status of Women in Society

Globally, women continue to face systemic barriers in economic, political, and social spheres. The status
of women is often determined by cultural traditions, religious beliefs, legal systems, and economic
factors. While progress has been made in areas such as education and health, significant disparities
persist:
 In many societies, women earn less than men for the same work.
 Women's representation in political leadership remains disproportionately low.
 They often have limited access to land ownership, credit, and legal rights.
The unequal status of women is both a cause and consequence of gender discrimination. Addressing this
imbalance is essential not only for women's rights but for broader social and economic development.
When women are empowered and treated equally, societies tend to be healthier, more productive, and
more just.

1.4 Triple Burden of Women in Relation to Environment

The triple burden refers to the multiple roles that women, particularly in developing countries, are
expected to fulfill:
1. Productive work: Engaging in income-generating activities such as agriculture, craft, or labor.
2. Reproductive work: Performing unpaid caregiving roles like childcare, cooking, and cleaning.
3. Community management work: Participating in social or community tasks like organizing local
events or managing water supply.

5
In the context of the environment, this burden becomes even more pronounced. Environmental
degradation — such as deforestation, droughts, and water scarcity — disproportionately affects women,
especially in rural areas. For example:
 Women may have to walk longer distances to collect water or firewood.
 Agricultural productivity may decrease, affecting their income and food security.
 Health impacts increase due to exposure to smoke from cooking fuels or lack of clean water.
The triple burden, exacerbated by climate change and environmental crises, restricts women’s time,
health, and opportunities for education and personal development.

1.5 Role of Women in Environmental Management and Legal Perspectives

Despite their burdens, women are key agents in environmental conservation and sustainable resource
management. Their traditional knowledge about agriculture, biodiversity, and community ecosystems is
invaluable. Women often:
 Lead household and community-level initiatives in waste management, tree planting, or water
conservation.
 Practice sustainable farming techniques and manage natural resources efficiently.
 Play leadership roles in climate resilience planning at grassroots levels.

Recognizing and institutionalizing women’s roles in environmental management is essential for achieving
sustainability. Several legal and international frameworks support this recognition:
Legal and Policy Perspectives:
 CEDAW (Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women) –
Calls for equal participation of women in public life, including environmental decision-making.

6
  Agenda 21 (1992 Earth Summit) – Emphasizes the role of women in achieving sustainable
development and mandates their inclusion in environmental policies.
 UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDG 5 & SDG 13) – Promote gender equality and
climate action, urging countries to integrate both in their development plans.
Despite these frameworks, implementation gaps remain. Women often lack access to formal platforms of
power or are excluded from environmental planning and funding opportunities. Legal rights alone are
insufficient if not backed by awareness, political will, and inclusive institutional practices.

Conclusion
The concept of gender is central to understanding not only social inequities but also environmental
challenges and development strategies. From the foundational distinction between sex and gender to the
daily burdens and contributions of women in society, it is evident that gender dynamics shape both human
and environmental outcomes. Women’s unequal status, their triple burden, and underappreciated roles in
environmental management highlight the urgent need for gender-sensitive policies, education, and legal
reform. Empowering women and integrating their perspectives into governance and ecological
management is not just a matter of justice — it is essential for a sustainable and equitable future.

7
Chapter 2: Approaches to
Development and Gender
Introduction
Gender and development are inseparable aspects of social progress. Understanding how development
approaches integrate gender perspectives helps in evaluating past strategies, addressing persistent
inequalities, and designing inclusive policies. Historically, development efforts ignored or marginalized
women, assuming a "one-size-fits-all" model. However, over time, gender-focused approaches evolved—
from Women in Development (WID) to Gender and Development (GAD), and beyond. This assignment
explores major gender-development approaches and frameworks, including sustainable development,
gender mainstreaming, Agenda 21, gender-based violence, globalization, trafficking, empowerment, and
governance.

2.1 Women in Development (WID)

Women in Development (WID) emerged as a response to the neglect of female participation in national
development agendas. In the aftermath of World War II, development projects were predominantly male-
focused, ignoring the potential contributions that women could bring to economic and social progress.
The WID approach sought to integrate women into these projects by focusing on their specific needs and
circumstances.
Although WID marked an important step forward by recognizing the importance of women’s
contributions, it was not without criticism. Critics argued that WID often regarded women as secondary
beneficiaries rather than active community agents. This perspective limited the transformative potential of
the approach by failing to address the underlying gender power imbalances that reproduce inequality.

8
2.2 Gender and Development (GAD)
Expanding upon the limitations of WID, the Gender and Development (GAD) paradigm presents a more
comprehensive analysis. GAD examines the
deep-seated power relations and social norms that
sustain gender inequality. Rather than simply
incorporating women into existing development
projects, GAD challenges the structural causes of
inequality by advocating for the transformation
of societal roles and power dynamics.
This approach highlights that development must
go beyond economic initiatives; it requires an
inclusive rethinking of social institutions and
practices. GAD calls for a re-examination of
cultural practices, educational systems, and
economic policies to facilitate genuine equality
and empowerment for both genders.
2.3 Gender Mainstreaming (GM) Principles
Gender mainstreaming (GM) is a strategy that
seeks to integrate gender perspectives into all
phases of policy-making, programming, and
implementation. The core of GM is to ensure that decisions are informed by a nuanced understanding of
gender differences, aiming to create an environment where both men and women can equally benefit from
development efforts.
This integration is achieved through systematic gender analysis during planning and by promoting
policies that balance resource allocation. Gender mainstreaming requires that government agencies, civil
society organizations, and private enterprises incorporate gender considerations into their operational
frameworks. By doing so, GM helps avoid policies that inadvertently reinforce gender disparities and
creates pathways for more equitable and sustainable development.
GAD is currently the most comprehensive framework, highlighting the need to address both women’s
needs and the broader gender-based power dynamics in society.
2.4 Agenda 21 and Gender
Agenda 21, a product of the 1992 Earth Summit, emphasized the need for women’s full participation in
achieving sustainable development. Chapter 24 specifically advocates:
 Strengthening women’s roles in environmental management.
 Promoting access to education and health services.
 Eliminating laws and practices that hinder gender equality.
Despite its visionary goals, translating Agenda 21 into actionable local and national policies remains a
challenge, especially in countries with deeply rooted patriarchal systems.
2.5 Gender-Based Violence (GBV)
GBV refers to harmful acts directed at individuals based on their gender. It includes domestic violence,
sexual assault, child marriage, and trafficking. It limits women’s freedom, mental well-being, and
opportunities for development.

9
Combatting GBV requires comprehensive strategies:
 Legal reforms.
 Public awareness campaigns.
 Support services for survivors.
 Gender-sensitive education and policing systems.
GBV is not just a women’s issue — it’s a societal problem with significant health, economic, and
psychological consequences.
Below is a visual suggestion in the form of a chart that categorizes types of gender-based violence (GBV)
along with examples:
Type of GBV Description Examples

Direct physical harm inflicted on a Hitting, slapping, kicking, pushing, use of

Physical Violence
person weapons, forced restraint

Preventing someone from working, withholding

Economic Denial or control over financial
money, controlling spending, denying access to
Violence resources and opportunities
financial assets

Emotional or mental abuse intended

Psychological Verbal insults, threats, isolation from family or
to undermine one’s sense of self-
Violence friends, constant criticism, intimidation
worth

Non-consensual sexual contact or Rape, coercive sexual acts, unwanted sexual

Sexual Violence
behavior that degrades or harms advances, sexual harassment, exploitation

Explanation
 Physical Violence: This involves any action that causes bodily harm. It is often the most visible
form of GBV and is easily identified due to its physical manifestations.
 Economic Violence: This form includes actions that obstruct a person’s economic independence.
Examples include tactics that prevent a victim from obtaining employment or misusing their
financial resources, which can trap them in abusive situations.
 Psychological Violence: This subtle yet damaging form is aimed at breaking down a person’s
self-esteem and sense of security. It may not leave visible scars but can have lasting impacts on
mental health.
 Sexual Violence: This includes acts that disregard consent and autonomy. The forms of sexual
violence range widely, from unwanted advances and harassment in everyday settings to more
severe violations like rape.
Visualization Suggestion
To visualize this chart in a more engaging way, consider the following enhancements:
 Icons:

10
 o Use a fist or broken heart icon for physical violence.
o Use a wallet with a lock icon for economic violence.
o Use a mind or broken chain icon representing psychological violence.
o Use a ribbon or caution sign icon for sexual violence.
 Color Coding:
o Assign distinct yet harmonizing colors to each type (e.g., red for physical, blue for
economic, purple for psychological, and orange for sexual) for quick recognition.
 Layout Enhancements:
 In graphic design software, incorporate these icons alongside each description.
 Use subtle background gridlines or shaded sections behind each row for clarity.
This chart creates an accessible visual summary that can be used in presentations, infographics, or
academic materials addressing gender-based violence.

2.6 Impact of Globalization on Gender

Globalization has mixed impacts on gender. On one
hand, it has:
 Created employment opportunities in sectors
like textiles and IT.
 Increased access to information and networks.
On the other hand, it has:
 Increased exploitation of female labor in
informal and low-paying jobs.
 Threatened local economies and traditional
roles, often overburdening women without
support systems.
Women in developing countries often bear the brunt of
global economic shifts, making it essential to integrate gender concerns in trade and labor policies.
2.7 Mechanism of Trafficking and Strategies to Combat
Human trafficking — especially of women and girls — for forced labor, sexual exploitation, or organ
trade is a growing concern. Factors include poverty, conflict, lack of education, and gender
discrimination.
Mechanisms include:
 Recruitment through false promises.
 Transport across borders using illegal channels.
 Control through violence and economic dependency.

11
Strategies to combat trafficking:
 International collaboration (e.g., UN Palermo Protocol).
 Community awareness.
 Strict law enforcement.
 Rehabilitation and reintegration programs for survivors.
2.8 Conceptual Framework for Women Empowerment
Empowerment refers to increasing women’s access to resources, control over their lives, and ability to
make strategic life choices. Key dimensions include:
 Economic empowerment (access to jobs, credit, assets).
 Political empowerment (participation in decision-making).
 Social empowerment (education, mobility, leadership).
The Kabeer framework highlights the importance of resources, agency, and achievements as the basis of
empowerment.
Programs aimed at empowerment must go beyond token participation and focus on shifting underlying
power relations.
2.9 Gender and Good Governance
Good governance implies transparency, accountability,
participation, and rule of law. When gender is integrated
into governance:
 Policies become more inclusive.
 Resources are allocated more equitably.
 Corruption and misuse of power decline.

Women’s participation in governance brings diverse

perspectives and increases focus on health, education, and
social welfare. Quotas for women in parliaments, gender
budgeting, and local-level leadership programs have shown
positive results.
2.10 Global Processes for Advancement of Women
Several international frameworks aim to advance women’s
rights:
 CEDAW (1979): A landmark treaty promoting women’s rights globally.
 Beijing Platform for Action (1995): Outlined 12 critical areas for action.
 SDG Goal 5: Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls by 2030.
 UN Women: Plays a key role in coordinating gender efforts across UN systems.

12
These global processes provide guidance, funding, and monitoring mechanisms to support national efforts
in promoting gender equity.

Conclusion
Understanding gender in the context of development and environment is vital for building inclusive,
sustainable societies. Women play a pivotal role in ecological management and societal progress, yet
continue to face structural inequalities and violence. Frameworks like GAD, sustainable development
goals, and international treaties provide pathways for equity, but their success depends on genuine
political will and societal transformation. Empowering women is not just about justice — it is also
essential for planetary and community well-being.

13