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A gender role is a set of perceived behavioural norms associated particularly with males or females, in a given social group or system. Focus on Gender provides an insight into the differences between the sexes. That said, the discussions have narrowed down to the problems faced by women because of their sex and the role assigned to them by society. Gender is a key topic in poor countries as many of the problems faced by women are magnified. Household surveys indicate a higher degree of domestic violence in poor countries than in rich countries. Injustices against women are global. Empowering women can bring benefits to the whole society; an example is Kerala, a poor region in southern India which prioritised education of girls & women, and have been able to produce very high literacy rates, very low child mortality and greater life expectancy, compared to the rest of India. Gender matters. How, then, can governments and development agencies improve the situation that women face? Should there be an emphasis on the education of girls to the highest levels or is it more important to have sufficient midwives to help pregnant women? Is giving land ownership to women, the way to ensure empowerment? Will microfinance lead to development, by allowing a woman to control her finances? In an ideal world there would be no need for choices - in practice, choices have to be made. This section aims to improve understanding of the problems faced by women and to suggest ways to overcome their marginalisation.
Balance of power between men and women within the family:
| The importance of being earners: why South African women need well-paid jobs - John Simister |
| Food or drink? Effects of alcohol on child nutrition in South Africa - John Simister |
| Women’s Empowerment In Nine Countries, Using ‘Work, Attitudes And Spending’ Surveys |
| Household Financial Management - Evidence From 'Work, Attitudes And Spending' Surveys |
| Unpaid work in Indonesia: testing 'unitary' and 'bargaining' theories - John Simister |
| Time Spent On Paid And Unpaid Work: Findings From ‘Work, Attitudes And Spending’ Surveys |
| Do farming practices determine womens status in South Africa? - John Simister |
Domestic violence:
You are welcome to download raw WAS survey data, and study it to look for patterns of gender based violence: for example, many writers claim that gender based violence is more likely in households where the husband and wife have little education.
| Domestic violence in India: effects of child socialisation - John Simister |
| Links between violence and high temperatures - John Simister |
| Women in Egypt, Nigeria, and India can protect themselves from 'Gender-Based Violence' caused by high temperatures - John Simister |
| Thermal stress and violence in India & Pakistan: investigating a new explanation of the Kerala model - John Simister |
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| Comparing attitudes to gender based violence between countries |