WUNRN
http://www.eldis.org/go/approachestomeasuring#.VZ6c1nkw_mI
Approaches
to Measuring Gender
How can change be measured at individual and social levels, in both formal
and informal spheres? There is an increasing array of monitoring and evaluation
frameworks, methodologies and approaches. In terms of methods, the ‘hard
figures’ produced by quantitative approaches are crucial to building the case
for addressing gender disparities. Gender scales have become a useful tool in
this respect; numerical scores aggregating multiple indicators in order to try
and capture multifaceted changes.
Meanwhile, qualitative methods enable a more in-depth examination of gender
relations and other issues not easily ‘counted’. Thus, the ideal methodology is
a combined approach that incorporates both quantitative and qualitative
methods……
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
EIGE – European Institute for Gender Equality – GENDER STATISTICS - http://eige.europa.eu/gender-mainstreaming/tools-and-methods/gender-statistics
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Gender &
Indicators – Can Gender Equality Be Measured?
Key Issues Guide: Introduction
For the last 15 years, the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) have taken
centre stage on the international development agenda. The use of these specific
goals and targets have both galvanised global efforts and led to criticism
regarding unintended consequences, including the neglect of issues not included
in the MDGs. As 2015 signals the end of the MDG era and the creation of new
Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), this Key Issues Guide provides an
overview of some debates around and approaches to measuring change on gender
equality.
In 2007, the BRIDGE programme at the Institute of Development Studies published
the Gender and Indicators Cutting Edge Pack. The pack notes the critical
importance of gender sensitive measurements for enabling better planning and
action, and holding institutions accountable. However, measurement techniques
and data are described as “limited and poorly utilised, making it difficult to
know if efforts are on track to achieve gender equality goals and commitments.”
A lot of progress has been made in the intervening years. There are now
multiple, publicly available gender indices, aiding the measurement of things
such as institutional gender equality, education and economic participation,
and different types of gender gaps. There are also transformative indicators that
capture changes in social norms and practices in areas like marriage, family,
market and state. With the post-2015 development agenda in the making, now is
an opportune time to review what has been learned, and contribute to the
process of determining how best to move forward.
This key issues guide was written by Angela de Prairie with advice from Ranjani
K Murthy.
Gender and Indicators: Overview Report
What does a world without gender inequality look like? Realising this vision
requires inspiring and mobilising social change. But what would indicate that
we are on the right track - and how will we know when we get there?
Gender-sensitive indicators and other measurements of change are critical for
building the case for taking gender inequality seriously, for enabling better
planning and actions, and for holding institutions accountable for their
commitments on gender.
This Cutting Edge Pack was published in 2007, but still hopes to inspire
thinking on these questions - with an Overview Report outlining key issues, a
Supporting Resources Collection providing summaries of key texts, tools, case
studies and contacts of organisations in this field, and an In Brief bulletin
with three short articles on the theme.
Some of the key messages highlighted in the pack are present today in the
literature regarding the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and preparation
for the post-2015 development agenda:
- Developing gender indicators in controversial and non-controversial spheres
is important, as well as having both general and context-specific indicators.
- A combination of both qualitative and quantitative indicators and mixed
methodologies should be considered by all organisations.
- The political nature of identification, use and measurement of indicators.
- Gender-sensitive indicators and measurement of progress/setbacks is
crucial from the lens of gender equity, programme effectiveness, and programme
efficiency.
- The need for the integration of gender indicators into new aid
modalities.
- The need to emphasise careful interpretation of indicators; for example
ensuring that increases in participation for women are not offset by far
greater workloads.
Approaches to measuring
How can change be measured at individual and social levels, in both formal and
informal spheres? There is an increasing array of monitoring and evaluation
frameworks, methodologies and approaches. In terms of methods, the ‘hard
figures’ produced by quantitative approaches are crucial to building the case
for addressing gender disparities. More...
Measuring in different contexts
How might specific contexts require tailored approaches to measuring gender
equality and development? As manifestations of gender inequality are
context-specific, international indicators based on global standards do not
always translate usefully to the local or regional context. Some countries
have taken global goals such as the MDGs and adapted them to increase their
usefulness and relevance. More...
Indices
Indices developed to measure international and regional gender goals are useful
because they allow for cross-national comparisons of gender equality, and they
condense complex data into clear messages about achievements and gaps. The
limitations of such large scale indices include the challenge of identifying
and quantifying which particular elements of gender equality to measure within
a limited number of indicators. More...
The Millennium Development Goals (MDGs)
The MDGs have overseen some dramatic advances in international development over
the last 15 years. The most striking successes include reaching global gender
parity in primary education enrolment, and significant reductions in infant
mortality globally. However, the framework has been criticised for failing to
make a broader impact beyond the narrow aims of the selected goals and
indicators.. More...
The Sustainable Development Goals, the
post-2015 agenda and future opportunities
With the MDGs drawing to a close in 2015, much work has already been done in
preparing for a new global development agenda. At the United Nations Conference
on Sustainable Development (Rio+20), held in 2012, it was agreed that a new set
of development goals would be drawn up, leading to the UN General Assembly's
Open Working Group on Sustainable Development Goals presenting a first draft in
2014. More...
From: WUNRN ListServe
[mailto:list@wunrn.com]
Subject: Gender Statistics - Gender Disaggregation – Gender Indicators -
Importance
WUNRN
UN STATISTICS DIVISION - GENDER STATISTICS SOURCES
_____________________________________________________________
UNECE - GENDER STATISTICS - Gender statistics is an area that cuts across traditional fields of statistics to identify, produce and disseminate statistics that reflect the realities of the lives of women and men, and policy issues relating to gender. Statistics and indicators on the situation of women and men are needed to describe the role of women and men in the society, economy and family, formulate and monitor policies and plans, monitor changes, and inform the public.
_____________________________________________________________
ANALYSIS OF MEASUREMENT TOOLS FROM GENDER PERSPECTIVE
Direct
Link to Full 140-Page Report:
"It
is important to recognize that current governance reforms are
often
not gender-responsive, but neither are they gender-neutral.
This
is partly because the governance objectives, systems and
services
at all levels have been defined, designed and managed
by
men, who are the principal decision makers. They therefore
reflect
men’s priorities and perspectives. Even where women are
targeted,
this remains largely within the framework of men’s assumptions
and perspectives on women’s needs and situations."
Chapter
5: Analysis of Selected Measurement Tools from a Gender-Sensitive Perspective
39
A.
Key questions 40
B.
Gender-related databases and assessments 40
1.
Gender indicators 40
2.
Service-related indicators 40
3.
Uses of gender indicators 40
4.
Sources 41
5.
Usefulness for measuring basic services delivery 41
C.
Governance-related databases and assessments 41
1.
Gender indicators 41
2.
Service-related governance indicators 41
3.
Uses of governance indicators 41
4.
Sources 41
5. Usefulness for measuring gender-sensitivity of basic services delivery 42