gender and diversity analysis

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Gender and Diversity Analysis

MB Status of Women

Family Services & Labour

Gender Mainstreaming• Integrating a gender perspective into all policies

& programs to ensure decision-making processes, at all levels & stages, include an analysis of the effects on women & men respectively.

• Beijing Platform for Action – Gender Analysis

More than Gender• Gender is not the only social category or position

that can create barriers & inequalities.

• Women & men have diverse identities & positions, based on age, ethnicity, class, geography, sexuality, ability etc.

• People are socially constructed along the gender spectrum, but also according to their age, ethnic background, citizenship status, income & education level, among many other things.

• Public policy approaches are increasingly taking this into account.

What about Diversity?• Diversity: recognizing & respecting individuals’

characteristics; what makes them distinct from others, including age, culture, ethnicity, skills, gender, sexual orientation, religion, family status, abilities, talents & perspectives (Provincial Civil Service Diversity Strategy, 2009)

• Intersectionality: a way to understand how multiple identities e.g., gender, ethnicity, class, age, location etc., intersect to construct individuals’ lived experiences and systemic barriers

Gender and Diversity Analysis

• An analytical tool or evidence-based process which examines:– The different concerns, opportunities, obstacles,

experiences, capacities & needs of women and men of diverse groups.

– The potential differential impacts (positive and negative) of a program or policy on women & men of diverse groups.

Nationality

Culture

Gender Expression

Religion/Spirituality

Gender Identity

Source: Adapted from Intersectional Feminist Frameworks, CRIAW

Substantive Equality – Equality of Outcomes

How Does it Work?• Exploring the specific needs of all citizens & taking

into account population diversity;

• Identifying policy challenges & opportunities from different perspectives;

• Developing policy options based on these different perspectives & needs;

• Implementing, monitoring & evaluating programs and policies by assessing their impact upon and effectiveness for women, men and diverse groups.

Why is GDA important?

• GDA makes good policy

• It’s the law: Provincial, national & international human rights law

• Manitoba’s population is becoming more diverse: One size does not fit all

GDA Makes Good Policy

• Reflects the needs & interests of all citizens.

• Creates policy & programs that are relevant, comprehensive and effective.

• Avoids underutilized or ineffective policies & programs.

Good Policy

• Improves lives & impacts society in a positive way

• Tackles an identified problem & solves it

• Is about people – so, who are they?

Why GDA?• As part of our provincial HIV/AIDS

strategy, I am tasked with developing an educational campaign. I know that the largest growing population affected by HIV/AIDS is Aboriginal women. How can I find out the best ways to reach Aboriginal women across the province for the campaign?

Why GDA?

• My team is responsible for overseeing the planning & implementation of a major infrastructure project. Training & economic development have been identified as important outcomes of the project. How can I ensure these outcomes are successfully achieved?