Research Report Writing with Gender Lens: Issues and Debates

Dr. Sudeshna Mukherjee, Ph.D.

Associate Professor, Centre for Women’s Studies

Bangalore University

Importance of Research Report

• A significant part of research work

• Research presentation depends on quality of report

• Clarity

• Presentation format

• Logical sequence

• Tables and Analysis

• Findings & conclusions

• Suggestions

Input

(Resour

ces)

Activities

(Interventio

ns)

Output

(Direct

Results from

Interventions)

Outcome

(Change in

participants

)

Impact

(change in

society)

Standard format of a Report

• Preliminary part

a) Acknowledgements/ Preface

b) Table of contents

c) List of Tables and Graphs

d) Executive summary

• Main Part

a) Introduction and Methodology

b) Review of Literature

c) Explanatory Chapter

d) Study Area

e) Results and discussions

f) Conclusions and suggestions

g) Supplementary part- Appendices, Interview schedules, additional information

7Cs of Communication

• Clarity –Language( grammarly)

• Correctness- accuracy

• Conciseness- Specific

• Consideration- Readers

• Completeness –Include all information

• Complementarity- Linkage

• Concreteness : -definite statements

Introduction

• About the topic

• Research Gap

• Problem Statement

• Objectives of the Study

• Methodology –Sampling, Data Collection

• Data Analysis

• Chapter Frame

• Limitations

• Contribution of the Study

How to apply Gender Lens:

• Selection of Topic : Could be gendered(e.g. Study of Increase in gender based violence

during COVID locked down) or Gender Neutral ( e.g. Problems of Migrant workers during COVID locked

down)

• Use of Gender perspectives in gender-neutral topics

• Following of Feminist Methodologies

• Use of gender- disaggregated data

• Avoiding of Sexist language and attitude while conducting field work

• Application of Gender-analysis Framework

Review of Literature

• Presentation in logical sequence

• Identification of gender neutral, sexist and gender sensitive literature

• Analysis of Findings with gender lens

• Developing a Theoretical framework

• Identification of variables

Using Feminist Methodology

• Recognition of lived experiences as legitimate sources of knowledge.

• Feminist methodologies attempt to eradicate sexist bias in research and find ways tocapture subaltern voices that are consistent with feminist ideals

• Expanding methodologies or using triangulation to include both quantitative andqualitative methods,

• Reducing the hierarchical power relationship between researchers and their participantsto facilitate trust and disclosure, and

• Recognizing and reflecting upon the emotionality of lives to make recommendations forhow to integrate feminist scholarship into their practice.

• It suggest for participatory action research for change.

In this way, productive, feminist methods attempt to “demystify” and “decolonize” research through

recognizing how traditional methods construct the Other and are cloaked in a false objectivity, and

subsequently to deconstruct these narratives in order to “talk more creatively about research with

particular groups and communities – women, the economically oppressed, ethnic minorities and

indigenous peoples.”

Gender Analysis

• Gender analysis is a type of socio-economic analysis that uncovers how genderrelations affect a development problem.

• Gender analysis frameworks provide a step-by-step methodology for conductinggender analysis.

• The gender analysis identifies the types of gender differences and inequalities thatmight otherwise be taken for granted

• such as how men and women have different access to and control over resources,carry out different social roles, and face different constraints and receive differentbenefits.

• Once highlighted, they can be addressed and alleviated by carefully designedprograms. It raises following questions. .

(1) How will gender relations affect the achievement of sustainable results;

(2) How will proposed results affect the relative status of men and women.

Commonly Referenced Gender Analysis Frameworks:

A. The Harvard Analytical Framework, also known as the Gender Roles Framework

B. Moser Gender Need Framework based on PGN and SGN

C. The Moser Gender Planning Framework

D. The Gender Analysis Matrix (GAM) by Rani Parker

E. The Women’s Empowerment Framework (WEP) developed by Sara Hlupekile

Longwe, a gender expert from Lusaka, Zambia

F. The Social Relations Approach created by Naila Kabeer

G. 4R Method

Gender need assessment

R= Reproductive P= Productive

R = Reproductive

P = Productive

CM = Community

managing

PGN = Practical gender

need

SGN = Strategic gender

need

PGN= Practical gender need SGN= Strategic gender need

Women’s role recognized Gender need met

Type of intervention R p CM PGN SGN

1.Employment policy

a) Skill training

Cooking X X

Dressmaking X X

Masonry/carpentry X X X(1)

b) Access to credit

Allocated to household X X

Allocated to women X X X(2)

Gender Analysis (Harvard Analysis)

Crop production No of days

crop( paddy) male female

Task-1 (sowing)

Task-2( weeding)

Task-3(applying fertilizer and pesticides)

Task-4 ( thrashing)

Tool-2The access and control profile,

which identifies the resources used to carry out the work

identified in the activity profile, and

access to and control over their

use, by gender

Access and Control Profile

ACCESS AND CONTROL PROFILE

Access Control

Women Men Women Men

Resources

Land

Equipment

Labour

Cash

Education/training

Other

Benefits

Outside income

Assets ownership

Basic needs (food,

clothing, shelter)

Education

Political power/prestige

Other

Analysis of Influencing Factors

Tool-3

The analysis of influencing factors, charts factors that influencegender differences in the above two profiles. Chart the past andpresent factors or determinants that are behind or influence thepatterns of activities, access and control identified in the first twotools. A number of inter-related areas should be considered underwhich various influencing factors might be found, including:

• Community norms and social hierarchies (e.g. family/community forms, cultural practices and religious beliefs)

• Demographic conditions

• Institutional structures and bureaucracies

• General economic situation (e.g. poverty levels, income distribution patterns, international terms of trade and infrastructure)

• Internal and external political events

• Legal parameters

• Training and education

• Attitude of community to development workers

INFLUENCING FACTORS

Influencing factor Impact Constraint

s

Opportunit

ies

1. Community

norms and

social

hierarchy

2. Demographic

factors

3. Institutional

factors

4. Economic

factors

5. Political

factors

6. Legal

parameters

7. Training

8. Attitude of

community to

development

workers

9. Other

Principles of Planning and Outlining A Gender Analysis

• Be as specific as possible based on relevance and usefulness

• Examine what has been done before

• Go through questions asked and method applied in data collection

• Ask for an inception report

• Include women and men’s, girls and boys’ perspectives and the relationbetween them. Also include the perspectives of a diverse selection ofwomen and men, girls and boys.

A common misunderstanding is that only the perspectives of women and girls need to be

described. When differences between women and men, girls and boys, are visible, gender

analysis becomes an informative tool. It is important to include a diverse group of women

and men, girls and boys based on factors such as ethnicity, class, functionality sexual

orientation etc. because there will be a great variety of perspectives within the gender

groups.

Interpretation of data

• Preparation of tables

• Identification of required tables

• Information based- comprehensive & Complete

• Analysis based

• Uni variable tables

• Cross cutting tables

Analysis of tables

Human Development Indicators – NFHS-4, 2015-2016 (In %)

Children under 5 Children

6-23

months

receiving

adequate

diet

Anaemia LiteracyHouses

with

sanitati

on

facility

Stunting WastingSevere

wasting

Under

Weight

Women

15-49

years

Men 15-

49 years

Children

6 -59

monthsFemale Male

Yadgir55.5

31.3 12.5 50.3 6.1 47.7 13.8 74 41 56.9 18.1

Raichur37.2

34.9 18.1 41.2 3.3 58.7 24.1 70.6 45.8 76.9 27.6

Mandya 18.6 23.2 9.5 20.3 13.3 46.2 13.9 55.2 71.8 86.2 56.8

Karnataka36.2

26.1 10.5 35.2 14.4 44.8 18.2 60.9 71.7 85.1 57.8

India38.4

21 7.5 35.8 9.6 53.1 22.7 58.6 68.4 85.7 48.4

Presentation of Analysis

• Logical Framework

• Brief background of the sample area

• Social & Economic Background-Sample

• Analysis of Main variables

• Relationship Across the variables- Reflections

• Conclusions & Suggestions

Bibliography

• Citations- APA, MLA, Chicago styles

• Books

• Deshpande R S (1994) Agricultural Development in India Himalaya Publishing House, New Delhi.

• Reports

• Dept. of Women & Child Development(2018), Karnataka, Women Empowerment Policy, Government of Karnataka , Bengaluru.

• Research articles

• Deshpande R S (2004) ‘Farmers’ Suicides in Karnataka’ Economic & Political Weekly Vol. XVI No.4 PP 230-235.

• Websites:

• https://www.researchgate.net/publication/304068387_Feminist_Participatory_Action_Research

1. Feminism is a perspective, not a research method.

2. Feminists use a multiplicity of research methods.

3. Feminist research involves an ongoing criticism of non-feminist scholarship.

4. Feminist research is guided by feminist theory.

5. Feminist research may be transdisciplinary.

6. Feminist research aims to create social change.

7. Feminist research strives to represent human diversity.

8. Feminist research frequently includes the researcher asa person.

9. Feminist research frequently attempts to developspecial relations with the people studied (interactive

research).

10. Feminist research frequently defines a special relationwith the reader.

Thank you.

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