GENDER ISSUES IN COOPERATIVES: AN ILO - ICA PERSPECTIVE 2 Hours on Gender Issues in Cooperatives - An introductory session on gender issues for cooperative leaders

Overview

Introduction -- What are gender issues in cooperatives? -- Why is gender integration important? -- What are the benefits of gender integration? -- What can be done to integrate more women into cooperatives? -- Some suggestions

The values of self-help, mutual responsibility, equality and equity are held in common by all cooperators. But even though cooperatives may have policies of equity and equal opportunities for both women and men, their practices may differ. True equality may not, in reality, exist. For example, although women contribute significantly to the agricultural sector and hence to the national economy of nearly all countries in the world, the percentage of women members in agricultural cooperatives, compared to men, is notably lower. Women's participation is also practically non-existent in cooperatives at decision-making levels.

In order to correct these imbalances and ensure the sustainability of co-operatives, it is necessary that gender issues are addressed.

Below are some specific gender issues of concern to cooperatives, and questions that cooperative leaders can ask themselves:

• Low level of participation in cooperative development and particularly that of women. Are efforts being made to increase the membership?
• Quality of women's participation in cooperatives. Are women involved in decision-making processes?
• Constraints to participation in cooperatives such as social, cultural, economic and political restrictions on women, their heavy workload, level of education, or the selection criteria for members etc. If any of these constraints exist, what is being done to address the situation?
• Access to and control over resources such as credit, education, training, production inputs and marketing outlets. Do men and women have equal access and control over resources?
• Cooperative training and education programmes. Do these programmes address women's needs? Are efforts being made to involve women, e.g. are meetings conveniently timed and are child care facilities available?
• Financial and social benefits. Is it advantageous for women to form cooperatives? Do cooperatives support income- generating activities for women?
• The possible existence of gender bias. Do gender-blind policies, practices and services exist within the cooperative?
• Lack of strong cooperative support and commitment to gender issues. How are they addressed? Are gender sensitization programmes carried out?

• Active, equitable participation of members, both men and women, is a necessity for sustainable cooperative development. Active participation in the cooperative context means that members are involved in all the functions of a cooperative including planning, decision- making, implementation and financial and management control.
• Cooperatives are based on the values of self-help, mutual responsibility, equality and equity. They practice honesty, openness and social responsibility in all their activities. In order to enhance the credibility of cooperatives as democratic people-based movements in the eyes of the public and cooperative members, cooperative values must be respected and adhered to.
• Cooperative principles state that cooperatives are democratic organizations without gender discrimination. But can they be regarded as truly democratic if women members do not have equal access to decision-making levels? If women are under-represented or not represented at all in decision-making, they may find it difficult to accept the legitimacy of decisions taken which do not take their interests into consideration.
• Experience has shown that women in leadership positions are more likely to address gender issues and safeguard the interests of women. As the cooperative movement worldwide incorporates so many women (yet few in management positions), it is important that more women are integrated into the system.

• Women represent fifty per cent of the world's human resources. By enhancing women's productive capabilities and developing their capacities, cooperatives will benefit from this hitherto under-utilized human resource. Many women have special skills, for instance, in marketing and trading.
• Cooperatives will become a stronger economic and more influential political force if more women (the invisible workforce) are actively involved.
• Men and women often tackle and solve problems differently. In today's fast changing socio-economic and political climate, the need for innovative thinking and creative ideas is becoming exceedingly important especially for the cooperative sector. By involving more women in decision- shaping and decision-making, one will enhance the prospects of cooperatives, diversify activities and fortify the cooperative movement.
• In the case of agricultural cooperatives, the involvement of more women in economic activities would result in a more integrated production of food crop and cash crops. This would enhance food security and have a positive effect on the environment as intensive monoculture causes soil erosion and degradation.
• Involving more women in cooperatives will broaden the scope of cooperatives and improve their social standing. Women's and men's priority areas often differ. For example, women are often more concerned with social development issues which touch the everyday lives of women such as employment, health, the environment and children than men.
• Many examples have proven that initiatives taken by women in cooperatives have accelerated the progress and change of their socio-economic situation.

• The first thing is to include gender on their agendas. The formulation of gender-sensitive policies, strategies and plans is essential. These should be drawn up in a joint effort between women and men.
• Cooperatives should address equality issues and make a firm commitment in their mandate to correct imbalances where they exist. For example, cooperatives can state their intention to address the problems of women's access to credit, land, equipment, extension services etc., and/or to take positive measures to include more women in their training programmes, in decision-making and leadership positions.

• Through awareness creation, gender sensitization, education and lobbying cooperatives can help remove the obstacles to women's equal participation (e.g. membership criteria or legal, traditional, financial, attitudinal constraints).
• Through training and education programmes which are sensitive to women needs, cooperatives can help strengthen women's capacities and capabilities, resulting in their increased self-confidence and enabling them to participate more fully in decision-making and assume leadership positions.
• Cooperatives can consult and involve women when decisions are being taken, particularly those regarding women or which are in women's interests.
• Cooperatives can review their policies and plan periodically to ensure that they are gender-sensitive? Cooperatives can focus on gender in their action plans.
• Cooperatives can establish "gender committees" or units whose tasks can for example be to identify gender-related problems; to ensure that gender awareness training programmes are carried out; to be responsible for gender analysis in programme planning etc. It should be noted here that by establishing a special unit or office for gender issues or programmes, one risks that the gender issue becomes a side-issue that has been "taken care of" and that women continue to be marginalized in mainstream activities. A gender unit must therefore be part of mainstream activities or have direct access to policy and decision- making levels.
• Cooperatives can use their national organizations and networks to collect gender disaggregated data and help identify different types of projects focused to women's needs which can help them increase their income-earning capacities and alleviate their work loads. For example, they can investigate how much time men and women spend on various chores and activities and how this fits in with potential and economically viable and sustainable cooperative activities.

This note has been prepared for the information of participants of the introductory session on gender issues in cooperatives entitled, "Two hours on Gender Issues in Cooperatives", published by the International Labour Office and the International Co- operative Alliance. For more information, please contact:

December, 1995

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Posted: 2 May 2001