ICA-ILO Gender Package: Tranparencies

GENDER ISSUES IN COOPERATIVES:
AN ILO - ICA PERSPECTIVE

2 Hours on Gender Issues in Cooperatives -
An introductory session on gender issues for cooperative leaders

Transparencies

1A Gender and gender relations
1B What is role? What are gender roles?
2A Statements for the "buzzing discussions"
2B Statements for the "buzzing discussions" (cont'd)
3 Picture: Woman carrying a bundle of "role"
4 Women's "double day"
5A Division of Labour
5B Loss of land
6 Gender issues in cooperatives
7 Aims of the gender sensitization session

Transparency 1A: Gender and gender relations

Gender and gender relations

When we refer to "gender", we refer to the differences between men and women that are determined by a person's social and cultural environment and not by a person's sex, i.e biological factors.

Gender relations are determined by numerous factors such as age, class, education, race and religion.

Transparency 1B: What is a role? What are gender roles?

What is a role? What are gender roles?

What is a role?

A role is a pattern of behaviour of a person. It is shaped by the status and position of that person in a community, and influenced by one's own opinion and other people's expectations of the role. It is hence culturally and economically and socially determined.

What are gender roles?

Gender roles are roles that are played by both women and men which are not determined by biological factors but by the socio- economic and cultural environment or situation.

For example, in parts of Africa and Latin America unskilled construction work is regarded as "men's work", whereas in India it is regarded as "women's work"

Transparency 2A: Statements for the "buzzing discussions"

Men are the heads of households and all decisions that affect the family should therefore be taken by them.
Men and women should share household responsibilities and decision-making.
A women's place is primarily in the home. Women should therefore concentrate on being housewives and child bearers and not get involved in economic activities.
Women should have the same rights and opportunities as men.
Efforts should be made to facilitate women's involvement in productive or economic activities.

Transparency 2B: Statements for the "buzzing discussions"

Cooperative education and training is more important for male members as they are the main participants in cooperatives.
Women and men should be equal partners in cooperative development.
Women should have equal access to training and education facilities and participate in decision-making.
Women do not have the right personal characteristics to assume leadership or managerial positions as they are generally too emotional, frivolous, indecisive and lack confidence.
Women are capable of assuming leadership roles.

Transparency 3: Picture: Woman carrying a bundle of "roles"

Transparency 4: "Women's Double Day"

"Women's Double Day"

Women are in most societies responsible for all domestic activities such as housework, food preparation and child rearing in addition to their involvement in formal or informal economic activities.

This "double day" results in general in a heavier workload on women than on men, although this also depends on education, social class, age or ethnic group.

Transparency 5A: Loss of Land

Many women - especially in Africa - have lost their traditional rights to the land they work because colonial laws and development policies have tended to allocte land only to men.

Loss of land

Transparency 5B: Division of Labour

Division of Labour

Women in Africa do up to three quarters of all agricultural work in addition to their domestic reponsibilities.

Ploughing 30%
Planting 50%
Livestock 50%
Harvesting 60%
Weeding 70%
Processing and stroing crops 85%
Domestic work 95%

Source: UN Economic Commission for Africa

Transparency 6: Gender issues in cooperatives

Gender issues in cooperatives

Low level of participation of women in cooperative development. The quality of participation in cooperatives e.g. in what capacities do women participate - as members, staff, office bearers? Are efforts made to increase women's participation?
Constraints to participation in cooperatives e.g. social, cultural, economic and political restrictions on women, heavy workload, education, selection criteria for members etc.
Participation of women in decision-making processes. Are men and women equal partners?
Lack of access to and control over resources such as credit, education, training, production inputs, marketing outlets, etc.
Training and education programmes. Do these programmes address women's needs, are they conveniently timed and are, for instance, child-care facilities available?

Transparency 7: Aims of the gender sensitization session

The aims of this gender sensitization session have been to make people aware that:

democratic participation in cooperatives means that both men and women should participate equally in cooperatives;
gender-related problems also exist in the cooperative sector;
women are not a special marginalized interest group but represent half the world's population and contribute to socio-economic development;
both men's and women's needs and concerns must be addressed equally;
both men and women should be afforded equal opportunities and treatment within the cooperative sector and should benefit equally from cooperative development;
both men and women should have equal access to decision- making levels and leadership positions;
both men and women should share responsibilities and power in all spheres of life;
women face constraints in their access to and control over resources e.g. credit, training and education etc.

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Posted: 2 May 2001

GENDER ISSUES IN COOPERATIVES: AN ILO - ICA PERSPECTIVE

2 Hours on Gender Issues in Cooperatives - An introductory session on gender issues for cooperative leaders