Short Abstract:
Gender equality is being constructed as both a problem of, and an answer to, achieving sustainable development in the post-2015 era. This panel asks - what are the best ways to address the problem of gendered inclusions in, and exclusions from, the SDGs and the 2030 sustainability discourse?
Long Abstract:
The discourse of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development does not question the notion of ‘sustainability’, nor recognise sustainable development as a politically driven, contested concept. This dominant discourse also does not question the notion of ‘gender equality’, instead presenting the presence of women and gender in the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as a positive merely by inclusion. Consideration of the SDGs sees gendered rights present, if problematic, in the social and economic strands, but largely absent from the environmental discourse. Here there is a silence, with a ‘business as usual’ approach meaning the focus remains on the planet not people. Yet perhaps it is a welcome silence? Feminist academics have long suggested that the development and the environmental agendas when talking ‘gender’ are talking gendered efficient outcomes rather than processes of gender equality. This suggests women’s inclusion in the 2030 Agenda may result not in greater equality, but greater responsibilities, with women charged with ensuring not only development, but an environmentally sustainable development. This raises the question of how best to ensure the inclusion of women within ongoing ‘sustainable’ development programmes in a way that ensures they are served by these programmes, rather than being at the service of them. This panel seeks to trouble how gender equality is being constructed as both a problem of, and an answer to, the achievement of sustainable development in the post-2015 era and the ways to best address the problem of both gendered inclusions in, and exclusions from, the on-going sustainability discourse.
Accepted papers:
Session 1
What Makes Women's Empowerment Sustainable? Examining Durability and Diffusion of Women's Empowerment Using Panel Data from India
Namrata Chindarkar
(Indian Institute of Management)
Sonia Akter
(National University of Singapore)
Paper short abstract:
This paper examines durability and diffusion of women's empowerment. Using panel data from India and a domain-based framework, we find that durability varies across empowerment domains. Further, we find a significant diffusion effect across all empowerment domains.
Paper long abstract:
In this paper we empirically test the sustainability of women's empowerment using representative and rich individual-level panel data from India for the years 2004−2005 and 2011−2012. Sustainability is defined in terms of durability, that is, whether empowerment gains sustain over the long run, and diffusion, that is, whether empowerment has positive spillover effects. A domain-based framework is used to capture the multidimensional nature of empowerment. We find that durability varies across empowerment domains. Individual capabilities, asset endowment, and the opportunity structure within which women operate are significantly associated with durability of empowerment. Additionally, a significant diffusion effect of empowerment from empowered women to the other women in the household is observed across all domains. The diffusion effect is significant even when the respondents reside in a separate household but is connected to their empowered female kin through close family network.
Gender, women's work, and sustainable work
Wendy Olsen
(University of Manchester)
Samantha Watson
(LSHTM)
Paper short abstract:
Taking up how women's work is theorised, this paper first solves a knotty problem of social theory and then offers mixed-methods evidence about women's work in India and Bangladesh. We propose a universalist, inclusive and sustainable approach to work and to women and households as agents.
Paper long abstract:
Taking up how women's work is theorised, this paper first solves a knotty problem of social theory and then offers mixed-methods evidence about women's work in India and Bangladesh. We propose a universalist, inclusive and sustainable approach to work and to women and households as agents.
This solves problems that crop up in the social exclusion approach, the human-capital approach, and the breadwinner approach to so-called women's work. Using primary time-use data we show the key role women play in domestic and community social reproduction. However, the idea that they are 'socially excluded' portrays them as failures in the modern economy. A second theory - human capital theory - and other related variants also err by placing women too far as individualistic agents. We propose that with depth ontology and nested, linked agents, the best development studies offers clear solutions. In 'gender and development' we take note of the current state of the art: that women are 'classed' and intersectional. Moving forward we instead offer that a universalist approach sees women and men, in households and communities, relating both at the personal and household level through cooperation and negotiated solutions.
Our solution avoids the hopelessness of a standpoint being from within socially competing elements. Instead one needs to see social agents as cooperating strategically. Data from India and Bangladesh support our claims.
Post-2015 Sustainable Development through a gender lens: is it development, is it sustainable?
Sarah Bradshaw
(Middlesex University)
Paper short abstract:
This paper will explore the intersection of sustainability and development in the process to define the 2030 Agenda. By applying a gender lens it will problematise the notion of 'sustainable development' and question if engendering the Agenda should be the aim of those seeking gender equality.
Paper long abstract:
The contemporary sustainable development discourse as reflected in the 2030 Agenda sees gendered rights present, if problematic, in the social and economic strands of the sustainability discourse. But what of the environmental discourse? Here there is a silence, but, this paper will argue, it is perhaps a welcome silence. When viewed through a gender lens, the current constructions of 'sustainability' within the international policy context suggests a 'business as usual' approach. This sees women included in sustainable development initiatives, but their inclusion is not on an equality basis, but rather for efficiency reasons, and this does not necessarily promote or even protect their rights while at the same time it does widen their responsibilities. In the 1990s gender critics suggested that the proclaimed 'success' of environmental projects had often been gained at the expense of women - adding unremunerated environmental protection roles to women's existing burdens to bring positive collective benefits but few personal gains. In the contemporary context it seems women continue to be promoted as the efficient policy solution. Their inclusion in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development may result not in greater equality, but greater responsibilities for women as the ones charged with ensuring not only development, but a sustainable development is achieved. This raises the question of how best to ensure the inclusion of women within ongoing 'sustainable' development programmes in a way that ensures they are served by these programmes, rather than being at the service of them.
Social accountability and gender: a review of the literature and empirical findings from the DRC
Patrick Milabyo Kyamusugulwa
(Intitut Superieur Techniques Medicales Bukavu)
Sylvia Bergh
(International Institute of Social Studies)
Dorothea Hilhorst
(Erasmus University Rotterdam)
Paper short abstract:
Social accountability initiatives have been at the heart of development interventions. This paper focuses on a review of the literatures on social accountability and gender by re-defining these concepts theoretically. Attention will be paid to how such interventions help to achieve the SDG 16.
Paper long abstract:
In recent years, social accountability initiatives have been touted as a key means to increase accountability of public officials to citizens in developing countries, thereby leading to improved public services and ultimately, a decrease in poverty. However, the gender dimension is mostly lacking, both on the part of donors designing such initiatives, as well as in the research that assesses their outcomes on the ground. This paper will contribute to filling this gap by presenting a review of the literatures on social accountability and gender in order to re-define these concepts in a way that they can be integrated theoretically. The notion of 'gender-based citizenship' will be used here, and its relevance for the panel's theme on 'sustainable development' discussed. The second part of the paper will present some preliminary findings from the Democratic Republic of Congo where development and reconstruction interventions have applied social accountability tools in several key areas such as education, health, environmental protection, and water and sanitation. The findings will discuss the extent to which such interventions have contributed to a gender-based citizenship and to breaking down patriarchal patterns of exclusion (by for example including women in service user committees and other decision-making fora). Attention will be paid in particular to how such interventions help to achieve the SDG 16 on promoting peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, providing access to justice for all and building effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels.