Integrating Gender Perspectives
Gender is a cross-cutting issue that touches many aspects of society. Gender constructs are essential to the development of situational awareness across the spectrum of social, cultural, political and economic issues within a given socio-cultural context. An understanding of gender perspectives allows operational planners to incorporate considerations related to the protection and participation of vulnerable populations, which in turn leads to improved operational effectiveness.
DEFINITIONS
Gender: The attributes and opportunities associated with being male and female and the relationships between women and men and girls and boys. Gender determines what is expected, allowed and valued in a woman or a man, a girl or a boy in a given context. These attributes, opportunities and relationships are socially constructed and are learned through socialization processes. They are context-specific and changeable. In most societies, there are differences and inequalities between women and men in both public and private life in the responsibilities assigned, activities undertaken, access to and control over resources, as well as decision-making opportunities. Gender is part of the broader socio-cultural context. Gender is not to be used interchangeably with “sex”.
Sex: The biological characteristics that distinguish males from females such as anatomy and physiology.
Source: Department for Women and Gender Equality, Government of Canada
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