Some Basic Definitions

Development: a change for the better: the ordering of society and social and economic processes for the eradication of gross poverty, ill health and illiteracy; and resulting in rising standards of living and increased well being of all.

Empowerment: people, women or men, taking control over their own lives: gaining the ability to do things, to set their own agendas, to change events, in a way previously lacking. This may include affecting the way other people act and consciously or unconsciously effecting changes in their behaviours.

Gender: relating to the social, economic and political differences between women and men. [Sex: relating to biological differences]

Gender-aware: conscious of the difference between the needs, desires, vision etc. of women and men. Similarly, gender-awareness

Gender-biased: lopsided and/or distorted, by neglect, discrimination, or outright prejudice towards/against one gender, be it male or female. Similarly, gender-bias

Gender-blind: that which makes the social relations between women and men invisible; inscrutable, concealed, not noticeable. Similarly, gender-blindness

Gender-competent: having ability and skill to adequately and effectively translate the needs, desires, vision etc. of women and men into language, work and life.

Gender-disaggregated statistics/Data: statistics that visibly show the difference between the situation, status etc. of men and women, e.g., unemployment: number of men, number of women; heads of household: number of women, number of men; owner/occupiers: number of men, number of women.

Gender-relations: the socially constituted relations between men and women which are shaped and sanctioned by norms and values held by members of a given society. Central to these relations and around these notions acceptable behaviours for each of the genders are socially constructed.

Gender-sensitive: clearly open to, acutely aware of, readily responsive to those issues which have to do with the social relations between women and men, within specific societies. Similarly, gender-sensitivity.

Gender-specific: clearly expressing or articulating in one’s language, work, etc., gender differences.

Planning from a gender perspective: catering for, and involving women and men at all levels of development: thinking, planning and implementation.

These few definitions should afford you a more ready understanding of similar terms such as gender analysis, gender concerns, gender discrimination and gender inequalities as well as such concepts as gender and development.