Hi everyone, my name is Claire and along with Saffina and Emily we form the subject group: gender inequality and Stereotypes. As Andrea has already informed us, Gender inequality and discrimination is the root cause of violence against girls and young women.
It is important to place VAWG within the context of gender relations as women and girls are targeted for reasons pertaining to their gender identification. Gender inequality could infer unequal relations between different gender groups. It is important to recognise the larger role of power relations and the part, those who are in positions of power, control it e.g. domestic violence relationships. Gender is sometimes defined in a social context and therefore gender inequality may be a social and a cultural issue. Gender ideas have come about from certain socio-cultural ideals being akin to biological differences. Ideas about labour segregation (think woman as mother, father as provider) have been filled with certain values and thought of as normal behaviour. These 'norms' assume an unchanging process although certain categories of individuality are often defined by these labour divisions. Boundaries between these divisions are policed by the 'biological' army so that men and women at a young age are often taught traditional expectations of who they are and what they are meant to be. Gender inequality comes from this certain hierarchical thinking that has instilled fixed values. The only way to address VAWG is to understand and approach the very complex power relations and system which allows for these inequalities.
Effects of gender discrimination, Gender stereotypes and inequalities affect girls, women, families, communities, and economies across the globe. While this picture varies from place to place, it limits the girl-child's full potential and hinders society's full development and progress. Gender stereotypes, based on assumptions, allow for girls to marry early and bear children at a young age. Furthermore, they are prevented from attending school and maximizing their education. The girl-child spends more time caring for family and performing domestic tasks. By investing in their intellectual, social and economic potential through education this will help delay child marriages, prevent teenage pregnancy and issues such as HIV and AIDS can be resolved. The cycle of poverty can be broken, and girls' and women's earnings can be maximized. Girls and women invest the majority of their income back into their family and community. By continuing to enforce gender stereotypes, we cannot reach the change we hope for.
Long term effects of gender stereotypes and inequalities vary all around the world. When girls are expected and assumed to be submissive and docile, they often are. When they are treated as a burden rather than a blessing, their motivation and self-esteem is often diminished. By stereotyping girls and women as sexual objects, girls are highly influenced by these images and may believe they are only worth as much as their body/appearance. As a result, many girls and women are only offered and accept jobs based on their body/appearance. They cannot utilize their skills and potential to benefit themselves and society as a whole. They may also experience various forms of violence as boys and men grow up accepting these images and may view women as disposable objects. Women who are in abusive situation may not understand or realise they are in an abusive situation as they have been treated unequally their entire lives.
My Pippin unit piloted of the Stop the Violence badge programme last year and for the session Think, we chose Toy Story. We created pictures with foam space stickers and didn't say anything to the girls. Even though we were making ‘boy pictures’, the girls still managed to make them appear feminine e.g. the Robot in one girl’s picture was named Rosa. The following week they were given a selection of stereotypical “boys toys” to play with for 20 minutes. On hand were blocks, trains, pirate hats and swords, marble game and slot cars. We then gave them their completed picture back and discussed how it didn’t matter if it is a girl or a boy thing for toys and jobs. The Toy Story session was most beneficial for the girls out of all the activities. They were given the opportunity to play with toys of a problem solving type nature which they are not “normally” interested in at this young age. They realised that toys should not be stereotyped – enjoyment was all that mattered. The most rewarding thing for me was the girls now understanding that it doesn't matter what a gender toy is at such a young age.
Methods of Change: Girls are the key and by educating them from an early age, we can ensure their success as they grow and become women. By giving them continuous opportunities and empowerment, the future for them will be much brighter than a life committed to domesticity only. This should include implementing literacy programs for girl-children as well as supporting young women's career development paths to allow them freedom of choice in their adult life.
The call to actions that we believe are the most important for creating with gender equality and breaking down stereotypes are:number 1, protect and support all, number 4, create institutional action plans to tackle violence, number 5, educations is key to empowerment, Number 6, end objectificationNumber 7, no excuses.
