By Daphne Machiri
For decades, most policymakers have taken an easy route and gotten away with their reliance on gender-neutral approaches to policy making. This has been driven by a range of assumptions including that one-size-fits-all policy solutions can effectively address the complex needs of everyone. However, this has resulted in;
Exclusion from benefits, where women and girls may be left out of benefits or opportunities due to a lack of consideration for their unique needs.
Inadequate support on policies may not provide sufficient support or resources for women and girls particularly those facing multiple forms of discrimination.
Increased burden, on women and girls may bear a disproportionate burden due to policies that fail to account for their caregiving responsibilities or other gendered roles.
Limited access to education and employment where policies may not address the specific barriers women and girls face in accessing education and employment opportunities.
Inadequate healthcare where health policies may not consider the unique needs of women and girls, leading to inadequate healthcare and outcomes.
Increased vulnerability to violence, policies may not provide sufficient protection or support for women and girls experiencing gender-based violence.
Lack of representation, women and girls are underrepresented in decision-making processes, leading to policies that do not reflect their needs.
Perpetuation of stereotype and policies may perpetuate harmful gender stereotypes, limiting women’s and girls’ potential and opportunities.
Examples of one-size-fits-all policies that negatively impact women and girls include;
Economic policies that assume a male breadwinner model
Education policies that fail to address gender-based barriers
Healthcare policies that neglect women’s reproductive health needs
Employment policies that do not provide adequate parental leave or flexible work arrangements
Neutral gender policies can also affect men and boys in various ways, including;
Masking men’s specific needs, neutral policies may overlook men’s unique health, education and social needs, leading to inadequate support.
Failing to address male-specific issues, policies may not tackle issues like male mental health, substance abuse, or suicide rates.
However, overlooking male victims of violence, policies may neglect male victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, or trafficking.
Examples of neutral gender policies that may affect men and boys include;
Gender-neutral mental health policies that fail to address male-specific needs
Education policies that overlook boys’ learning styles
Parental leave policies that does not provide adequate support for fathers
Violence prevention policies that neglect male victims
To achieve genuine progress, there is an urgent need to move beyond gender-neutral policies and adopt gender-responsive policy making approaches that actively consider and address the specific needs and challenges of all genders. This requires;
Challenging assumptions and biases
Considering diverse perspectives of all genders
Adopting inclusive and gender-responsive approaches in policy making
Embracing new ideas and innovative solutions
Developing more effective and sustainable solutions informed by experiences of all genders
Let’s work towards a more inclusive and transformative future. Gender-responsive policymaking begins with each of us taking action.
#Action4Equality
#GenderResponsiveness