Aspects
Gender aspects in the policy field of report writing
Gender Mainstreaming in report writing means taking gender aspects into account in all phases of the preparation of reports and presenting them in a differentiated way in terms of content in each section. Gender can be seen in the four dimensions of Representation, Living Conditions, Resources & Funds and Norms & Values. If men and women are differently affected with regard to these dimensions, this must be presented in a way that is differentiated in terms of gender and, if need be, attention should be drawn to the requirement for action in order to promote actual gender equality.
In the following, you can find examples of how GM can be implemented in the policy field of report writing.
Planning: The essential foundations for a report are laid when the contents of the main points are established. To be sure that gender is taken into account throughout in the report, it should be checked even at planning stage whether there are any aspects of relevance for gender equality that could be of importance in any topic area. Such a check can be made using the Working Aid for Section 2 of the Joint Rules of Procedure for the Federal Government (GGO) on gender as a better way for differentiating target groups. The various life situations of women and men in the diversity of their social forms are looked at including with reference to origin, beliefs, age, ability and disability, sexual orientation and other structural criteria.
Content: Gender Mainstreaming in report writing means taking gender aspects into account in all phases of the preparation of reports and presenting them in a differentiated way in terms of content in each section. Gender can be seen in the four dimensions of Representation, Living Conditions, Resources & Funds and Norms & Values. If men and women are differently affected with regard to these dimensions, this must be presented in a way that is differentiated in terms of gender and, if need be, attention should be drawn to the requirement for action in order to promote actual gender equality.
Target groups: By means of gender-differentiated representations, reports become more informative. At the end of the day an orientation to gender issues also makes it possible to differentiate target groups better. The various life situations of women and men in the diversity of their social forms are looked at including with reference to origin, beliefs, age, ability and disability, sexual orientation and other structural criteria.
Data: Reports are frequently an important foundation for the formation of public opinion and for political decision-making. The information they contain on life situations should therefore be as exact as possible. Data material in which one gender is specially highlighted is not very suitable as a basis for assessments in terms of gender equality policy. It is better to present the diverse life situations of men and women in a comparative form, and again with regard also to other structural criteria – that, not separating but integrating.
Gender equality – a cross-sectional task: As well as presenting gender-relevant aspects in all sections, it may also be useful to summarize conclusions with reference to the issue of equal treatment of women and men if this is also done for other part-aspects. It is not, however, recommendable to have special “women’s” chapters, as this is just thing sort of thing that goes right against the very integrative approach of Gender Mainstreaming. It is counter-productive if women implicitly appear in this way as a homogeneous group and a deviation from the male norm.
Preparatory work: If a report is based on a collation of other reports or if parts of the text are written by third parties, this can affect the gender orientation of the presentation and thus the effectiveness of the report. If Gender Mainstreaming has not been taken into account in parts of a report delivered from elsewhere, this makes it difficult to produce a report of overall high quality. Care should therefore be taken that outside work is done in a way that is differentiated in terms of gender and with a gender orientation. This is especially so for data, language, illustrations and layout. These requirements should be easily understandable and clearly communicated.
Research: Data for reports do not always exist in a form that is differentiated in terms of gender. If this is the case, then additional research has to be done. As early as the stage of drawing up scientific studies or expert reports, gender bias in the research findings can be avoided by asking questions in a gender-sensitive way. When research contracts are being awarded, it can be ensured that data are collected in a way that is differentiated in terms of gender and evaluated in a way that is oriented to gender equality. The Federal Government is supporting this with a Working Aid on research.
Language: The way a report is worded has a tremendous impact on the way it is received. Psychological studies show that content that is apparently neutral, if it is transported with a masculine form of expression, is associated in the mind with men, and therefore it is seen as being meant mainly for men (Stahlberg/Sczesny, 2001). Using language that takes due account of gender in the report is thus an important element in public relations work. It makes it possible to address women and men equally by representing people in their diversity in an equal way and not in terms of stereotypes. Support in taking due account of gender in the wording of a report is offered in the Federal Government’s Public Relations Checklist.
Illustrations and layout: Apart from language, the formal layout of a report is crucial to its impact. Differentiated statements in the text that are oriented to gender equality can have their credibility undermined by photos and illustrations depicting gender stereotypes. A balanced selection of illustrative material and layout helps to avoid this. Support in taking due account of gender in the layout of a report is likewise offered in the Federal Government’s Public Relations Checklist.
Here you can find tools for implementing GM in report writing (German link)-.
In the following, you can find examples of how GM can be implemented in the policy field of report writing.
Planning: The essential foundations for a report are laid when the contents of the main points are established. To be sure that gender is taken into account throughout in the report, it should be checked even at planning stage whether there are any aspects of relevance for gender equality that could be of importance in any topic area. Such a check can be made using the Working Aid for Section 2 of the Joint Rules of Procedure for the Federal Government (GGO) on gender as a better way for differentiating target groups. The various life situations of women and men in the diversity of their social forms are looked at including with reference to origin, beliefs, age, ability and disability, sexual orientation and other structural criteria.
Content: Gender Mainstreaming in report writing means taking gender aspects into account in all phases of the preparation of reports and presenting them in a differentiated way in terms of content in each section. Gender can be seen in the four dimensions of Representation, Living Conditions, Resources & Funds and Norms & Values. If men and women are differently affected with regard to these dimensions, this must be presented in a way that is differentiated in terms of gender and, if need be, attention should be drawn to the requirement for action in order to promote actual gender equality.
Target groups: By means of gender-differentiated representations, reports become more informative. At the end of the day an orientation to gender issues also makes it possible to differentiate target groups better. The various life situations of women and men in the diversity of their social forms are looked at including with reference to origin, beliefs, age, ability and disability, sexual orientation and other structural criteria.
Data: Reports are frequently an important foundation for the formation of public opinion and for political decision-making. The information they contain on life situations should therefore be as exact as possible. Data material in which one gender is specially highlighted is not very suitable as a basis for assessments in terms of gender equality policy. It is better to present the diverse life situations of men and women in a comparative form, and again with regard also to other structural criteria – that, not separating but integrating.
Gender equality – a cross-sectional task: As well as presenting gender-relevant aspects in all sections, it may also be useful to summarize conclusions with reference to the issue of equal treatment of women and men if this is also done for other part-aspects. It is not, however, recommendable to have special “women’s” chapters, as this is just thing sort of thing that goes right against the very integrative approach of Gender Mainstreaming. It is counter-productive if women implicitly appear in this way as a homogeneous group and a deviation from the male norm.
Preparatory work: If a report is based on a collation of other reports or if parts of the text are written by third parties, this can affect the gender orientation of the presentation and thus the effectiveness of the report. If Gender Mainstreaming has not been taken into account in parts of a report delivered from elsewhere, this makes it difficult to produce a report of overall high quality. Care should therefore be taken that outside work is done in a way that is differentiated in terms of gender and with a gender orientation. This is especially so for data, language, illustrations and layout. These requirements should be easily understandable and clearly communicated.
Research: Data for reports do not always exist in a form that is differentiated in terms of gender. If this is the case, then additional research has to be done. As early as the stage of drawing up scientific studies or expert reports, gender bias in the research findings can be avoided by asking questions in a gender-sensitive way. When research contracts are being awarded, it can be ensured that data are collected in a way that is differentiated in terms of gender and evaluated in a way that is oriented to gender equality. The Federal Government is supporting this with a Working Aid on research.
Language: The way a report is worded has a tremendous impact on the way it is received. Psychological studies show that content that is apparently neutral, if it is transported with a masculine form of expression, is associated in the mind with men, and therefore it is seen as being meant mainly for men (Stahlberg/Sczesny, 2001). Using language that takes due account of gender in the report is thus an important element in public relations work. It makes it possible to address women and men equally by representing people in their diversity in an equal way and not in terms of stereotypes. Support in taking due account of gender in the wording of a report is offered in the Federal Government’s Public Relations Checklist.
Illustrations and layout: Apart from language, the formal layout of a report is crucial to its impact. Differentiated statements in the text that are oriented to gender equality can have their credibility undermined by photos and illustrations depicting gender stereotypes. A balanced selection of illustrative material and layout helps to avoid this. Support in taking due account of gender in the layout of a report is likewise offered in the Federal Government’s Public Relations Checklist.
Here you can find tools for implementing GM in report writing (German link)-.
Further reading:
Lange, Cornelia: „Gender Mainstreaming in der Gesundheitsberichterstattung des Bundes“, Vortrag auf der Fachtagung des GenderKompetenzZentrums: „Gender Works! Gender Mainstreaming: Gute Beispiele aus der Facharbeit", Berlin, 10. November 2005.
Baer, Susanne / Enders-Dragässer, Uta / Kuhl, Mara / Kreß, Brigitta / Sellach, Brigitte: Wissensnetz Gender Mainstreaming für die Bundesverwaltung, Frankfurt am Main und Berlin, Dezember 2003, Kapitel IV.3.2. Das Berichtswesen, Frankfurt a.M. 2003.
Lange, Cornelia / Lampert, Thomas: „Perspektiven einer geschlechtersensiblen Gesundheitsberichterstattung“, in: Gesundheitswesen 66/2004, S. 158 – 163.
Stahlberg, Dagmar / Sczesny, Sabine: Effekte des generischen Maskulinums und alternativer Sprachformen auf den gedanklichen Einbezug von Frauen, in: Psychologische Rundschau, 52(3) 2001, S. 131-140.
zurück
nach oben
drucken
erstellt von Administrator
—
zuletzt verändert:
02.01.2010 20:07
