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Why we CANNOT engender the WTO …. Gigi Francisco IGTN - Asia. Gender relations. Gender relations refer to the sum of social norms, conventions and practices which regulate the multifaceted relationships between men and women in a given society at a given time (Cagatay and Erturk, 2004: 5).
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Why we CANNOT engender the WTO … Gigi Francisco IGTN - Asia
Gender relations • Gender relations refer to the sum of social norms, conventions and practices which regulate the multifaceted relationships between men and women in a given society at a given time (Cagatay and Erturk, 2004: 5).
Gender Analysis • A way of looking at reality that takes into account the disparities and inequalities between women and men in society.
Gender Mainstreaming • A strategy for integrating gender analysis into what the organization does. • The objective of gender mainstreaming is the achievement of gender equality goals in everything that the organization does.
If the framework for gender analysis is NOT clear then the implementation of gender mainstreaming will be likewise. The weakness in the analysis will be reflected in the gender mainstreaming implementation Oxfam-GB Gender Mainstreaming 1999
Women’s economic rights & empowerment • CEDAW recognized SYSTEMATIC DISCRIMNATION and economic and social practices that perpetuate it. • Requires states to take steps to modify culturally based gender biases.
Women’s economic rights & empowerment • Copenhagen & Beijing POAs (1995) • critical of SAPS impact on women’s social reproductive work; liberalize trade and investment but also monitor adverse impact; • Beijing & Cairo POAs (1994) • Critical of adverse impact of debt, stabilization & SAPs on social program expenditures
However … • Commitments while valuable in their recognition of the need to address structural inequalities, are fundamentally contradictory… governments are accountable for… equality and well being of people…but do little to challenge international, regional and national market forces that undermine ability of states to implement policies (UNIFEM 2000)
Gender analysis of macroeconomics in WTO Hierarchy of Spheres of Economy • FINANCE • PRODUCTION • SOCIAL REPRODUCTION
The Social Reproduction Challenge to Macroeconomics • Social reproduction is valuable; not conditional on growth • Social reproduction is not a limit to productive success • Collective responsibility for care • Especially sharing with men • Publicly provided services
The WTO binds governments to policies and programs that externalises social reproduction costs • Women as default care providers • Social reproduction is penalized • Target of economics is growth; not provisioning.