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EI Survey on the Status of Women in Unions, Education and Society - previews and snapshots -. On the Move for Equality EI’s First World Women’s Conference 20-23 January 2011, Bangkok. Survey Process. Development of questionnaire : Spring 2009
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EI Survey on the Status of Women in Unions, Education and Society - previews and snapshots - On the Move for EqualityEI’s First World Women’s Conference20-23 January 2011, Bangkok
Survey Process • Development of questionnaire: Spring 2009 • Survey conducted: July – November 2009 (March 2010) • Data analysis: March – July 2010 • First draft technical report: September 2010 • Final report: February 2011 • Process supported by: EI Regional Offices (especially Equality Coordinators), EI Status of Women Committee, EI Research Unit
Key Results • Response Rate • Representation of Women in Unions • Unions’ Activities on Gender Equality • Access to and Gender Equality in Education • Gender Equality for Teachers • The Status of Women in Society
Data is representative EI in 2010: 402 MOs, representing almost 30 Million education workers Survey in 2010: Highest absolute response rate (138 organisations) Second highest relative response rate (34% of member organisations)
Response Rate Light bars: percentage of responding member organisations Dark bars: percentage of individual members represented by responses
Measures for Gender Equality • 50% of the unions have mechanisms for gender representation in high decision-making positions; mostly quotas: • But those unions don’t necessarily have a better representation of women in high decision making positions and bodies. • Policy by itself is not enough • Relevance of other factors (more research needed)
Women in Unions: acceleration needed • The percentage of women in executive boards and in leadership positions is rising slowly but unsteadily.
Women in Unions: Representation • Women constitute the majority of the union membership in most regions, but they are underrepresented in the union leadership.
Gender Structures, Policies, Activities Structures Policies Activities
Union Structures, Policies, Activities • 126 unions responded to this question: • 106 unions have a structure for gender equality. • 113 unions carry out activities related to women’s rights and/ or gender equality. • Unions that have structures for gender equality also have more policies and organise more activities on this issue. • Gender equality committees, women’s networks and caucuses take the initiative for activities.
Barriers to Education • Most relevant barriers: • Child labour, including forms of domestic labour • Traditional gender stereotypes, early childbearing, early marriage • Illness or death of parents/ caretakers • Low quality and lack of education infrastructure (schools in rural areas, safe transport to and facilities in schools) • Poverty, cost of education (rather send sons to school than daughters) • Many unions indicate that girls are more affected by these barriers (especially in Africa).
Legal Framework and Union Policy Widespread: > 80% government implementation > 50% in union policy Less frequent: < 60% government implementation < 30% in union policy Affirmative recruitment policies Complaints mechanisms in case of discrimination • Maternity leave • Pay equity • Provisions against sexual harassment
Teachers’ Pay • Women are overrepresented in pre-school and primary education, where the average salaries are lower; and underrepresen-ted in higher edu-cation, where the salaries are higher. • Note: Patterns are similar in all regions, but salary levels are different. Lowest in Africa and Latin America, highest in Europe.
Gender Equality in Society • Big gap between legal provision and actual implementation. • Gaps reported most frequently: • Labor market (equal access to high job positions) • Politics (equal opportunity to take part in politics) • Violence against women (in public spaces, domestic violence)
Reasons for Implementation Gap Member organisations’ explanations for the implementation gap: • Gender stereotypes: glass ceiling, lack of recognition of women’s skills • Male group dynamics and hierarchies/ male bonding • Unequal division of family responsibilities