Gender 🚻

Definition: Gender refers to the socially constructed roles, behaviors, and responsibilities that societies consider appropriate for men and women. These roles vary across different cultures and change over time.

Equality ⚖️

Definition: This principle ensures that everyone, regardless of gender, has the same rights and opportunities. Equality promotes fairness and justice, ensuring equal access to resources, opportunities, and services for all individuals.

Gender Equity ⚖️

Definition: Gender equity involves treating men and women fairly based on their specific needs. It acknowledges that men and women may require different approaches to achieve the same outcomes and fairness in opportunities and resources.

Gender Equality 🌍

Definition: This concept promotes the idea that all individuals—girls, boys, women, and men—should have the freedom to develop their personal abilities without societal limitations. Gender equality focuses on eliminating stereotypes that limit people based on their gender.

Affirmative Action (Positive Discrimination) 📢

Definition: Affirmative action is a policy that implements special measures to create gender equity. It aims to correct the imbalance between men and women by encouraging programs and policies that promote equal opportunities for all genders.

Key Gender Concepts 🔑

Gender Gap 📉

Definition: A gender gap refers to the differences between men and women in various social, economic, political, and educational indicators. It is often used to measure inequality in areas like pay, job opportunities, and access to education.

Stereotypes 🧑‍🤝‍🧑

Definition: Stereotypes are oversimplified and generalized beliefs about how men and women should behave. They can lead to unequal treatment by assigning certain qualities or expectations based solely on gender, such as the belief that boys are naturally better at science or that women are more suited to caregiving.

Gender Roles 🚻

Definition: Gender roles are the expectations placed on individuals based on their gender. These roles vary by culture and evolve over time. For example:

• Men's roles: Attending political meetings, cattle rearing, hunting, and decision-making in farming.
• Women's roles: Healthcare provision, food preparation, mat weaving, and crop harvesting.

Sex and Sex Roles 🧬

Sex: Refers to the biological differences between males and females.

Sex Roles: These are roles based on biological differences, such as childbirth being a role only females perform. These roles are typically linked to reproductive functions.

Socialization and Gender 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦

Socialization 📚

Definition: Socialization is the process by which boys and girls are taught societal norms, values, and roles based on their gender. This begins early in life and is influenced by several agents:

• Family 👪: Parents may favor boys in terms of access to resources, education, and attention.
• School 🏫: Boys and girls may receive different forms of encouragement, with girls often guided toward household-related subjects and boys toward more challenging fields.
• Religious Institutions ⛪: Many religious teachings reinforce traditional gender roles, emphasizing male leadership.
• Media 📺: The media often portrays women as subordinate, with songs and shows reinforcing stereotypes about women being submissive to men.
• Peer Group 👥: Individuals of the same age influence each other's behaviors and reinforce societal expectations.

Legal Framework: The Intestate Succession Act (1989) 📜

The Intestate Succession Act ⚖️

Purpose: This law governs the distribution of a deceased person’s property if they die without leaving a will. It ensures fair division of the estate among the surviving spouse(s), children, and other close relatives.

Distribution:

• 50% 👶 to the children, considering their age and educational needs.
• 20% 💍 to the surviving spouse(s).
• 20% 👨‍👩‍👦 to the deceased's parents (or distributed among other beneficiaries if no parents exist).
• 10% 👥 to dependents.

Key Provisions: The surviving spouse has a "life interest" in the family home, meaning they can live there unless they remarry. Property grabbing is illegal and punishable by law.

Gender Issues in Society 🌍

Traditional vs. Modern Society ⚖️

Similarities:

• Both traditional and modern societies often regard women as inferior to men.
• Men traditionally control land, resources, and decision-making power.

Differences: In modern society, gender roles are changing. Women are gaining access to education, decision-making roles, and legal protection against gender discrimination. Topics such as sexual health and relationships are openly discussed in schools to promote gender balance.

Institutions Advocating for Gender Equity and Equality 🏛️

Zambia National Women’s Lobby Group (ZNWLG) 👩‍⚖️

Founded: 1991

Objective: To promote equal participation of men and women in decision-making roles in government and public offices.

Justice for Widows and Orphans Project (JWOP) 👩‍👧‍👦

Founded: 2001

Objective: To protect the rights of widows and orphans, raise awareness, and punish human rights violations.

Young Women Christian Association (YWCA) 👩‍🎓

Founded: 1993

Objective: To empower women by educating them about their rights and responsibilities in society.

Zambia Association for Research and Development (ZARD) 📊

Founded: 1984

Objective: To promote gender-sensitive research and uplift the status of women.

Victim Support Unit (VSU) 🛡️

Founded: 1994 (Zambia Police)

Objective: To protect victims of gender-based violence and ensure justice is served.

Sample Questions ❓

• Define the following concepts: gender, gender equity, gender equality, affirmative action.
• State some issues that affect women's socio-economic needs.
• What are gender roles and how are they influenced by society?
• Define "gender gap" and explain its significance.
• What are the agents of socialization and how do they influence gender roles?
• How is property distributed under the Intestate Succession Act?