Glossary

Activities undertaken primarily by men at the community level, organizing at the formal

political level, often within the framework of national politics. This work is usually

undertaken by men and may be paid directly or result in increased power and status.

Gender roles and characteristics in almost all societies have undergone many recent

adjustments and changes in response to technological change, which has led to

massive economic and social changes in all parts of the world. Changes in gender

roles and relations often meet resistance, in particular from cultural forces of tradition.

Anticipating and preparing for most likely forms of resistance in relation to change in

activities or the status and position of women is a valuable part of a project’s gender

strategy.

Gender norms are the accepted attributes and characteristics of male and female

gendered identity at a particular point in time for a specific society or community.They

are the standards and expectations to which gender identity generally conforms, within

a range that defines a particular society, culture and community at that point in time.

Gender norms are ideas about how men and women should be and act. Internalized

early in life, gender norms can establish a life cycle of gender socialization and

stereotyping.(1)

Mainstreaming a gender perspective is the process of assessing the implications for

women and men of any planned action, including legislation, policies or programmes,

in all areas and at all levels. It is a strategy for making women’s as well as men’s

concerns and experiences an integral dimension of the design, implementation,

monitoring and evaluation of policies and programmes in all political, economic and

societal spheres so that women and men benefit equally and inequality is not