Gender as a constraint to Research Capacity Building within Higher Education Institutions: Learning from institutional experiences in tackling this Consolata.

Gender as a constraint to Research Capacity Building within Higher Education Institutions: Learning from institutional experiences in

tackling this

Consolata Kabonesa

The Irish-African Partnership for Research Capacity Building Meeting

12th May 2009; Maputo, Mozambique

Outline• Introduction• Understanding gender• Why gender in development and

research?• Gender as relevant to universities• Management of universities, research,

teaching and learning• Experiences from partnership

institutions• Conclusion

Introduction

• Discourse on the status of women • Gender discourse since 1980s• Status of women

– disadvantaged relative to men, – have less access to resources and benefits– Have less access to information and decision-

making, – Have fewer rights both within the household and in

the public sphere

Understanding Gender

• Gender – relational concept - difference between♀ and ♂

• Socially constructed

• Changes over time and context specific

• Expectations - characteristics, aptitudes and likely behaviours of both ♀ and ♂

Understanding Gender

• Assigned economic, social, political and cultural roles – differences in needs and interests that

should be addressed equally.

• Allocation and distribution of resources

• Gender is not women

• Sex – biological-male/female; hormones

Why Gender…

• Allows for understanding the status of ♀ and ♂ within a specific socio-cultural context

• Gender addresses social, economic, political constraints faced by ♀ and ♂

• ♀ and ♂ would have different answers for similar questions regarding development

The Cycle -

Gender Roles influence theDivision of labour

Labour is valued differentlyBased on who does what?

Differentiated roles, work and valuing of work create

Differential access to decision-making, services and benefits

Differentiated valuing of work & access support Existing power relations,Reinforce gender roles

Why Gender…

• Holistic approach to development

• Address issues of vulnerability

• Interventions - improve the livelihoods

• Create equitable and sustainable development

• Leads to contented people ☺

Gender in Research

• Use gender to analyse – economic conditions, – government bureaucracies, – socio-cultural factors, – familial norms, – training/education &– religious beliefs, etc

• Gender issues in research require an understanding of and applying gender analysis

Gender in Research

• Assess differential – access to power,– resources, and opportunities, – division of labour, – social and gender relations at various levels

of concern

• Applying gender from inception of the research through all steps of the research

Policy Implications

• Identify beneficiary

• Identify areas of focus

• Design and implement gender responsive of policy

• Develop intervention strategies

• Lead to sustainable projects

• Reduce inequalities in society

Gender in Higher Education Institutions

• Historical imbalances -Socialization, culture, lack of role models, lack of policies

Gender in Higher Education Institutions

• ‘Namuddu (1995) …higher education institutions and especially African universities have a critical role to play in the social and economic transformation of African societies. …for HE institutions to play this role effectively, they must provide a model of excellence to the rest of society as regards gender equity by embracing the principle of gender equity in their make up and in their practices. Increased women's participation in HE is particularly important in the era of globalization that we live in’. cited in Bunyi, Grace W. (2004) Gender disparities in higher education in kenya : nature, extent and the way forward . The African Symposium Vol. 4 No. 1 March 2004

Gender in institutions of higher education

• HE enables women to participate in the social, political and economic lives of their communities and countries as leaders in business, in the professions and in politics – (Bunyi, 2004)

Representation of Women at Makerere University• Senior Administrative (1-7): 76 ; 42%• Assistant Lecturers 46; 29%• Teaching Assistants 36; 29%• Lecturer level: 115; 19%• Senior Lecturer 35; 10% • Associate Professor 6; 3%• Professor: 3; 6%• Kabonesa, Dranzoa, Kanabahita (2009) Makerere gender terrain and national

development . Stakeholders consultative conference (26 to 27 march 2009)– Insert graghs

Representation of Women in UL (2005 - 2007)

• Grades 7-9: 51% to 63%• Lecturer level: 31% to 40%• Senior Lecturer, Associate Professor,

Professor: 8% to 17%• Female academics:

– 6 Professors– 4 Associate Professors– 27 Senior Lecturers

– Richardson, Ita

Results –why these statistics

• No substantial gender biases at UL through overt institutional generation.

• Females more involved with teaching and caring for students at their detriment for research opportunities.

• Females spend less time on research and write fewer grant proposals, papers etc

• Male / Females spend comparable time on administration (female slightly higher)

• Females have fewer appointments to national / international bodies

Results • No substantial gender biases at UL through

overt institutional generation.• Females more involved with teaching and

caring for students at their detriment for research opportunities.

• Females spend less time on research and write fewer grant proposals, papers etc

• Male / Females spend comparable time on administration (female slightly higher)

• Females have fewer appointments to national / international bodies

Group work -- Gender issues in your university • Is your university different from Makerere and Limerick?• Is data available on the status of women and gender

issues in your university?• Are you aware of, informed about, and sensitive to

gender issues? • What is the level of gender awareness in your

institution? • What are the gender issues in access, inclusion,

promotion, and the general climate?

• Do you think that a gender policy is needed in your university?

Group work

• How would you characterise research outputs by male and female academic staff at your institution?

• Are men and women equally involved in research activities?

• Who sits on research committees?

• Does it matter if women are incuded on research committees?

Gender and Capacity Cont.

• Are there specific contraints that women face?

• What strategies do you have at your institution that ensures inclusion of women in research?

• How are your staff motivated to conduct research that is gender responsive?

• How have you integrated gender in research programmes?

Conclusion

• Gender is not women• However women can be targeted to

address historical imbalances• Gender brings out the views of both

women and men (young and old)• Gives the vulnerable and disadvantaged a

voice• Holistic approach to research

Conclusion

• Gender not well understood in academia and research

• Not easy to conduct gender focused research• Opportunities in funding/donor interest• Need for integrating gender in all research

Recommendations• Promote gender focused, women and men

specific research for sustainable development

• Promote young scholars’ research activities

• Promote collaboration with gender specialists

• Promote collaboration with NGOs

• Create awareness about importance of gender in research

Source

• Parker A. Rani, Itiziar Lozano and Lyn A. Messner (1995) Gender Relation Analysis: A guide to Trainers. CT, Westport: Save the Children