Policies as well as other interventions and the way they are designed and implemented by organizations and through projects are not gender-neutral, they are a crucial part of gendering of our societies. The problem of gender inequality is a problem of power relations, mainly evolving around the organization of labor, intimacy and participation/citizenship. Material and discursive mechanisms often hinder equality and autonomy of marginalized people, such as women, girls and other disenfranchised groups (disabled, older, indigenous people, gays, lesbians, transgender or intersex people).
Gender impact assessment aims to intervene and redirect policies and other interventions, so that they work towards gender equality rather than perpetuate unequal power relations (Verloo 2006). As an assessment form, it can be extended to diversity or equality assessment, comprising and analyzing diverse intersectional factors of discrimination and exclusion. Gender is also a vital element of many forms of Health Impact Assessment.
The new IAIA Gender and Gender Impact Assessment Key Citations, compiled by Prof. Frank Vanclay and Arn Sauer, M.A. will give you some scientific guidance in when and where gender matters how.
If gendered interventions in project design and/or policy making are to be successful, they have to be done in the early stages. All forms of Social Impact Assessment can and should be conducted in a gender sensitive way. Here you find a list of tools (work in progress) that might give you a better idea of how gender can be taken into consideration in your particular line and field of work. Please feel encouraged to add tools and information you come across which is not yet included (write to: arn.sauer@gmx.net).
