Do social constructions and gender mainstreaming in policy design affect the evaluation of the policy process? An analysis of a policy intervention in a postconflict society

Abstract

ObjectiveThe theory of social constructionism has been consolidated as an appropriate tool for understanding policy design, implementation, and evaluation. However, there is little empirical research about the implications of social construction on policy evaluation. The objective of the article is to contribute to the literature in public policy and gender studies by defining the impact of gender as a social construct and gender mainstreaming in public policy on beneficiaries' evaluation of the policy process.MethodsI conducted a study of the institutional design of Colombia's policy of assistance to victims of civil war and a quantitative analysis, through ordered logit and logistic regression models, to identify how gender mainstreaming and social constructions affect the evaluation of the policy process measured as the satisfaction levels with the process of application to policy assistance.ResultsThe article confirms the hypothesis that positive social constructions‐in this case, the construction of women victims‐reinforced by a strong institutional design make bureaucrats administer the policy differently to specific groups. As expected, women have more levels of satisfaction with the policy process. However, this effect is not significant for other social constructions such as ethnicity and the elderly.ConclusionResearch in this topic should consider the differential effect of certain social constructions on policy evaluation based on how policy design crystallizes symbolic and material messages that benefit some groups.

Art for Reconstruction: A creative and art‐based intervention for peacebuilding and reconciliation to reduce intergroup hostility and stigma after a protracted armed conflict

“…These factors include meso‐political dynamics at the group and organizational level (Bar‐Tal & Hameiri, 2020) and the interpersonal micro‐political relations that are the source of reproduction of macro‐dynamics (Bruneau, 2012). In addition, the informal dynamics shape the final results of a set of goals related to disarmament, demobilization, truth‐telling, justice, reparation, forgiveness, reintegration and reconciliation (Cárdenas et al, 2014; Mendez, 2021).…”

Queering the Courts

“…As stigma is an artefact of social constructions, social constructionism is an appropriate lens to understand policy design and implementation to address the effects of stigma (Mendez 2021) and through which to understand gender, sexuality, and the consequences of stigmatising "others." Therefore, social constructionism is adopted for this study as a theoretical foundation to examine stigma in the Courts (see Chapter 8 for a fuller discussion).…”

“…Social constructionism is the theory around artefacts of social interaction, such as stereotypes, expected behaviours and moral beliefs, and how these artefacts affect an individual's societal experience (Mendez, 2021). It is a theory of the nature of the world (ontology) and a product of how the world is perceived and processed by humans (epistemology) 16 through definitions, shared ideas, and 'artefacts' of interactions (Burr & Dick, 2017).…”