Measuring gender equality: reflecting on experiences and challenges in the UK and Ireland

Abstract

EnglishThis article focuses on the experience of developing gender equality indicators in the UK and Republic of Ireland and on the challenges confronting policy makers in mainstreaming gender equality into public policies. It identifies the internationalisation of gender equality as a critical pressure on governments to address gender mainstreaming, and summarises the literature on gender equality indicators as a policy response to this demand. It reflects on experiences in the UK and Ireland in developing gender equality indicators and concludes with a discussion of methodological and political challenges confronting policy makers in incorporating gender mainstreaming into general policy concerns. FrançaisCet article se concentre sur l'expérience du développement des indicateurs d'égalité des sexes au Royaume Uni et en Irlande du sud, et sur les défis auxquels font face les dirigeants lorsqu'ils intègrent l'égalité des sexes dans la politique générale. Il identifie l'internationalisation de l'égalité des sexes comme une pression critique sur les gouvernements pour qu'ils abordent le problème de l'intégration de l'égalité des sexes, et résume les publications sur les indicateurs de l'égalité des sexes comme une réponse politique à cette demande. Il examine les expériences au RU et en Irlande de développement des indicateurs de l'égalité des sexes et conclut avec une discussion sur les défis méthodologiques et politiques auxquels se heurtent les dirigeants en incorporant l'intégration de l'égalité des sexes dans des préoccupations de politique générale. EspañolEste artículo se centra en la experiencia de los indicadores en desarrollo de la igualdad de género en el Reino Unido y la República de Irlanda y en los desafíos con los que se enfrentan los elaboradores políticos en la corriente principal de igualdad de género en los temas políticos públicos. El artículo Identifica la igualdad de género internacionalmente como una presión crítica en gobiernos para tratar la corriente principal de género, y resume los estudios en los indicadores de igualdad de género como respuesta política a esta demanda. El artículo reflexiona en experiencias del Reino Unido e Irlanda de los indicadores en desarrollo de la igualdad de género y concluye con una discusión de desafíos políticos y metodológicos a los que se enfrentan los elaboradores políticos en incorporar la corriente principal de género en los temas políticos generales de preocupación.

Towards a gendered perspective for Irish mental health policy and service provision

“…A "Gender Mainstreaming" strategy to policy making has been endorsed by the Irish Government (Breitenbach & Galligan, 2006). This strategy aims to promote equal opportunities between women and men in the NDP (Government of Ireland, 2003).…”

“…In 2004, a fact and figures publication on gender equality with "gender-disaggregated" statistics on population, health, education, paid employment, income from paid employment, violence and crime, influence and power, living and lifestyles, and transport was published (NDP Gender Equality Unit, 2004). This level of gender-based activity is an indication of an evolving development of gender-based indicators for better data, and the application and analyses of "gender-disaggregated" data to specific policy areas so that the case for gender-sensitive policies can be made (Breitenbach & Galligan, 2006). However, as previously noted, developing gendersensitive health policies requires a stronger awareness of and connections between the macro, meso and micro levels for policy development and analysis (Annandale & Kuhlmann, 2010).…”

“…Recent initiatives in the application and analyses of "gender-disaggregated" data to specific policy areas suggest that the development of gender-based indicators is moving beyond the gathering of gender data and towards achieving data that can contribute to policy planning and evaluation (Breitenbach & Galligan, 2006). However, there is a risk that this process for gender data gathering might be confined by public policy statisticians, and the importance of including the gender equality community in developing gender indicators might be disregarded (Breitenbach & Galligan, 2006).…”

“…However, there is a risk that this process for gender data gathering might be confined by public policy statisticians, and the importance of including the gender equality community in developing gender indicators might be disregarded (Breitenbach & Galligan, 2006). Therefore, it could be argued that the political and economic perspectives could take priority for policy development to the detriment of the sociological perspective and social theory.…”