MAKERERE UNIVERSITY STRATEGIC PLAN 2020-2030
REFERENCES TO PROBLEMATIC TERMS AND ACTIONS REQUIRED
Page 17
GOAL 3: A PROFESSIONALLY MANAGED, EQUITABLE, INCLUSIVE
AND GENDER MAINSTREAMED INSTITUTION
Makerere University will be an
equal opportunity and gender responsive institution with institutional cohesion- networking and
transparency with clear Organisational Development processes. There will be
prudent financial management, cost-effective and efficient student and staff
support services.
|
RECOMMENDED ACTION GOAL
3: A PROFESSIONALLY MANAGED, Makerere University will be an equal opportunity |
The objectives under this goal are:
iv. To create an affirming and inclusive teaching, learning and
research environment for gender and sexual diversities
vii. To review the composition
of all institution-wide, college, school and departmental committees to ensure
representation along gender lines and for other marginalised identities
|
RECOMMENDED ACTION iv. To create vii. To review the composition of all institution-wide,
college, school and departmental committees to eliminate
inequalities between women and men |
Page 9
The four goals are:
A PROFESSIONALLY GOVERNED, EQUITABLE, INCLUSIVE AND GENDER MAINSTREAMED INSTITUTION
|
RECOMMENDED ACTION A
PROFESSIONALLY MANAGED |
Page
13
In
her quest to provide the desired human capital, the University is committed to
creating the appropriate environment and support to students to meet their
academic and professional
aspirations.
Teaching and learning will be all-inclusive integrating
gender and special needs requirements.
|
RECOMMENDED ACTION In her quest to provide the desired
human capital, the University is committed to creating the appropriate
environment and support to students to meet their academic and professional aspirations. Teaching and learning will to ensure equality between women
and men |
JUSTIFICATION
Gender
“Gender” Definition #1 (common male/female
definition) - The
term “gender” is commonly used synonymously with “sex,” indicating
either male or female.
Most people generally understand “gender” as in definition #1, as in male and female only. For example, in some countries, expectant parents may host a “gender reveal” party to reveal their baby’s biological sex as either male or female to friends and family. The term “gender” also often appears on medical forms and job applications to indicate one’s male or female sex.
However, in policy documents, using “gender”
interchangeably with “sex” without defining it in the text to mean “sex”
is highly problematic. This is because, by default, unless “gender” is
clearly defined in the document in which it appears as male and female only,
the term “gender” can also encompass the controversial World Health
Organization definition for “gender” below.
“Gender” Definition #2 (social construct/transgender definition) - According to the World Health Organization (WHO), “‘gender’ refers to the socially constructed roles, behaviours, activities, and at-tributes, that a given society considers appropriate for men and women.” [1]
Therefore,
the WHO social construct/transgender definition, which is becoming much more
widely used than the male/female definition, makes the term “gender” highly
problematic indeed. This
is especially so since the WHO definition for “gender” is being used by
many Western governments, UN agencies, medical and mental health associations,
university “gender” studies departments, and, of course, by the wider
LGBT community.
WHO’s agenda to have the term “gender” be the Trojan horse term to bring in the transgender agenda becomes abundantly clear in the following text found on the WHO website:
“Gender
refers to the socially
constructed characteristics of women and men – such as norms, roles and
relationships of and between groups of women and men. It varies from society
to society and can be changed. While most people are born either male or
female, they are taught appropriate norms and behaviours – including how they
should interact with others of the same or opposite sex within households,
communities and work places. When individuals or groups do not “fit”
established gender norms they often face stigma, discriminatory practices or
social exclusion – all of which adversely affect health. It is important to
be sensitive to different identities that do not necessarily fit into binary
male or female sex categories.”[2]
The term “gender” was once used exclusively
to describe biological sex (male and female) but is increasingly being used in
UN documents to mainstream multiple controversial genders, such as transgender,
bigender, pangender and more. (Facebook recognizes 50 genders.) To prevent the
term “gender” from being used to advance these concepts, we suggest wherever
“gender” appears to:
·
Replace
“gender” with “sex,”
·
Define
“gender” as male and female. This male/female definition can be proposed either
in the text or as a footnote.
·
Modify
“gender” with language establishing the context as between men and women. E.g
by replacing “gender mainstreaming” with “mainstreaming equal opportunities for
women and girls” or replacing “gender-based violence” with “violence against
women.”
·
For Term “gender”, DELETE OR REPLACE WITH: “sex” or
“male and female” i.e ‘‘Gender’’ defined as “male or female only,”
·
Define “gender” specifically as biological male or
female only
·
For the Term “gender mainstreaming’’, REPLACE
WITH: “mainstreaming equal opportunities for women and girls” or ADD: “to
eliminate inequalities between women and men” or “to ensure equality between
women and men” or “to ensure the equal/equitable treatment of women and men (or
between women and men).”
· On ‘‘Gender Responsive’’, ADD: “that ensures equal access to resources for women.”
Gender Responsive
“Gender-responsive health policies” have been defined as interventions that require a thorough analysis of barriers to women’s health, including other inequalities based on ethnicity, class, geographic location and “sexual orientation or gender identity.” (ChoiceforYouth.org)
gender and sexual diversities
Diversity can be a positive term that can be used to recognize people with diverse ethnic backgrounds and cultures, but it has also been co-opted by the LGBT movement. For example, at the UN, the phrase “women in all their diversity” has been used as a euphemism to recognize lesbians, and the phrase “families in all their diversity” has been used as a euphemism to recognize LGBT families. For this reason, this term was specifically rejected during the 2015 CSocD negotiations when States learned that the developing countries pushing this language intended it to advance LGBT rights. In fact, the U.S., in their comments at the close of CSocD 2015, complained that this phrase had been rejected in the outcome document and made it clear that they were disappointed because they understood it to recognize LGBT families.
other marginalised identities
Language
calling for special protections for “vulnerable groups” is often
intended to promote special rights and protections for LGBT people. Indeed, the
term “vulnerable groups” has been used to refer-ence “sex workers,” LGBT
groups, or “sexual minorities.” The term “marginalized groups” is
also used in the same way.
For example, during the 2011 negotiations of an HRC resolution on HIV and human rights, the U.S. introduced language prioritizing protection for “vulnerable groups,” including “men who have sex with men, transgendered people, people who inject drugs, and sex workers.” When the U.S. delegate was asked privately about their delegation’s proposal the delegate responded that then U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton wanted this language because she was very interested in promoting lesbian/gay rights.
Replace “other marginalized identities” with “the
marginalized.” Or with
“people
in vulnerable situations” or with “the vulnerable,”
[1] World Health Organization. (n.d.). Gender, Equity and
Human Rights.
https://web.archive.org/web/20150724151541/https://www.who.int/gender-equity-rights/understanding/gender-definition/en/
[2] World Health Organization. (n.d.). Gender, Equity and
Human Rights. https://web.archive.org/web/20150724151541/https://www.who.int/gender-equity-rights/understanding/gender-definition/en/
No comments:
Post a Comment