Podcast series 'Minding the gap: conversations on gender'
Who is a gender expert? Why is it important to engage men and boys in fighting for gender equality? How are women empowerment, climate action, and urban development interlinked? Throughout the episodes of 'Minding the Gap: Conversations on Gender' you will be guided through strategies and will gain insights on what we can collectively do to build a society based on gender equality.
Gender is often considered a synonym of women. It is often depicted in binary terms of ‘women vs men’. However, ‘gender’ is not a monolithic concept. It is a product of history and cultural, economic and political interactions. It refers to norms, socially accepted behaviours and expectations that people in a society have to conform to. Ensuring gender equality means that the interests, priorities and needs of the diversity of different groups of women and men are equally taken into account. It means that they have equal rights and responsibilities.
Development projects have increasingly recognised the importance of mainstreaming gender and having tailored local approaches. Key actions have been taken to empower women and girls, to build an allyship with men and boys, and to raise awareness on how together it is possible to create a fairer narrative. Despite these efforts, gaps still exist.
This podcast series aims to look at these best practices to learn from successful local lessons and point out gaps and obstacles still in place while offering ways forward. In conversation with experts, ECDPM sheds light on stories and topics in which gender is often overlooked, but where promising lessons emerge. Using feminist and intersectional lenses, you will hear from researchers, activists and experts working in Europe, Africa and the MENA region to gain insights into what we can collectively do to build a society based on gender equality. Each episode is accompanied by a list of recommended readings to help you take an even deeper dive into the episode's conversation.
Latest episodes
Episode 1
In the first episode of the series, Kawsar Laanani and Maëlle Salzinger navigate key tensions and obstacles around the concept and practice of gender expertise. Drawing from their own experiences and using an intersectional feminist perspective, they delve into the rising presence of gender experts in international cooperation and offer insights on how we can collectively do better to advance gender equality. Find more information about this episode, including some recommended readings from the authors, here.
Episode 2
In the second episode of ECDPM's podcast series 'Minding the gap: conversations on gender', Karim Karaki talks to gender expert Carla Pagano about the role boys and men play in supporting or undermining gender equality. Drawing on Carla's over 20 years of experience, they explore why it is important to involve them in gender equality efforts and provide practical examples of how this is already being done. They also delve into how patriarchal structures can negatively affect men. Find more information about this episode, including some recommended readings from the authors, here.
Episode 3
In the third episode of ECDPM's podcast series 'Minding the gap: conversations on gender', Cecilia D'Alessandro talks to Dr. Debisi Araba, a member of the Malabo Montpellier Panel. Drawing on the recently released report “BRIDGING THE GAP: Policy Innovations to Put Women at the Center of Food Systems Transformation in Africa”, they zoom in on the experience of four African countries that have made significant strides in empowering women and ensuring their active involvement in food systems. Find more information about this episode, including some recommended readings from the author, here.
The views expressed in the episodes are those of the authors and not necessarily of ECDPM.
Feedback
We will be glad to receive your questions, feedback or comments concerning this series. You can reach out via email to our gender task force gtf@ecdpm.org.
