Podcast series 'Minding the gap: Conversations on gender'

From development to migration, expertise and climate action, gender is increasingly recognised as an essential consideration for successful policies. 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 society. Despite these efforts, gaps still exist, with some even increasing.

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.

This podcast series aims to point out gaps and obstacles still in place while learning from successful local lessons to offer ways forward. 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.

Listen on Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Youtube 

Latest episodes

Season 2

Episode 1

To start the second season, Pauline Veron and Angela Lowe discuss the interactions between gender and european politics, the threats to women's democratic autonomy and the opportunities to turn things around for gender equality. Find more information about this episode, including some recommended readings from the hosts, here.

Episode 2

Jamie Slater is joined by Omolola Smaria Olarinde, a researcher at the forefront of work on gender and migration, to discuss the latest findings and what this might mean for the way we understand migration and migration policy. Find more information about this episode, including some recommended readings from the hosts, here.

Episode 3

Sophie Desmidt is joined by Aleksandra Dier, who coordinates the work on gender at the UN Security Council Counter-Terrorism Executive Directorate (CTED), to discuss the latest trends and developments in what is needed to ensure that women and girls’ perspectives and roles are matched with the necessary support. Find more information about this episode, including some recommended readings from the hosts, here.

Episode 4

Joining Nadia Ashraf is Katharina Gihring of the African Circular Economy Network to explore the roles women are already playing in the circular economy and what needs to be done to ensure a fair transition for all genders. Find more information about this episode, including some recommended readings from the hosts, here.

Episode 5

With Hanne Knaepen is Lydia Charles Moyo, founder and executive director of the Her Initiative. Lydia talks about the injustice she faced among her peers in school, which led her to set up an award-winning non-profit organisation that aims to achieve financial independence among girls and women. Find more information about this episode, including some recommended readings from the hosts, here.

Season 1

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 hosts, here.

Episode 2

In the second episode of the series, 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 host, here.

Episode 3

In the third episode of the series, 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 host, here.

Episode 4

In the fourth episode of the series, Sara Gianesello talks to Houda Zekri, a Moroccan gender expert, and Stephanie Willman Bordat, a founding partner at MRA - Mobilising for Rights Associates, based in Rabat. They delve into the Moroccan justice system to shed light on women's challenges and obstacles when seeking justice. Find more information about this episode, including some recommended readings from the host, here.

Episode 5

In the fifth episode of the series, Hanne Knaepen talks to Giulia Maci, gender specialist and manager of the Euro-Mediterrean region at Cities Alliance (UNOPS). They talk about gender-sensitive climate action in cities and learn how women empowerment, climate action, and urban development are interlinked. Find more information about this episode, including some recommended readings from the host, here.

The views expressed in the episodes are those of the hosts and their guests 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.