Step 3: Gender-sensitive analysis

All regulations, policies and programmes relevant to gender affect the living conditions and access to resources for women and men. This effect is known as ‘gender impact’. An assessment of the gender impact of any initiative involves a process of analysis to determine the impact (tangible results) that the intervention could have on the effective equality of women and men.

On one hand, such analysis should try to comprehend the present situation for the groups concerned and understand how this situation could evolve without public intervention. On the other hand, the analysis should measure, as much as possible, how the planned intervention is expected to change the existing situation.

In order to guide the analysis, the following recommendations can be taken into account:

1. Analyse situation of women and men in the field

  1. Collect information and data
    About the existing situation for women and men in the areas concerned  by the planned policy or legislative measure, looking for sex-disaggregated statistics.
  2. Complement quantitative information with qualitative insights
    For example from studies or consultations, and combine various sources (statistical office, academic works, policy reports) to gain a deeper understanding.

2. Identify existing gender inequalities

Take into consideration the views of those concerned (primarily the groups that are directly targeted) about what any public intervention should bring.

These could be some key questions to be used:
  • What are their expectations and needs?
  • Are these different for women and men?
  • Is the planned intervention addressing the needs of both men and women, taking into account their different interest, roles and positions?
  • How can the contribution to the needs of women and men be strengthened?

Consider inequalities between women and men in access to resources (work, money, power, health, well-being, security, knowledge-education, mobility, time, and so on) and in their exercise of fundamental rights (civil, social and political rights) on the basis of their sex or because of roles attributed to men and women (gender roles).

These could be some key questions to be used:
  • Will the unequal distribution of income between women and men change? If yes, what will be the changes?
  • Will the unequal use of time between women and men change? If yes, what will be the changes?
  • Will women’s perception of security be improved? If yes, what will be the changes?
  • Will women’s employment rate be increased? If yes, what will be the changes?
  • Will gender segregation of the labour market be reduced? If yes, what will be the changes?
  • Will women’s gender-based psychosocial health risk be reduced? If yes, how?

Consider the norms and values which regulate the process of access and control of resources. This is about the opportunities to participate on equal terms in all aspects of society. To do this, it is essential to take into account the following structures which sustain those inequalities: