In this step you will:
- identify the issues that your policy, service or program is aiming to address
- think about how gender, and other inequalities, might shape the policy issue, program or service you are working on.
This step works best if you work collectively with your team members.
Team members from different backgrounds with a broad range of personal and professional experiences will bring a diversity of expertise and perspectives to this process.
Tip: If you have already thought about the potential gendered implications of the issue your policy, program or service is trying to address, or your policy, program or service is small with only a minor impact, you may not need to spend long on this step.
Public entities
Have you considered the grants that you administer – what might gender impact assessment reveal about these programs?
Universities
Have you considered developing a map of policies and functions across your institution and departments? This would allow you to allocate and embed responsibilities for undertaking gender impact assessments across all areas of your business.
Part A: What issue(s) are you aiming to address?
Consider the issue(s) that your policy, service or program is aiming to address. Be as specific as you can.
Another way of thinking about this is to ask why is this policy, service or program needed?
This step is designed to provide space to challenge gender-based assumptions and to think about how gender might shape the policy issue, program or service you are working on.
Part B: How does gender shape the policy issue, service or program you are working on?
We often make assumptions about how an issue or action will affect certain groups of women, men and gender diverse people based on gendered stereotypes. Gender-based assumptions and expectations can affect our understanding of who may benefit from a policy, program or service.
This step is designed to provide space to challenge gender-based assumptions and to think about how gender might shape the policy issue, program or service you are working on.
Tip: You may not have all the answers at this stage. Note down any questions where you think you need to undertake further research to better understand how gender shapes the context of your work. Step 2 will assist with gathering the further information you need.
Thinking about the issue(s) you identified in Part A, discuss the following key questions with your team members:
- Are the people who are targeted and impacted by the policy, program or service included in the decision-making?
- Do you think that people of different genders access this policy, program or service at the same rate?
- Do you think that everyone who accesses this policy, program or service has the same needs from it? Think through in a practical sense how people of different genders might benefit from this.
- Do the different social roles and responsibilities that people take on affect the way people access and use this policy, program or service?
- What additional needs might there be for people with disabilities, or from different cultural identities, ages, gender identities, sexual orientations or religions?
Reflect on your discussion. What else do you need to focus on to take into account the different ways women, men and gender diverse people access and experience this issue?
Public entities
Have you considered collaborating with other departments or agencies and reviewing similar policies could help you identify relevant equality issues.
Local councils
Have you considered the demographic profile and variety of community groups in your municipality? Which communities might need more focus? How will you engage with local women’s organisations and service providers?
Use Template 1 to record your discussion and identify where further information is needed. Note down any additional factors you will focus on to consider how gender shapes the issue you are working on.
Practical example for Step 1
Without using a gender lens, the scope of the problem is defined as congestion on a major road connecting a residential area with the business district is impacting on travel times to access employment and other services.
Using Step 1 to apply a gender lens the issue is broadened to consider the following:
- Gendered differences in how people currently access and use the road.
- How gendered roles and responsibilities related to care-giving will influence use of the road and pedestrian areas.
- How other intersecting factors, such as socio-economic status or age might influence access to and use of the road and pedestrian areas.
- Gaps in stakeholder engagement from different communities on potential solutions for road congestion and pedestrian needs.
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