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Equality as priority!

2020-2-PT02-KA105-0069002020Youth mobilityfinalized
Countries: PT|LT|ES|EL|RO|HU|IT · Grant: €22,826
Inclusion - equitySocial dialogueGender equality / equal opportunities

Objectives

Gender refers to the social behavior and relationships that are generated between men and women. This concept draws attention to the cultural, social, political, and moral processes that assign values to these relationships. Gender identity highlights how much he or she identifies with being male or female. The social manifestation of gender identity according to cultural and social expectations constitutes social gender role. Social gender role reveals the way society expects a person to behave because of the fact that he or she belongs to the male or female sex. Social gender roles determine how men and women should dress, think, speak, and interact. Social gender roles reflect society's values and are passed down from generation to generation. They affect our daily lives without us realizing it. The social constructs we create and socially nurture dictate our growth, hobbies, behaviors, studies, and even profession. The gender constructions created quickly evolve into stereotypes that inhibit and retract the personal growth of those who feel the discrimination closely, sometimes in a very tangible and visible way, and other times in a subtle and "hidden" way. Thus, society expects both women and men to behave according to their social gender role. Such expectations derive from a process called socialization. And through socialization, from childhood on we learn the norms and role that society has assigned to us according to our sex and associated gender. This assumption plays a significant role in the personal reflection of definitions of masculinity or femininity. Children learn from early childhood that there are different expectations for men and women. And from an early age they perceive that they belong to one gender - male or female - and start behaving according to their social gender role. This is how gender stereotypes, norms and expectations prevent millions of men and women from pursuing their full interests and reaching their full potential. These gender constraints, often reinforced by both sexes, rapidly reduce the potential of human capital and restrict economic growth, food production, and quality of life indicators. The growing gender gaps that we continue to witness negatively affect women's participation in the formal economy, wages and benefits, as well as their absence from various sectors, professions, or the highest levels of management. And on the other hand they deny men the legitimacy to be emotionally involved, to take care of their children and themselves, just as several professions are no longer within their reach according to the stereotypes and norms of widespread opinion. The United Nations Population Fund (UNPFA) advocates gender equality and states that "Investing in women and young people, who represent the majority of the world's population, will accelerate long-term development." And considering these indications and considering that gender has different meanings for different people and that it is important to provide the tools to work on raising awareness and reflection on the topic, we believe in the importance of actions like this. With this project we increased the participants' awareness of gender inequalities and knowledge about the subject, providing moments of sharing tools and methodologies for more and better gender equality in their organizations and communities, making them agents of change and claimants of equality. Participants were challenged to rethink their perceptions about gender, thus increasing their awareness of the importance of gender. The objectives of this project were: To deepen knowledge about gender equality To promote reflection on the theme by sharing and comparing the realities of the countries represented by the participants Promote the sharing of social, cultural, school, or work experiences influenced by gender differences or discrimination To promote the deconstruction of the concepts interconnected with the study of gender; To make young people aware of the exercise of gender equality in their associations, schools and social contexts; Encourage young people to be active agents of change in their communities acting not only on gender-related issues but in any other area of social action; The goal of this YE was to promote in young people reflection about their personal and educational experiences based on their gender differences and the impact of these experiences on their personal development and their relationships with others.

Project partners (7)