Pacific Gender

Mainstreaming
Training Kit
Module 2 ─ Session 3: The gender division of labour
Learning outcomes
At the end of this session you will understand:
 the type of information a gender analysis of activity profile can
generate
 how a gender analysis of activity profile can inform the design of
a project or programme.
About the gender division of labour

 A gender division of labour analysis provides information about ‘who does what’.
 Provides information on the distribution of work/responsibilities according to
the roles given to women and men in a particular community based on social
norms.
Why this information is important
An analysis of the gender division of labour helps to:

 identify the respective contributions of women and men

 document the respective knowledge and skills of women and men
 identify which health issues women and men may be exposed to in relation to
their respective activities
 assess the impact on natural resources of the activities of women and the ones
performed by men
Why this information is important
 assess the vulnerability to, and the capacity of, women and men to cope with
different issues (poverty, natural disasters, conflicts, environmental stresses,
amongst others)
 identify the respective needs, interests, and preferences of women and men
 identify gender gaps in relation to workload in comparison with the benefits
generated by the respective tasks performed by women and men.
Introducing the activity profile analysis
Factors of analysis or indicators Performed by whom?
Activities
Duration Prestige Labour Income Men Women
intensive

Agriculture (Taro production)

 Ploughing 5 days/year X XXX 0 XXX X
 Planting 3 days/twice a year X XXX 0 XXX XX
 Weeding 1 time a week 0 XX 0 XX XX
 Harvesting 2 times a year XX XXX 0 XXX XX

Fisheries
 Fishing from the boat 2 hours/day XX X 0 XXX 0
 Coastal fishery 1 hour/every day X X 0 XX XXX
 Selling to market 3 hours every 2 days XX X XX X XXX
 Maintenance of boat 1 hour /1 week 0 XX 0 XXX 0
 Maintenance of nets When needed 0 XX 0 XX XX
 Example Characteristics Performed by whom?
Disaster Preparedness
Activities Duration Information / tools needed Men Women
Before disaster
 Store food and water 1 day Quantity required XX XXX
 Secure the house 1 day What to secure XXX XX
 Secure the livestock 4 hours How to secure XXX 0
 Prepare emergency pack (clothes, 2 hours Content and quantity X XXX
medication)
 Participate in the community ½ day When the meetings will happen XXX X
coordination meetings
 Listen to radio Ongoing from the Access to a radio XX XXX
alert
During disaster
 Move to a shelter 1 hour Where it is XX XXX
 Look after children Whole time Be aware of risks X XXX
 Look after an aging parent Whole time Be aware of risks XX XX
 Prepare meals 1 hour Cook safely X XXX
 Monitor the situation Whole time XXX X
 Listen to the radio Whole time Radio with batteries XXX XXX
After the disaster – recovery
 Cleaning the house 5 days Waste management XX XXX
 Cleaning the land 5 days Waste management XXX XX
 Repair the house 10 days How, equipment XXX X
 Attend to injured people 2 days How, where to go XXX XX
 Fix the water tank 3 days How, radio with batteries XXX 0
 Look for food Ongoing Where XXX XX
Analysing the gender division of labour
Women
• Often perform the most labour
intensive work
• Work longer hours
• Do work that is less financially
profitable
• Do what is considered menial
work, with the result that their
work is often seen as unimportant.
Men
• Often perform activities that are
prestigious
• Have better tools and better access
to technology to perform their
work
• Are better paid
• Work fewer hours than women,
but their work is more valued.
Evaluation questions
1. Provide three examples of the type of information a gender
analysis of the division of labour can generate.
2. Explain how the information generated by a gender analysis of
the division of labour can inform the design of a project or
programme.
Evaluation questions
1. What type of information can a gender analysis of the division of labour
generate?
a) Health issues women and men can be exposed to in relation to their
respective activities
b) Who is doing what for food security
c) How tired people are
d) Decisions people make on the family budget
Evaluation questions
2. How can the information generated by a gender analysis of the division of labour
inform the design of a project or programme?
a) It can help identify who has expertise and knowledge related to a specific sector
and who the programme stakeholders should be
b) It can help identify measures that would benefit women and men
c) It can help monitor the impact of programmes on women and men
d) It can help decide what to invest in to ensure that the programme will reach its
objectives