From Gender Mainstreaming to Training

Abstract

The aim of gender mainstreaming is the transformation of unequal gender relations. It is considered to be an outcome of the lessons drawn from three decades of development practice. In development theory, recognized as a GAD approach, it came to be known both independent as well as sometimes dependent on WID and WAD approaches. In development practice gender sensitivity training became the main vehicle for incorporating gender analysis in much of the development work. Gender sensitivity trainings, however, became fast spreading fashion, and devoid of the understanding of sociocultural contexts of the developing nations did not achieve the objective of transformation in unequal gender relations. Below, I will describe the concept of mainstreaming and how training became the main vehicle for incorporating gender in development work. And why despite much efforts and resources it remains an unsatisfactory solution.