Quotas and Affirmative Action

Study Notes

Quotas and Affirmative Action

Quotas are only effective when backed by law and accompanied by policies such as electoral reform, political education, and removal of obstacles to women's ability to utilize the quotas.
Affirmative action is necessary because discrimination does not self-correct and instead perpetuates itself.
Affirmative action improves representation of women, ensures a critical mass, and provides more female role models.
It guarantees gender-balanced policy making at all levels of government and allows considerable skills to be brought into decision-making structures.

Assessing Responses to Gender Inequality

Progress has been made in promoting gender equality, with increased consciousness of its importance.
Issues being addressed include narrowing the gap between boys and girls in education.
Some countries have strong representation of women in politics, such as Rwanda and South Africa.
Important legislations, such as domestic violence laws, have been passed.
There has been an increase in women in professional careers and decision-making, improved maternal health coverage, and more access to credit for women.

Societies and Gender

Societies are gendered, and gender is socially constructed.
Gender relations are power relations and privilege, as well as disadvantage, differently.
The concept of patriarchy and masculinity is important to understand gender relations.

International Agreements and Historical Context

International agreements, such as the Beijing Platform for Action, Millennium Development Goals, and Sustainable Development Goal 5, aim to promote gender equality.
The African Charter on Human and People's Rights also addresses gender equality.
The 4th Republic of Ghana has constitutional guarantees, such as equal rights before the law and protection of women's rights.

State Actions

Legal reforms, such as the Intestate Succession Law, Criminal Code Amendment Act, Human Trafficking Act, and Domestic Violence Act, have been implemented to protect women's rights.
Policy reforms, such as the Reproductive Health Policy, Gender Policy in Agriculture, Girl-Child Education Policy, and Ghana Poverty Reduction Strategy, have been introduced to promote gender equality.

Civil Society and Institutional Actions

Civil society actions, including labour unions, associations, women, youth, and students, have contributed to promoting gender equality.
Institutional actions, such as the Ministry for Women and Children's Affairs and the Domestic Violence Victim Support Unit, have been established to support women.

Why is Gender an Important Issue in African Societies

Socio-cultural factors, such as social construction, discriminatory cultural practices, and discriminatory inheritance practices, contribute to gender inequality.
Gender is important for social relations, as it determines roles, positions, privileges, and power.
Legal factors, such as customary laws and state laws, also influence gender relations.

Patriarchy and Gender

Patriarchy is a social system in which the male role is central to social organization, and fathers hold authority over women, children, and property.
It implies institutions of male rule and privilege and is dependent on female subordination.

Description

This quiz covers the effectiveness of quotas and the importance of affirmative action in promoting women's representation. It discusses the need for legal backing and policy reforms to eliminate obstacles to women's empowerment.