RESEARCH METHODS COURSE ON GENDER RIGHTS AND POLICY IN MULTICULTURAL SOCIETIES

Course Director : Prof. Rainuka Dagar

Institute : Institute for Development and Communication (IDC)

Dates : 25th January – 8th February 2018

Course level : Post Graduate and Above

OVERVIEW AND OBJECTIVES

The course examines the issues in and challenges to gender rights and policy in multicultural societies in different development settings. It explores socio-economic and political tensions between legal rights, executive authority and social order. Using a comparative perspective, gender rights through the policy prism are practically analysed from different regions in the world with a special focus on North-Western India. The core problematics include contentions of collectivity claims and individual autonomy, conception of universal and specific rights, identity politics, the invisibility of gender-based violent practices and form focused strategies. Finally, it looks at cultural specific tools for policy analysis and how policy can be negotiated to promote gender rights and address violence against women and girls.

The course will be conducted in a workshop format involving participants in discussions in analysis of policies and programmes promoting gender rights. The lectures will draw on presentations, case studies, group discussions and exercises for participant interaction.

Guiding structure:

The course uses comparative analysis and interdisciplinary methods for placing and assessing the agenda of gender justice in governance systems. It tests the scope of rights-based processes by exploring contesting claims and tensions in the Indian multicultural context and administration. By analyzing form based strategies and institutional responsiveness to gender entitlements in these contexts, it steers participants to forge links in perspective, approach and method to advocate comprehensive change. Participants will explore the influence of diverse gender constructs on public policy research and practice with field based assignments. The course gives special attention to classifying, acquiring of data, analyzing and disseminating empirical based evidence for public engagement.

Learning Outcomes:

The course is designed to strengthen student ability to participate in the governance of gender justice and women’s safety and includes:

1) Familiarizing participants with approaches and strategies guiding gender policy in multicultural societies.

2) Improving participants ability to understand and analyze stakes within current gender policy debates.

3) Inculcating respect for multidisciplinary, contextual and multicultural dimensions in gender justice

4) Critical engagement with concepts and issues of completing claims, individual autonomy, invisibility of gender violence, gender neutral and universal gender standards

5) Testing veracity of own ideas on gender rights, entitlements and justice.

Readings

Core readings of each session will be indicated. Each participant is expected to consult these prior to the classes. Additional readings will also be provided.

Assignments and assessments

(a) Group discussions and participation: Each session provides group discussion materials for participants. Active engagement from participants is expected in class and group discussions. Discussion issues will be shared through the group rapporteur during the session.

(b) Presentation: Each participant will form part of a team presentation to be given in the last session. The assignment will be provided in the first session.>/p>

(c) Field assignment: A small study will be given during the course for participants to conduct within a fortnight.