GENDER ISSUES IN A GLOBAL PERSPECTIVE
Stampa
Enrollment year
2015/2016
Academic year
2017/2018
Regulations
DM270
Academic discipline
SPS/04 (POLTICIAL SCIENCE)
Department
DEPARTMENT OF POLITICAL AND SOCIAL SCIENCES
Course
POLITICAL SCIENCE AND INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
Curriculum
PERCORSO COMUNE
Year of study
Period
1st semester (02/10/2017 - 16/12/2017)
ECTS
6
Lesson hours
40 lesson hours
Language
English
Activity type
ORAL TEST
Teacher
Prerequisites
Since the course is in English students are required a relatively good fluency in English (at least B1) . Familiarity with the fundamental concepts of Economics and Political Science is also required.
Learning outcomes
The course aims to provide students the conceptual instruments to analyzing and evaluating the dimensions of gender inequality from a global perspective and to understanding, by means of a comparative analysis of welfare states , the political strategies to promote gender equality .
The course is interdisciplinary and combines the contribution of economics and of political science, namely policy analysis. It introduces to the dimensions of gender inequality in comparative perspectives and to the interpretation of the main comparative indicators of gender inequality both in developing and developed countries. It further clarifies the three policy paradigms of gender equality policy (equal treatment, equal opportunities and gender mainstreaming) and the relation between welfare state regimes and “gender regimes”, illustrating national cases (mainly from the EU) and focusing on the case of Italy.
Course contents
The couse is organized in two main parts:
1) GENDER AND PUBLIC POLICY – PROF. CONFALONIERI
Topics
• Policy paradigms in gender equality policy: ideas, causal explanations, policy tools, policy conflict
• The paradigm of equal treatment and its weaknesses
• Policy paradigms in gender equality policy: equal opportunities and affirmative actions. What opportunities? How can opportunities be redistributed: types of positive action measures
• Gender mainstreaming: promises and pitfalls of a new policy paradigm. How to mainstream gender in public policy: lessons from some European cases
• Gender and the welfare state: the debate on welfare state and the centrality of care. The emerging discourse on work-life balance. Gender regimes and welfare regimes
• Gender and welfare in North European countries/ Gender and welfare in liberal Anglo-Saxon welfare states
• Gender and welfare in Continental European welfare states and the French “Exceptionalism”
• Gender and welfare in “familist “welfare states: Southern Europe and and Asia.
• Re-calibrating the welfare state: re-designing gender relations? Continuities and trajectories of reform
• Italy: the origins of the Italian welfare state and the policy model of “tutelage” of working mothers Policy inertia and policy changes in post-War Italy: formal equality and the “freezing” of traditional gender roles
2)GENDER AND DEVELOPMENT - PROF. CHIAPPERO
Topics
• The roots of the gender debate in development economics
• Empowerment, agency and development
• Gender inequalities and gender progress around the world: an overview
• MDGs and SDGs on gender equality
• Measuring gender inequalities at the global level:
a) UNDP gender inequality indexes: Gender Inequality Index (GII) and Gender Development Index (GDI)
b) global gender gap index (GGGI) of the World Economic Forum
c) the OECD Social Institutions and Gender Index (SIGI)
• Measuring gender inequalities in Europe: the Gender Inequality Index
• Measuring gender inequality in Italy: a regional divide
• The impact of globalization and development on gender equality
Teaching methods
Students, individually or organized in small groups, will be invited to analyse, compare, present and discuss empirical data or case studies on gender inequalities in different domains and for different countries and regions.
Reccomended or required readings
Readings on Gender and Public Policy:
• M. Daly, C. Rake, Gender and the welfare state, 2003 pp. 37-39
• C. Lee Bacchi, Women policy and politics, 1999, pp .92-103
• J. Squires, The new politics of gender equality, 2007, pp. 24-32, pp. 38-48 and 138-143 and 146-155
• Gillian Pascall and Jane Lewis, Emerging Gender Regimes and Policies for Gender Equality in a Wider Europe, “Journal of Social Policy” , 33 (2004), n. 3, pp.373–394 (downloadable at http://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/797/1/Emerging_gender_regimes.pdf
• Jane Lewis, Mary Campbell and Carmen Huerta, Patterns of paid and unpaid work in Western Europe: gender, commodification, preferences and the implications for policy,”Journal of European Social Policy”, vol.18 (2008), n.1, pp.18-37 (downloadable at http://esp.sagepub.com/content/18/1/21.full.pdf+html
• Ruth Lister, A Nordic Nirvana? Gender, Citizenship, and Social Justice in the Nordic Welfare States, 2009 (downloadable at http://www.vasa.abo.fi/users/minygard/Undervisning-filer/Lister%202009.pdf
• Emiko Ochiai , Care Diamonds and Welfare Regimes in East and South-East Asian Societies: Bridging Family and Welfare Sociology, “ International Journal of Japanese Sociology”, vol.18 (2009), n.1, pp.60-78. Review available on-line in the University Library at http://sfx.cineca.it:9003/unipv/az/unipv
Readings on Gender and Development:

Papers:
• C. Okali, Searching for new pathways towards achieving gender equity. Beyond Boserup and ‘Women’s role in economic development’”, ESA Working paper no. 11-09, 2011 (paper available on Kiro or downloadable on the FAO website)
• Amici M., Stefani M.L. (2013), A gender equality index for the Italian regions, Banca d’Italia, Occasional Paper n. 190, June (available on Kiro or downloadable on the Bank of Italy official website).
• Duflo E. (2012), Women empowerment and economic development, in Journal of Economic Literature, 50,4, pp. 1051-1079
• McKinsey Global Institute (2015), The power of parity: how advancing women’s equality can add $ 12 trillion to global growth

International Reports:
• UNDP, Human Development Report (latest version available), selected chapters (full report available on Kiro or downloadable on the Human Development Report Office website).
• WEF - World Economic Forum, The Global gender gap report (latest version available), selected chapters(full report available on Kiro or downloadable on the World Economic Forum website)
• EIGE - European Institute for Gender Equality (latest version available), selected chapters (full report available on Kiro or downloadable at the EIGE website).
• UNWOMEN, Progress of the World’s Women 2015-2016. Transforming economies, realizing rights. Summary (pp. 2-23)
• OECD, Social Institutions & Gender Index (latest version available), selected chapters (full report available on Kiro or downloadable on the OECD SIGI website).
• UN (2017), Progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals
NB the readings can be modified or update .
The final list of readings will be available on the teaching platform KIRO.
Assessment methods
Students regularly attending the lectures will be assessed on the basis of:
a) an essay of 2500 words (6-7 pages) - references excluded - on a subject and readings agreed with one of the teachers, on the basis of students’ choice. The essay shall include a short introduction, with general statements and definitions, a main body, organized in two or three sessions, where the topic will be developed (e.g. empirical facts, interpretations, critical discussion, policy implications) and short conclusions. The essay must be sent to both teachers one week before the oral exam.
b) an oral exam based on the discussion of the essay and questions on the topics discussed during the lectures and on suggested readings
c) participation and students’ presentations during the lectures will also be valued
Students unable to attend the lectures will be assessed on the basis of a written exam (four questions, two questions for each module) based on the suggested readings.
Further information
Students regularly attending the lectures will be assessed on the basis of:
a) an essay of 2500 words (6-7 pages) - references excluded - on a subject and readings agreed with one of the teachers, on the basis of students’ choice. The essay shall include a short introduction, with general statements and definitions, a main body, organized in two or three sessions, where the topic will be developed (e.g. empirical facts, interpretations, critical discussion, policy implications) and short conclusions. The essay must be sent to both teachers one week before the oral exam.
b) an oral exam based on the discussion of the essay and questions on the topics discussed during the lectures and on suggested readings
c) participation and students’ presentations during the lectures will also be valued
Students unable to attend the lectures will be assessed on the basis of a written exam (four questions, two questions for each module) based on the suggested readings.
Sustainable development goals - Agenda 2030