Gender equality in non-governmental organizations in Eswatini.
Gender equality and empowerment has been identified as a cornerstone and an important aspect to advance human and social development in the world. Even though some countries are making astounding progress in attaining gender equality, some are lagging behind thus undermining the advancement of the argument that people-centred sustainable development can no longer be conceptualised exclusive of gender equity. The study was undertaken in Eswatini using a case study and a qualitative methodology focusing on World Vision Eswatini an international non-governmental organisation to collect and analyse data, this dissertation attempts to firstly, clarify the nature of gender relations within the context of gender mainstreaming, secondly, to articulate the challenge for non-governmental organizations to incorporate this increasingly popular strategy. Mainstreaming implies and suggests more than just ensuring equal numbers of women and men in the current initiatives and structures, but rather involves changing policies and institutions so that the actively promote gender equality. In-depth interviews of 20 participants (n=20) in total including 8 (eight)observations at the research sites uncovered data elucidated by the social construction of gender and the socialist feminism theories in as far as conceptualizing gender relations. Findings revealed that even though there maybe policies in place to ensure gender equality within non-governmental organizations, there is still a gap in capacitating employees and enforcing such policies. In addition, not much has been done and written about how non-governmental organizations treat their employees implying that serious interventions in as far as research and reporting to the donor community is needed. There is further a greater need to guarantee the elimination of gender stereotypes in as far as recruitment and promotion in the workplace as a result of the social and political environment organizations operate in. The study also revealed that gender is intertwine into the system of governance, patriarchy, socialization, culture and religion in respect to gender and equality in Eswatini. As such, the study recommends a great need to empower and liberate people from grassroots levels with regards to gender equality since gender attitudes become lived realities in the workplace and form any, socialization plays a vital role in how to relate with colleagues of the opposite gender.
Gender equality, non-governmental organizations, gender
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