Gender Watch

“When you know better you do better.” ― Maya Angelou

Gendered Identities in South Asia

Posted on May 19, 2013 by Dr. Naomi

There are many countries that identify more than two sexes and the gendered identities that go with these. Click here for an article about how Pakistan has had its first “shemale” candidates for political office and here for an article on how Nepal has created a new designation for sex on citizenship documents and in the national census.

Both of these stories demonstrate how institutions (in his case government/law) influence perceptions of gender in important ways. By changing laws, these governments have changed understandings of what is possible and acceptable.

Gendered Norms in Nepal

Posted on May 19, 2013 by Dr. Naomi

In chapter 1, we talked about how everyday practices influence how we perceive gender. Here is an example from Nepal that demonstrates health consequences too. In Nepal, gendered norms call for men to have the first pick of and more of the family’s food, if they wish to do so. Children typically eat from their mother’s plates. So, both children and women are often chronically malnourished. Read more about it here.