Gender, Equity, and Social Inclusion

59% of stories analyzed mentioned GESI themes, and it was an important theme in selection processes in four of nine countries. Almost all GESI-related subtopics were centered around gender, however, there was some discussion more broadly of disability, social exclusion due to income, the experiences of youth, and how these identities intersect. Figure 10 shows the distribution of GESI themes between both Selection Committees and stories, Figure 11 shows the distribution of themes in analyzed stories across gender demographics.

Social Norms

Social Norms were the most common GESI theme for both men and women storytellers and were especially prevalent in selection processes. In the context of this analysis, social norms refer to collective beliefs and expectations within a community or society, at a given point in time, about what behaviors are appropriate for women and men, and the relation and interactions between them (6). During story analysis, the Social Norms theme was often applied to discussions of women’s involvement in income-generating activities, such as farming and owning a business. In such stories, clients described encountering stigma and obstacles associated with social norms but continued to actively challenge these barriers. For example, a female Nepalese storyteller (whose narrative was selected as Most Significant) expressed her aspiration to work in a male-dominated area saying, “I want to take training in power trailer repair and prove to myself that women can also do anything if they want.” In Zambia, a woman told of how she has been stereotyped as trying to be the man of the house because she takes the lead in decision-making, budgeting, and spending when she and her husband sell grain. She exclaimed “My marriage was affected until I reached a consensus with my husband to handle all the money from sales”. This stems from cultural norms that view men as the primary decision-makers while women are expected to be in a subordinate role. Within the selection process in general there was a focus on overcoming social barriers, for example, a Selection Committee in Bangladesh considered how female entrepreneurs were not being widely accepted in their culture, and emphasized how a specific storyteller overcame this barrier as a model for others.

6.  Gender equality: Glossary of Terms and Concepts, UNICEF, https://www.unicef.org/rosa/media/1761/file/Gender%20glossary%20of%20terms%20and%20concepts%20.pdf 

Differences in GESI Themes By Gender

Shared Decision Making between men and women was the second most common GESI theme across stories, representing 19% of GESI excerpts. Women were much more likely to discuss themes of Control of Resources than men, and the theme was especially important to youth. Decision Making themes were closely related, and frequently mentioned concurrently with desires to share control of resources, and to increase understanding, collaboration, and support between men and women. These themes were most often discussed in the context of the dynamic between a husband and wife, however, the themes also extended in the public sphere to include meetings and broader communities.

A desire for Gender Equality was the most common GESI theme in the story selection process. This theme also occurred in 11% of stories and was more common among male storytellers. While respondents desired more equality between men and women, others felt positively about equality in their households and communities, as exemplified by this quote from a female entrepreneur in Cambodia, “Now, in my community, men and women have an equal right to participate, and the number of participation of men and women is similar.”

Stories also revealed gender-specific barriers for women, such as challenges with access to childcare, social norms, and access to finance. Nine total female storytellers in Bangladesh, Cambodia, and Ghana mentioned childcare, exemplified by the following quote from a woman in Ghana, “The only barriers to achieving our goals are family and financial, we do not have enough money to do business with the little one, and we also end up taking in family and taking care of the children.” The prevalence of social norms, as described above, also poses barriers, as described by a young agrovet in Nepal, “being a women entrepreneur in a country where women business owners are not taken seriously was a big challenge.” While access to finance emerged as a significant barrier for both men and women, one storyteller expressed that she felt that she was not able to access financial support as a business owner due to her gender.

Disability

While a small number of those interviewed mentioned the presence of a physical disability or a mental health problem in themselves or family members, it was not a primary topic in stories of change. Overcoming challenges associated with being a woman with physical disabilities was a primary topic in the selection committee in Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh, and this is discussed further below in the Bangladesh Country Section.