challenges of engendering population censuses

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GLOBAL FORUM ON GENDER, 10-12 DECEMBER, 2007
ROME, ITALY
 


Census is the Image of the Present and the
Future
ENGENDERING POPULATION CENSUS
THE JORDANIAN EXPERIENCE
THE HASHEMITE KINGDOM OF JORDAN  DEPARTMENT OF
STATISTICS (DoS)
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Jordan Population in Figures

• Area 89.342 Km²
• Population Over 5.6 millions
• Annual growth Rate 2.3 (2006).
• Sex Ratio (Male/Female)
• 106.4 (2006).
• Population under 15 years old 37 (2006)
• Fertility Rate 3.2 (2005).
• Female Economic Activity Rate 11.9 (2006).
• Male Economic Activity Rate 63.1 (2006).

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Department of Statistic's (DoS) Procedures to
Avoid Gender Bias in the Population Census

• The Preparatory Stage of the Census

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The Preparatory Stage of the Census
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Data Dissemination Stage
Gender Specific Census Output The Analytical
Gender Paper
Population Census Results from Gender
Perspective, 2004

• It covers demographic and socio-economic
  characteristics for the Jordanian Population at
  the national level.
• This paper has to a large extent fulfilled the
  existing gender data gaps in the country.
• Examining quality level of the 2004 census data
  was done by comparing the results from the
  previous census (1994) and use that information
  to monitor the demographic and socio-economic
  variations occurred on women and men during the
  period separating the two census.

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Headship Rates by Sex of the Head of Household
and the Source of Data
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Refined Economic Activity and Unemployment Rates
for Jordanians by Sex and Source of Data
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Economic Activity and Unemployment Rates for
Jordanians by Sex and Source of Data for the
Rift Valley Area and the Kingdom
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Challenges in Engendering 2004 Jordanian
Population Census

• The Preparatory Stage of the Census
• Large number of temporary personnel (men and
  women) were deputized (8787 persons) to work as
  enumerators, controllers and supervisors. Women
  represented only 35.

• The reasons behind that are as follows
• Social restrictions based on the negative
  perception of involvement of women in some
  sectors (field work).

• Turnover was high among the deputized (3075)
  women because they were office employees, as a
  result they were reluctant to work in the field.

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Missed Opportunities

• Womens groups were not part of the consultation
  process, nor were represented in any committee
  formed with the user's community.

• Data at governorate level and other
  administrative levels was not published nor
  analyzed in gender specific census output (the
  Analytical Gender Paper). As a result the chance
  for highlighting the dimension of regional
  disparities in the empowerment of women in Jordan
  was lost.

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Missed Opportunitiescont

• Jordan has suffered from the reciprocal streams
  of internal and international migration, causing
  significant disparities in age structure, growth,
  geographic distribution and social and economic
  characteristics.
• Even so, no information were published on the
  distribution of non-Jordanians by gender such as
  reasons for residence, type of occupation, etc.
• No tangible efforts have been made to review and
  assess the adequacy of statistics for
  understanding the diversity of both non-Jordanian
  women's and men's socio-economic characteristics.

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Next Steps

• Establishment of the Gender Unit at DOS is a sign
  that Gender issues are included in the Agenda.
• Establishing gender-oriented technical committees
  and expert groups in addition to the Gender Unit
  will provide input for 2014 population census,
  specifically in dealing with gender concerns at
  all various stages questionnaire, media, project
  management, occupation and industrial
  classifications