Gender issues in SAFE FOODS

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Gender issues in SAFE FOODS

• Ineke Klinge
• Gender studies health health care
• Maastricht University

2
Gender Equality in Research

• New FP6 guidelines for conducting research
• As a result of gender impact assessment studies
  (7) of FP5 (2000-2001)
• GIA study of FP5 research programme for the life
  sciences (Klinge Bosch,2001)

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Results

• Klinge, I., Bosch, M. (2001). Gender in
  Research. Gender Impact Assessment of the
  specific programmes of the Fifth Framework
  Programme. Quality of Life and Management of
  Living Resources (EUR 20017). Brussels European
  Commission.
• Gender in Research Synthesis Report (2001). An
  Overview. (EUR 20022 )
• available at rtd-sciencesociety_at_cec.eu.int  

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Promoting Gender Equality two issues

• The gender dimension of the research content
• Womens participation in research
• GEGDWP (Vademecum DG RTD Unit Women Science,
  March 2003)
• Mainstreaming gender equality (GE)

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Gender Equality in SAFE FOODS

• Domain of life sciences research
• Sex differences gender role issues
• Because of the inconsistent and often confusing
  use of the terms sex and gender , their use
  should be clarified sex refers to differences
  attributed to biological origins, gender refers
  to social influences that lead to differences.
  Males and females differ not only in their basic
  biology but also in ways the interact with and
  are treated by society (footnote to Priority 1)

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Engendering Research

• Gender/sex issues should be considered in the
  formulation of research hypotheses, in the
  development of research protocols, choice of
  research methodologies and in the analysis of
  results. This applies to
•         biological, pre-clinical and
  epidemiological, behavioural research/studies on
  both human and animal subjects
•         the use of cells, tissues and other
  specimen, where appropriate
•         the choice for a particular study
  population that should be thoroughly justified
  and the sex of the participants described in
  full.

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Priority 5 Food Quality and Safety

• sex and gender differences are relevant in the
  impact on health of food products such as those
  containing genetically modified organisms
• sex and gender differences are relevant in the
  epidemiology of food-related diseases and
  allergies (examples from the guide for proposers)

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SAFE FOODS Gender Audit

• TA gender policy (p. 33/34)
• WP (Womens participation)
• stimulation of leading positons of women in
  the project (30 WP in PMT at zero measurement)
• GD (Gender dimension of the research content)
• development of a plan to determine which
  aspects of the project are relevant for
  consideration of sex and/or gender issues

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Gender Audit II

• WP zero measurement of womens participation at
  all levels
• Identification of needs for improvement
• Development of plan to increase participation
  (m/f?)
• note Food quality and safety seems to be a
  feminized research area !? If true what does
  it imply?

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Gender Audit III

• GD
• In doing research adherence (as far as
  relevant) to the new guidelines about the address
  of possible sex differences (all levels of
  research all elements of a research project).
• Facilitated by specific advice to the respective
  work packages

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Gender Audit IV (see TA page 106)

• GD effects of gender/gender(role) issues are
  prominent with consumer issues the consumer does
  not exist. Documented gender differences are
• - complex relationship between food, nutrition,
  masculinity, femininity , identity and power
  relations.
• processing of nutrition information
• adherence to different elements of dietary advice
• attitude to risks / perception of risks
• motivation with regard to own and familys
  nutrition
• different barriers affecting behavioural change

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IV Continued

• Address of GD facilitated by specific advice to
  the relevant Workpackage
• Practical translation criteria for an adequate
  address of sex and/or gender issues. Research
  should avoid
• Over generalization
• Gender insensitivity
• Double standards

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IV Continued

• Advice as regards research methodologies
• Composition of focus groups
• Design of questionnaires
• Taking of interviews

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GENDFOODSAFE

• Commission Network for those responsible for the
  gender issues in the 12 running TP5 projects
  (IPs and NoEs)
• First meeting January 13th 2004
• Assessment of shared priorities
• Identification of possible joint activities (e.g.
  conferences commission funding possible)

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Reference e- documents

• Klinge, I., Bosch, M. (2001). Gender in
  Research. Gender Impact Assessment of the
  specific programmes of the Fifth Framework
  Programme. Quality of Life and Management of
  Living Resources. Executive summary and
  recommendations
• Vademecum DG RTD Unit Women Science, March
  2003)
• Minutes Gendfoodsafe Jan 13th