|
A Feminist, Gender and Rights Perspective for Evaluation of Women's Health Programmes
|
| Presenter(s):
|
| Renu Khanna, Society for Health Alternatives, sahajbrc@yahoo.com
|
| Abstract:
This paper is based on my experience as a women's health advocate in India. Through my community-based work and feminist health research projects, I have developed a perspective on women's health which draws upon public health, a feminist analysis of health, and the framework of right to health. My worldview on evaluations has developed from experiences of being evaluated - I learnt valuable lessons on how evaluations should not be done. These lessons evolved into a set of values and ethical principles that I strive to follow when called upon to undertake evaluations. As a feminist evaluator, I design and conduct evaluations that privilege the perspectives of the 'user' community and the implementors. This paper lays out (i) my concept of women's health, (ii) values and ethical principles, (iii) insights into feminist evaluation of health programmes.
|
|
Explication of Evaluator Values: Timing Matters
|
| Presenter(s):
|
| Kathryn Bowen, Centerstone Research Institute, kathryn.bowen@centerstone.org
|
| Abstract:
Feminist Principles were incorporated into the evaluation of a substance abuse treatment program after it was conceptualized. The design, outcomes, and methods were pre-determined and reflected values of the funding agency, grant writers and grantee. The evaluator began activities after these foundational elements were established. While activities of the evaluation intentionally sought to understand the realities of program women's lives, structural and philosophical elements reflecting variability in values and valuing of others resulted in challenges when interpreting data, particularly as they related to key elements aligned with feminist principles valued by the evaluator. Language, methodologies and epistemological frameworks interwoven into the fabric of the program had the potential to foreclose the possibilities for truly understanding the impact of the program and the experiences of some women during the process. Infusing and adhering to the evaluator's values helped create a space for the voices of women that had been systematically removed from the analysis.
|
|
Challenging Gender Blindness in Conventional Evaluation
|
| Presenter(s):
|
| Silvia Salinas, Independent Consultant, ssalinas@entelnet.bo
|
| Fabiola Amariles, Learning for Impact Corporation, famariles@gmail.com
|
| Abstract:
The paper will discuss 'gender bias and blindness' in conventional evaluation, arguing that its definitions and frameworks come from a dominantly male environment and masculine notions of reality. It will explore changes needed in evaluation designs and some means to achieve them in practice. 'Gender responsive evaluation' (GRE) confronts the complex issue of evaluating changes in power relations, as well as capturing and measuring intangible, oftentimes highly subjective improvements in women's wellbeing and quality of life. Thus, GRE not only deals with the need to address gender gaps but implies reviewing the premises of conventional evaluation. Based on evaluations conducted at national and regional level, and experience linked to GRE institutionalization efforts, different conceptual, methodological and technical alternatives will be proposed to effectively and systemically capture gender outcomes and understand cause-effect relations. Furthermore, the paper aims to reflect on additional challenges deriving from multicultural contexts, ethnic revalorization and intercultural relations.
|
| | |