Assignments for the history/social science groups

Gender Equality

The History and Social Science project for the Finnish- Dutch student exchange program 2007

Introduction

Women are denied human rights in the labor force, governments turn a blind eye to illegal practices, corporations and private individuals engage in abusive and sexist practices without fear of official sanction.

For example, job advertisements in Ukraine often specify "man" among the requirements for work in business and government agencies, and employers often deny women employment based on age and marital status and family status. Private manufacturing companies in Mexico, Guatemala, the Dominican Republic routinely oblige female job applicants to undergo pregnancy exams as a condition of work and deny work to pregnant women. South African farm owners deny black women farm workers legal contracts, pay them less than men for similar work, and deny them maternity benefits.

Women are often the last chosen for training programs and the first to be fired, particularly in transitional economies and in economic recessions. (source: http://hrw.org/women/labor.html)

The above examples may sound far-fetched but it’s always worthwhile to bear in mind that providing equal opportunities for both men and women in Western countries is not a self-evident fact and it’s not such a long time ago when such gender equality, as we have today, was only a distant dream to some and an unwelcome change to some.

1. Assignment (Historical perspective)

Prepare a presentation how women rights have changed since the early the 20^th century both in Finland and in Holland. At the end of your presentation compare the similarities and differences between the two countries.

In your presentation concentrate on the following items:

- women’s right to vote and take part in politics

- changes in women’s legal status

- changes in society that made working outside homes possible

- women in working life

You will find these sites useful:

www.eduskunta.fi

www.kela.fi

www.stat.fi

www.cbs.nl/nl-NL/default.htm

www.tasa-arvo.fi

www.eerstekamer.nl

www.houseofrepresentatives.nl

www.europarl.europa.eu/committees/femm_home_en.htm

www.unesco.org/most/bpwomen.htm

2. Assignment (Fight for your rights)

You are a representative of an imaginary party called The Equality Party. The issue of equal pay for women is high on your agenda. Your group is asked to draft a flyer to promote equal pay in Holland/Finland. Your flyer will be later on distributed to general public that’s why you have to present your facts in a manner that both interests and convinces any passer-by.

Find facts to support your arguments!

You will find these sites useful:

www.stat.fi

www.cbs.nl/nl-NL/default.htm

www.tasa-arvo.fi

www.eoc.org.uk

www.equalpay.nu

www.wikipedia.org (equal pay for women)

http://www.socialwatch.org/en/avancesyRetrocesos/IEG/index.htm

3. Assignment 3 (Family life)

Compare how families are nowadays subsidised in Holland and Finland. Once again you are encouraged to rely on facts that you find. You may find these key-words especially helpful: maternity leave, paternity leave, maternity benefit, social security, housing benefit, child benefit, daycare, medical services, caring an ill child, income tax deductions and other forms of helping families.

You will find these sites useful:

www.svb.nl

www.kela.fi

www.stat.fi

www.cbs.nl/nl-NL/default.htm

www.tasa-arvo.fi

4. Assignment (Development aid)

Choose one these three countries (Iran, Burma or Nepal). Find what the most nagging issues concerning women’s rights are in the country of your choice. Then search what kind of development aid is given to that country and what kind of development aid your own country is currently giving paying attention to the fact whether the given aid aims at improving the situation of women. Present your own critique how useful and effective you think the development aid is in relation to improving women’s rights.

You will find these sites useful:

www.eduskunta.fi

www.stat.fi

www.kepa.fi

www.formin.fi

www.eerstekamer.nl

www.houseofrepresentatives.nl

www.global.finland.fi

www.oneworld.nl

www.oneworld.fi

5. Assignment (Interviewing)

Plan an interview with a woman who you consider an appropriate person with something to say about women’s rights. Draft the questions first. The questions will obviously have to deal with the issues you have covered in this project. Then contact the person either by email, phone or, in case you haven’t found any particular person (preferable female), simply go out and ask someone you meet in town. Write an article based on your interview.