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Born to inequality, building equality:
family-centric approaches to gender mutuality
Catherine Bernard, Founder-Director, Service and Research Institute on Family and Children
M
ost programmes around the world on issues
related to women and girls focus on atroci-
ties, deprivations and discrimination they are
subjected to, the evils and negativism that surround the
girl child and how these crimes can be prevented. In short,
they take an ‘intervention and disaster management’
approach. While such an approach certainly needs to be
continued, there is urgent need to engage in long-term,
systemic and integrated approaches which embody and
foster an empowerment paradigm that is pre-emptive,
proactive, culture-based and family-centric.
In many societies and from ancient times, females were consid-
ered a liability, their rights were denied, and expectations and
wishes curtailed or suppressed. This was often manifested in
unequal power relationships between men and women. Various
other forms of disparity, discrimination and deprivation often
take place within the family, community, workplace and reli-
gion, with the male being preferred over the female.
It needs to be appreciated that the absence of historical data on
discrimination against women – where it happened, how and
why – increases the complexity of the issue. Further, unprec-
edented changes in the sociology of the family, with consequent
weakening of marital relationships, parent-child relationships,
family size, economy, beliefs, increased social/familial/work-
place violence and changing values and lifestyles, create a web of
complexities and barriers. Alongside, the number of households
headed by single women, unwed pregnancies, abortions, traf-
ficking of women, prostitution and other social problems have
rapidly increased. All forms of gender inequality, irrespective of
degree and nature, have serious consequences.
The Service and Research Institute on Family and Children
(SERFAC) recognizes gender inequality as follows.
It is a family issue, because families are essential to human-
ity’s future and are indispensable social units in addressing
domestic/community violence. Family breakdown is reflected
in the fragmentation of society. Hence, strengthening family
relationships is a highly proactive approach to reducing or
eliminating gender disparity.
Gender inequality is a hydra-headed human experience
which wreaks havoc on its victim(s). Like culture, traditions
and values which are passed on to successive generations,
so too is gender discrimination. Families repeat themselves,
according to McGoldrick, Gerson and Petry.
It is gender-based discrimination which occurs in more
forms in families than in larger communities. It is prevalent in
varying degrees across the socioeconomic spectrum in differ-
ent parts of the world.
Gender inequality is male dominance, widely prevalent in
many societies but hardly admitted or attended to. This has
furthered family breakdown. The impact on protection of
women and children has been underplayed and/or vaguely
understood by policymakers.
It is a phenomenon with manifold tentacles which affect
physical and social well-being, inhibit cognitive and emotional
development and create systems of dependency, compelling
women to remain focused on short-term goals and mere
survival – a condition of dysfunction.
Finally, gender inequality is socially stigmatizing discrimi-
nation, leading to isolation and dehumanizing conditions. In
the family, community and larger social and religious settings,
these problems are often kept alive by increasing socioeco-
nomic injustices, social unrest, violence, corruption, religious
fundamentalism, social isolation and states of continual war
in many parts of the globe.
Society has yet to come to terms with the fact that gender
equality contributes greatly to marriage stability. A healthy
family life is the basic social security for humankind. Most
countries lack effective policies to combat and eradicate
gender inequality. There seems to be little political will and
courage to really confront gender inequality in the various
social, economic and religious institutions.
My work in the Asian and African continents included
visits to plantations, mines and slums. These visits broadened
my understanding of problems affecting families, women in
particular. I talked to the Chief Executive Officers of compa-
nies, intervened for the rights of women and made strong pleas
for revisiting policies in firms where women are employed.
I recognized that most programmes which aim at ‘women’s
empowerment’ do not contain basic elements required to
enable women to meet the challenges they face in society
today. This led me to believe that working with women in
contemporary society requires a multi-lens approach, focus-
ing on social, sociological, psychological, spiritual, religious
and cultural issues simultaneously. This will facilitate a new
paradigm for a world order that is humane, just, and accepts
women as partners and equal architects in family stability and
social reconstruction/transformation.
Family-centred practice is based on a radical set of principles,
values and beliefs which recognizes the critical role of the family
as a constant focus in preventing inequality, and offers interven-
tion/therapeutic counselling services for building equality. It is a
A B
etter
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orld