Gender inequality, social institutions and the MDGs

Social Institutions – defined as norms, cultural values and attitudes – can hamper progress towards gender equality. While many studies look at the development outcomes in gender inequality (such as education, employment or health), few studies address the root causes behind gender inequality. The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development Development Centre

Social institutions like early marriage or violence against women significantly impact women’s personal and professional development, both at the individual and community levels. It is also interesting to see how addressing social institutions could help achieve the MDGs.

In April, Sciences Po students from Wikigender University tried to address those questions. Access their articles directly by clicking on the links below. For more information on what social institutions are and why they are important to be looked at, see related articles also available on Wikigender under the “see also” section.

Wikigender University

• Early Marriage in Bangladesh
• Women's Access to Land in sub-Saharan Women and African Economic Development
• Civil Liberties, a Comparison between France and Yemen
• Roles of Social Institutions in Gender Equality in Cuba Concerning Prostitution
• Corrective Rape in Gender Equality in South Women and African Economic Development
• Son preference in China
• Violence against women and the Millennium Development Goals
• Polygamy in Gender Equality in Egypt
• Mobility of Saudi Women

See also

• Social institutions
• 2009 2009 Social Institutions and Gender Index
• Gender, Institutions and Development Data Base-DB
• Gender Inequality and the Millennium Development Goalss: What are the Missing Dimensions?
• Child marriage
• Violence against women
• Polygamy
• Access to land
• Female genital cutting
• Missing Women
• Inheritance
• Parental authority
• Freedom of movement
• Freedom of dress