Gender Myth by Susie Jolie Bridge is an article that mainly focuses on gender myth. The central theme of the article is analyzing the efforts that have been put over the years to ensure that women also benefit from the development work. It notes the fact that much of the development activities have over the years been based on gender stereotypes such as the assumption that farmers are men and women are weak. It further notes that as a result, feminists have fought against such stereotypes by developing counter-stereotypes such as the idea that the African woman is a hardworking farmer while the husband is lazy (Susie, 2004). The efforts by feminists have been vital in changing the gender myth and ensuring that women get more resources. The main source of data for the article include data from past research such as research by the World Bank and information from authors such as Mercedes Gonzalez which was based on her experience at World Bank. The main finding of the article is that gender myths are powerful tools that ensure that there is a positive change but, at the same time they attract dangers and risks.
The validity of the Article
The data collected for the article was based on primary sources. In this case, participants gave information based on their personal experiences. As indicated in the article, some of the participants told their contribution to the creation of myths. One of the myths identified was on survival and social capital that is used by the World Bank. In this case, Mercedes Gonzales provides a description of her experience while working with the World Bank in the position of a development and critic consultant (Susie, 2004). Through her experience, the article gets information about the fact that her ideas were only adopted in cases where they are proven to fit an agenda.
Delegate your assignment to our experts and they will do the rest.
Another source of data was through the use of published books which is evident from the fact that the article used information from Gonzalez (1986) that is based in a research that was conducted in Mexico before the economic crisis that was experienced in the 1980s. In her book, the article identified that there were various strategies that were used in households with the aim of making a living including a social exchange with the community and the relatives, lending money to one another, and helping one another with the exchange of labor that was not payable. She concludes that women were considered to be the main players in these networks and the poorest were not included in the arrangements.
The next source of information that is being used in the article was from past research conducted by reliable departments such as the Department for International Development, UK. The mobilization action by the department linked the positive possibilities of myths with the ability to mobilize gender action that is seen in the Department for International Development (DFID) in the UK.
The sources of data for the article can be considered to be relatively reliable because they are from reliable sources. The sources are also based on studies from different parts of the world such as the US, Mexico, and Africa, which means that the conclusion made in the article can be depended on. The article would have benefitted if some information could have been sourced through the data collection process and analyzed to ensure that the same conclusion is arrived at
Evaluation
The article seems to put more focus on the female gender as opposed to the male gender. However, the restriction on the focus population, in this case, is justified considering the purpose of the article. The purpose of the article is to show the fact that much of the development work around the world has been based on gender stereotypes such as the idea that farmers are often men. The article seems to put more focus on this stereotype thinking and focus on the female gender. It aims at changing the thinking about gender so as to channel more resources towards women.
Further analysis of the article shows that the data collected for the article came from experiences and research from different parts of the world which allowed for the generalization of the target population. The data collected provides confidence to readers about the conclusion of the research.
Lessons Learnt
The author has been able to bring out the main point of her argument in the article and the readers are able to determine how the conclusion was arrived at. The main lesson that can be learned from the analysis of the article is that gender myth is a powerful tool that affects society (Susie, 2004). The society, specialist those with feministic views are trying to change the myth that male is the core of the society. This will help to appreciate women and ensure that more resources go towards them.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the central theme of the article is analyzing the efforts that have been put over the years to ensure that women also benefit from the development work. She has been able to validate the claim that gender myths are a powerful tool to ensure that there is change, but they can attract dangers and risks. The data collected has some validity because the sources include published books, reputable organizations, and from experience by experts. However, the author mainly depended on the information that was gotten from the conference with the aim of encouraging the thoughts of manners in which people can move from the stereotypes to ensure that there is gender equality. The validity of the data collected and the information in the article would have been more valid if some of the information could have come from the data collection process. The main lesson that can be learned from the analysis of the article is that gender myth is a powerful tool that affects society. The society, specialist those with feministic views are trying to change the myth that male is the core of the society.
Reference
Susie , J, B. (2004). Gender Myths. SPECIAL ISSUE , Pp.1-6.
