Poverty, Violence, Debt: Gender is Relevant - AKL

We cannot talk about social issues without acknowledging the significant part gender plays in relation to both the social problem and the policy that is enacted in response. And yet gender has become significantly absent from analysis and policy debate in New Zealand, where there is little, if any recognition of the inherent gender bais within issues of poverty, abuse and/or violence and debt levels; a bias that is just as relevant as ethnicity, age and class.

This session will focus on the absence of gender within current political, social and academic debate, analysis and policy in relation to poverty, violence and debt. Why is gender analysis relevant? How can gender inform policy and practice in relation to social issues? Why has gender ‘dropped’ off the radar? What responsibility do organisations and individuals have to include gender as a determining factor in qualtitative and quantitative analysis? How can we effectively manage the wellbeing of our society without recognition of gender as a significant measure?

These questions and more will be discussed at the Fabians’ session where we ask what does gender have to teach us and where has it gone or did it ever leave? This session is a chance to bring these themes together.

The discussion will be led by a panel comprising Catriona MacLennan, Marama Davidson, Kylee Quince & Rebecca Fountain.​