FROM BLINDNESS TO TRANSFORMATION: AN ANALYSIS OF UNITED NATIONS WOMEN’S GENDER DİSCOURSE FROM A SOCIAL POLICY PERSPECTIVE

Abstract

Gender discrimination constitutes a structural problem that can be reproduced within the gender discourses of international organizations. The conceptual frameworks and discursive strategies embedded in global policy documents aiming to promote gender equality may, in fact, deepen this structural issue. This study examines the annual reports published by UN Women between 2010 and 2024 through document analysis, within the framework of gender-blind, gender-neutral, gender-sensitive, and gender-transformative approaches. The aim is to reveal how institutional discourse has evolved over time in its approach to gender equality and to critically assess, from a social policy perspective, the potential of these discourses either to reproduce or to transform gender-based discrimination. The findings indicate that UN Women has increasingly adopted a more transformative approach, particularly in the post-pandemic period; however, inclusive discourses that obscure gender differences have also become more prominent. This suggests that new forms of discrimination may emerge under the rhetoric of equality.

Keywords

• Gender
• Gender blindness
• Women
• International Organizations

FROM BLINDNESS TO TRANSFORMATION: AN ANALYSIS OF UNITED NATIONS WOMEN’S GENDER DİSCOURSE FROM A SOCIAL POLICY PERSPECTIVE

Abstract

Toplumsal cinsiyet ayrımcılığı, uluslararası örgütlerin toplumsal cinsiyet söylemleri içinde yeniden üretilebilen yapısal bir sorun teşkil etmektedir. Toplumsal cinsiyet eşitliğini teşvik etmeyi amaçlayan küresel politika belgelerine yerleşmiş kavramsal çerçeveler ve söylemsel stratejiler ise bu yapısal sorunu derinleştirebilmektedir. Bu çalışma, UN Women tarafından 2010–2024 yılları arasında yayımlanan yıllık raporları belge analizi yöntemiyle incelemekte; toplumsal cinsiyete kör, toplumsal cinsiyet açısından tarafsız, toplumsal cinsiyete duyarlı ve toplumsal cinsiyet dönüştürücü yaklaşımlar çerçevesinde değerlendirmektedir. Amaç, kurumsal söylemin zaman içinde toplumsal cinsiyet eşitliğine yaklaşımında nasıl bir evrim geçirdiğini ortaya koymak ve sosyal politika perspektifinden bu söylemlerin toplumsal cinsiyet temelli ayrımcılığı yeniden üretme ya da dönüştürme potansiyelini eleştirel biçimde değerlendirmektir. Bulgular, özellikle pandemi sonrası dönemde UN Women’ın giderek daha dönüştürücü bir yaklaşımı benimsediğini, ancak aynı zamanda toplumsal cinsiyet farklılıklarını görünmez kılan kapsayıcı söylemlerin de öne çıktığını göstermektedir. Bu durum, eşitlik retoriği altında yeni ayrımcılık biçimlerinin ortaya çıkabileceğine işaret etmektedir.

Keywords

• Toplumsal cinsiyet
• Toplumsal cinsiyet körlüğü
• Kadın
• Uluslararası örgütler

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