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Gender and Development Glossary

For journalists, mainstreaming the concepts of gender, equality, and women's rights into editorial coverage is not easy. Gender is neither linear nor static: it is changeable by individuals, within and among societies, and is affected by other factors such as age, race, class, ethnicity, and sexual preference. Terms about gender and gender and development are often layered, hard to distinguish, and defined differently from one socio-cultural context to another.

This booklet aims to provide journalists with definitions and context for key terms that are commonly used in discussions about gender issues and the status and advancement of women. By providing general definitions along with contextual information and examples, its goal is to suggest the diversity and complexity of the concepts. In addition to the glossary itself, which features approximately 100 terms, it includes a list of selected gender-biased terms and non-biased alternatives. It also lists some gender-blind words, as well as questions that reporters and editors might ask to uncover gender information when preparing stories. There is also a detailed bibliography.

The 97-page glossary, which was orginally published in 1997 and revised in 2000, is available in English, French and Portuguese.

Publisher: Inter Press Service (IPS)

For further information, or to order, visit The IPS site to find out how to contact your regional IPS office:
http://www.ipsnews.net/contact.shtml