Let’s promote gender studies for development

Professor Agnes Apusigah, the Dean of the Faculty of Education at the University for Development Studies, Tamale, has called for the promotion of gender studies in the various tertiary institutions in the country for development and positive social transformation.

She said despite the many years of research and documentation on gender studies, people still viewed it as studies that concerned only women, stressing it was not only about women but a multi-disciplinary concept which addressed the needs of both men and women.

Prof. Apusigah made the call at a public lecture organised by the University of Cape Coast Centre for Gender Research, Advocacy and Documentation in Cape Coast.

The lecture, chaired by the Vice Chancellor of UCC, Prof. Domwini Dabire Kuupole, and attended by students, lecturers, professors and a cross section of the public, was on the theme: “Gender Studies in Ghana — Where are we now.”

Gender studies and development

Prof. Apusigah pointed out that “gender studies and development are not anything clandestine. It is only an ideology and an ideology can be promoted by anyone. It is not a woman’s thing.”

She said currently dissenting arguments on gender issues, particularly on the part of men, were often detrimental to achieving pro-gender advancement, adding that it was time to break out of those unhealthy discourses which minimised our social transformation and work towards growth.

Prof.  Apusigah said there was the need to re-strategise gender studies in Ghana to include all aspects of gender inequalities in education, politics, economic and health systems in order not to limit it to the study of issues concerning only women.

She said while doing that, it was also important not to relent on advocacy. She urged gender advocates and promoters to go out of the lecture halls into the communities to make the needed impact on society.

Prof. Kuupole said gender studies and advocacy were basically meant to promote equal respect and opportunity for both men and women. He also pointed out that with the evolution of gender studies, the nation had a long way to go to use it to attain the intended purpose.