Monthly Archive for October, 2009

Traditional Values and Women’s Human Rights

Published on 28 October 2009 in Gender issues and Human Rigths. 18 Comments

From the Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary

The Human Rights Council adopted, by a vote of 26 to 15 with 6 abstentions, Resolution 12/21: Promoting human rights and fundamental freedoms through a better understanding of traditional values of humankind. The resolution recognizes “that all cultures and civilizations in their traditions, customs, religions and beliefs share a common set of values that belong to humankind in its entirety, and that those values have made an important contribution to the development of human rights norms and standards.”

Conchita Poncini, IFUW representative to United Nations in Geneva, has pointed out that the words “traditional” and “values” are both relative terms. There is a danger that these can be used to excuse or exacerbate certain harmful practices that are considered “traditional”, such as male guardianship, female genital mutilation, early marriage, inheritance laws that exclude women, etc.

The resolution also reiterates that “while the significance of national and regional particularities and various historical, cultural and religious backgrounds must be borne in mind, all States, regardless of their political, economic and cultural systems, have the duty to promote and protect all human rights and fundamental freedoms”.

The Human Rights Council will convene a workshop in 2010 for an exchange of views on how a better understanding of traditional values of humankind underpinning international human rights norms and standards can contribute to the promotion and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms.

To help IFUW to prepare its input, we would like to have a better understanding of what “traditional values” means in your country and whether there are any traditions that could be harmful to women.

Click here to read the whole 12/21 Resolutions.

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Men vs Women in the Boardroom

Published on 14 October 2009 in Employment and Gender issues. 9 Comments

As more and more women take up top leadership positions, the question being raised is whether they bring a female touch to the boardroom or are simply continuing male leadership patterns. Research conducted in 2005 by the global consulting firm Caliper and Aurora, a women’s business network in the United Kingdom, suggests areas where the leadership styles of men and women differ.

They found that women demonstrate a more inclusive, team-building leadership style.  Women are more interested in first hearing all points of view and then making the best possible decision.   Women can be more persuasive than their male counterparts and better able to bring others to see their point of view.  They are also willing to modify their own position, if necessary.  Men, on the other hand, are more likely to push for their own perspective rather than persuading others and to convince through the strength of their position.

The research showed that women possess stronger interpersonal skills (empathy, flexibility and sociability) and are more assertive. However, they feel the sting of rejection and may dwell on it and tend to be a little self-critical. Confidence and helping them believe that they can do whatever they want to do is important.

The studies also found that women are more likely to ignore rules and take risks. They tend to have a greater need to get things done and are less likely to hesitate or focus on small details. They are also less interested in what has been than in what can be done.

Do these findings reflect your own work environment? Are there any other differences?

Source: The qualities that distinguish women leaders (Caliper 2005)

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