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Arutchyan Gyulnara
Senior Lecturer, Head of Department of Gender Studies, Northern University;
Senior Lecturer, English Language Department, V. Brusov Institute of Foreign Languages
Address: 7 Paronian street, apt. 54, Yerevan, Armenia, 375015
Tel: (3742) 53-47-04
Fax: (3742) 15 17 95
E-mail: mail@ngoc.am
Gender and socio-cultural reality
Course outline
Independence in Armenia and its outcoming changes in political, legal and social conditions of the Armenian society promote penetration of the latest Western cultural values into all spheres of current life.
In Armenia gender and cultural studies assume ever greater importance with a great number of significant questions concerning gender differences and inequalities. The course «Gender and Socio-Cultural Reality» is designed with the focus on the historical and social elaboration of the differences between men and women and a concern for social and other inequalities between the sexes in relation to the cultural context . Especial significance is attached to gender ( feminist )philosophy.
Highlights of the course «Gender and Socio-Cultural Reality».
- A brief sketch on feminist ideas from antiquity up to the 20-th century.
- The conception of the gender ( social gender)
- Main trends of the philosophy of sex.
- Culture in the light of the gender philosophy.
- Political and legal basis of the philosophy of sex.
The course focuses on exploring the already established theoretical paradigms from Western perspectives and those emerging from Armenia. It trends to work out the very mechanism with the help of which it will be possible to synthesize traditional norms of the Armenian society and issuing from it gender-based women’s role and rights with universally asserted standards. Article I of the United Nations’ Charter promotes and encourages a «respect for human rights and for the fundamental freedoms of all without distinction as to race, sex, language, or religion» and «The Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women «(CEDAW) underlines the world’s commitment to the abolition of gender-based discrimination.
The Armenian government has enacted legislation aimed at achieving gender equality and protection of women within the work setting. The laws regarding gender equality include guarantees for equal consideration for promotion, equal pay, and free choice of profession without discrimination.
However there are some measures that are very restrictive and may lead to decreased employment opportunities and choices for women.
Access to information in Armenia is limited. Data from a 1999 public opinion survey among 1,000 Armenian women living in Yerevan, showed that most women knew nothing about women’s and children’s rights and the international conventions ratified by the government. Less than 19% knew about laws and decrees on the advancement of women and approximately 30% had heard something about it. Now there are not any widespread advocacy or information campaigns promoting women’s and children’s rights. There are deeply-rooted stereotypes in Armenia regarding the role of women in society. The primary functions of the woman are perceived to be child bearing and raising the family. Career, social and professional growth are of secondary importance. This attitude has inhabited the quality of women’s participation in political and social life.
The chosen course is summoned to favor the students’ acquaintance with the history and theory of feminist ideas and with gender phenomenon as a cultural symbol of the modern civilization. Possibly it will bring to certain changes in the field of political and legal settlement of the social status quo of an Armenian woman.
The primary outcomes of this curriculum are that students will:
- Learn to critically analyze their attitudes and perspectives on a variety of issues.
- Understand the essence of gender problems.
The designed course will assist both in creating the new international view and approach to women’s self-confidence, self—belief, self-esteem through assertiveness and remedying the human/women’s rights problems in Armenia.
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