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Summary of the final report (pdf-file,
89 kb)
Schultz, I./D. Hummel/D. Hayn/C. Empacher (2001): Gender in Research - Gender Impact Assessment of the specific programmes of the Fifth Framework Programme: ENVIRONMENT AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT SUB-PROGRAMME, Final Report, Brussels, Abstract ISOE-Literaturshop
Project:
Gender Impact Assessment in the field of Radiation Protection and Environment
Project head and team:
Doris Hayn
and
Irmgard Schultz
Funding:
Ministerium für Umwelt, Naturschutz und Reaktorsicherheit
Duration:
06/2001-10/2002
Gender Impact Assessment in the field of Radiation Protection and Environment
During the trial phase the prototype developed was tested in the area of product-oriented environment protection, by applying it to the measure "Awarding the Label "Blue Angel" to the Product Group Multifunctional Devices for Office Communication" (integrated printer, copier, scanner, etc.). An appraisal of the gender relevance of this measure (screening) led to the conclusion that a GIA was necessary, since gender relevance could not be excluded. Research showed that both the award procedures and the multifunctional office devices themselves raised gender relevant questions with respect to the use phase and aspects of use.
As for the multifunctional devices themselves, consideration of gender aspects applies mainly to the use phase of the products, while not ignoring the function, place and context of use. That is, it is not only a matter of the use of these devices in statutorily regulated workplaces within firms or in the public sector but also of their use for occupational and personal ends at home. On the whole, interviews with users, manufacturers, sales and service representatives, revealed three areas of concern that have gender relevant aspects: health; operating manuals and technical support; and advertising and marketing.
Opportunities for integrating gender aspects during the award procedures for the "Blue Angel", a label granted to environmentally-friendly products, arise with respect to, first, the gender composition of the committees involved in the award procedure and, second, the specifications of the product groups (differentiation between areas of application: for household and personal use; use in public and private organizations; and use in both household/personal areas as well as in public and private organizations), award criteria such as pollutant emissions and threshold values (consideration of the special working conditions within household and personal area), and health (specification with respect to the health of women, children and the elderly). A further aspect of achieving a positive alliance between the goals of environmental protection and gender equity concerns the marketing of the label ‘Blue Angel’ (consideration of target groups with respect to their gender specific differences, as well as other social differences, while developing communication strategies for the environment label).
Presently, the jury for the environmental label is reviewing to what extent it can apply the recommendations included in the GIA.