Ambiguities and Interchangeable Use of Gender Equality and Gender Equity

Introduction Gender cross-cutting issue which attracted an attention of international community and became an issue of many international human rights treaties like the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of discrimination against Women (CEDAW). So, this paper deals mainly with its definition, determinants factors and its relevance and difference with the concept of gender equity. Objective The study generally aims to come up with clear definitions and components of gender equality and gender equity and to remove existing ambiguities of the two concepts. Methodology This study is predominately a doctrinal research. Hence review of scholarly works, laws and books on the concepts of gender equality and gender equity is made. The meanings or definitions given by scholars are used to remove the ambiguities between the two concepts Finding Gender equality is found to be the most controversial issue without standard uniformly applied definition. But the definitions provided by different scholars have got common factors like, equal conditions for men and women to realize their full human rights and for contributing to, and benefiting from, economic, social, cultural and political development. Accesses to resources and opportunities, and agency or the ability to influence and contribute to outcomes are identified as the primary determinants of gender inequality. Gender equality found to be a concept that includes gender equity where as gender equity does not add any input to the concept of gender equality. Despite, these concepts are frequently used interchangeably. Conclusion definitions of gender equality recognized that the concept of gender equality seems to be beyond providing equal opportunity or rights to men and women. Because, Capabilities, access to resources and opportunities, and agency or the ability to influence and contribute to outcomes are identified as three primary domains or components of gender equality so that, gender inequality comes to the picture when any of these domains does not exist. The concept of as gender equality is more inclusive concept that should not be misconceived as the terms that can be interchangeably used with gender equity. Moreover, equity is said to be unnecessary concept that does not add any missing aspect of gender equality.