Premium
Gender Analysis and Community Consultation: The Role of Women's Policy Units
Author(s) -
Osborne Katy,
Bacchi Carol,
Mackenzie Catherine
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
australian journal of public administration
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.524
H-Index - 41
eISSN - 1467-8500
pISSN - 0313-6647
DOI - 10.1111/j.1467-8500.2008.00578.x
Subject(s) - context (archaeology) , government (linguistics) , policy development , gender analysis , public relations , political science , qualitative analysis , policy analysis , qualitative research , gender bias , public administration , sociology , psychology , social psychology , geography , law , social science , philosophy , linguistics , archaeology
Community consultation has become a widely accepted part of policy development in Australia. In this article, we consider how, in an Australian context, consultation can be incorporated within gender analysis processes. Gender analysis refers to systematic procedures to detect and correct gender bias in the full range of government programs, projects and policies. We draw upon insights from a qualitative case study to argue that policy workers located within women's policy units could play a key role in designing and coordinating meaningful and inclusive consultation. We conclude that well‐resourced women's policy offices within Australian governments are essential to ensuring effective, equitable consultation exercises are included within gender analysis processes.