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Equality between women and men is a fundamental right, but it is not effectively and truly reflected in everyday life. Discriminatory attitudes remain deeply rooted in our society and are the source of many of the problems that still plague women today, preventing such equality.
Given that equality as a principle is included in the Statute of Autonomy of the Canary Islands Autonomous Community, the greater participation of women in the labour market, their access to all educational levels, training, culture and decision-making spheres (although in this sense still to a lesser extent), have generated the need to update the legal framework that allows the elimination of these discriminations.
The Master in Gender and Equality Policies that we propose attempts to respond to the need to establish effective equality of opportunities and rights between men and women in a society that is still characterized at high levels by sexist and clearly patriarchal attitudes. We aim to offer a theoretical framework for the study of basic concepts such as gender difference, power relations or cultural discourses that still maintain a status quo inequality and discrimination. Knowing this framework will serve as a link to the second fundamental element of our Master's degree, the practical analysis of the reality that surrounds us, focusing on methodologies of action to eradicate inequality and establish policies that reflect what is included in the different laws at European, national and regional level. In this sense, the Master's degree has a double vocation: 1. On the one hand, to delve into the historical and ideological study of the reasons that have led to an unequal society like ours (social, cultural, economic circumstances, etc.); 2. On the other hand, to provide keys and guidelines for intervention in society that alleviate this situation. In other words, our Master's degree is designed both to philosophically understand the concept of gender and its relationship with inequality (in its many variants), and to propose solutions at the level of public policies.
The new guidelines aimed at developing projects and actions in favour of Equal Opportunities in all its spheres, coming from directives at both European and state level, as well as at regional and local level, require that technical staff working either in a private or generalist way in this area, have a series of common and specific knowledge, tools and skills to work with this group. In another sense, and based on the extensive experience of our Institute in the organisation of courses and master's degrees on gender and equality over the last five years, we would like to highlight the importance of training experts in these disciplines, as reflected in the most recent state and community regulations on the subject. Compliance with current legislation on equality, as well as the application of equal opportunity plans and the Comprehensive Law against gender violence, have made clear the urgent need to train qualified professionals in specific aspects that facilitate the effective application of the measures implemented, while carrying out a type of transversal intervention in public institutions and the private sector that eradicates discrimination against women. Society, therefore, demands more than ever professional profiles around gender and equality. More specifically, we refer to two professional figures of Equality specialists, included in the Spanish National Classification of Occupations (CNO): Equality of Opportunities Agent (in general) (with occupation code 29390018) and Equality of Opportunities Promoter (in general) (with occupation code 35390015). In turn, these professional figures are subdivided into Equal Opportunities Agent/Women (with occupation code 29390027) and Equal Opportunities Promoter for Women (with occupation code 35390024).
The AIO (Equal Opportunities Agent) is basically responsible for the functions associated with professionals with university training (analysis, design, evaluation, etc.), while the PIO (Equal Opportunities Promoter) (professionals with non-university training) focus their functions on the areas of animation, awareness-raising and development of activities of direct attention to users. Likewise, there are other professional categories that directly require the training we offer in our master's degree: IO Technicians (Equal Opportunities), IO Managers and IO Experts. The variety of topics and areas in which the intervention of these professionals is necessary amply justifies the need for theoretical and practical training such as that offered by the MUEGYPI. The following are the functions to be developed by all these professionals:
– Detection of needs in terms of equal opportunities between women and men.
– Programming, planning and implementation of projects related to equal opportunities between women and men.
– Monitoring and evaluation of the different interventions.
– Information, guidance and advice on equal opportunities between men and women.
– Technical assistance in the application of the gender perspective in a transversal manner.
– Preparation and issuance of gender impact reports.
– Coordination of professionals from different areas and departments related to equal opportunities.
– Proposal, design and preparation of studies in relation to equal opportunities.
– Planning actions that promote the participation of women in all areas of society.
– Creation of protocols and methods of action, in response to the use of sexist language, in all manifestations of the different entities.