Introduction
The project established a network of scholars from Greenland, Finland, Norway, Russia, and Sweden. Its primary aim was to explore structural gender inequalities that apply to the Sámi people in general and reindeer-herding Sámi in particular. The project intended to collect and gather existing knowledge on structures causing gender disparities. In this context, one of the goals of the project was also to explore the framework of human rights applicable to Sámi women as it relates to the principle of non-discrimination on the basis of gender.
Toolkit for Structural Inequality
A toolkit for structural inequality was produced as an outcome of the project.
Background
To a large extent, the reason behind inequality lies in social structures. Structural gender inequality refers to conditions embedded in societal structure as well as in the institutionalized concept of gender differences. The project concentrates on the kind of structural inequality, which specifically refers to inequalities that are systematically rooted in the normal operations of dominant societal institutions and in their policies and regulations. Often the reasons behind inequality are hidden in the structures and difficult to grasp. Therefore, it is vital to bring exiting knowledge together and create a holistic understanding of the complex structures in order to deconstruct structural inequality. In this context, the particular focus of this project is the reindeer-herding Sámi community.
Objectives
- Establishing a network of scholars (both Sámi and non-Sámi) having knowledge on Sámi issues.
- Collecting existing knowledge embodied in academic literatures as well as in policy and regulatory documents on societal and institutional structures causing gender inequality.
- Stimulating dialogues and discussions, and promoting understanding on structural gender inequalities.
- Exploring how structural gender inequalities affect Sámi women’s access to reindeer herding practices, and the enjoyment of human rights.
- Preparing a set of policy recommendations to promote gender equality in the reindeer-herding Sámi communities.
Main outcomes
- A toolkit for structural inequality was produced as an outcome of the project.
- A set of policy recommendations in order to promote gender equality
Policy recommendations will be published on the project website as part of the final report
Project host
Project partners
Project duration
- December 2018 – November 2020 (24 months)
Funding agency
- The Nordic Council of Ministers’ (NCM) Gender Equality Fund (NIKK)
- Fund granted: 450,000.00 DKK
Project administration & contact
- Kamrul Hossain (PI), Research Professor and Director of NIEM (firstname.lastname@ulapland.fi)
- Assi Harkoma (Project Coordinator), NIEM (firstname.lastname@ulapland.fi)
