Gender equality, law, and social norms in development
Moving beyond the limits of existing debate
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.35295/osls.iisl.2647Palabras clave:
Normas sociales, género y desarrolloResumen
Las instituciones de desarrollo muestran un interés cada vez mayor por el papel de las normas sociales. Este artículo analiza qué implica ese interés para el derecho en la igualdad de género. A partir de siete ejemplos destacados de medidas relacionadas con las normas sociales, identifico: i. una tendencia a utilizar la legislación estatal como indicador del cambio en las normas sociales, a pesar de la confusión conceptual sobre por qué o cómo debería funcionar así el derecho; ii. una incapacidad para medir o analizar adecuadamente el papel de la política conflictiva y la acción colectiva para impulsar la reforma legislativa y el cambio de las normas sociales; y iii. una celebración, en gran medida acrítica, del papel progresista del sector privado en la transformación de las normas sociales y las leyes, incluso ante pruebas contrarias convincentes. A continuación, analizo cómo se enmarcaron las normas sociales, los estándares de gobernanza y las leyes en una investigación reciente sobre el papel de la Corporación Financiera Internacional del Banco Mundial en casos de abuso sexual infantil. Sostengo que las normas sociales se han convertido en un concepto tan dominante en el ámbito del género y el desarrollo que se corre el riesgo de desplazar el debate sobre las normas de gobernanza y las leyes mediante las cuales se puede exigir responsabilidades a los agentes del desarrollo. Para evitarlo, debemos aferrarnos al papel clave que puede desempeñar el derecho a la hora de atribuir responsabilidades por las injusticias de género.
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