Hi Helen, evaluation from a gender perspective sits nicely in the critical paradigm as commonly issues of power and emancipation are embedded in gender perspectives. I favour an approach that sits in a critical perspective, but is capable of dealing with text, with human discourse and written policy. With that in mind, a process based upon discourse analysis has been helpful to me in the past - my work is not in gender studies, but aspects of my work sit in the critical paradigm in relation to evaluation of policy documents.   There are open access resources on evaluation of policy from http://joannabriggs.org/sumari.html- if you look at http://joannabriggs.org/assets/docs/sumari/ReviewersManual-2014.pdf there is a large section on critical appraisal of narrative, text and opinion which is derived from discourse analysis and embedded in a critical perspective.   I hope this is helpful.

I suggest using the ethics of care as your evaluative tool. First, the ethics of care is based on the view that persons are relational and interdependent. Then, based on this conception, you should evaluate the policy in light of its consistency with the basic features of the ethics of care, such as, empathy, the preservation of relationships, do no harm, doing the work of caring for those for whom we take responsibility, . . . . "Motherhood" as the paradigm case of a moral relationships involves some complications that can be worked out and turn the paradigm into a helpful tool. Virginia Held's (2006) The Ethics of Care is a great exposition of this theory.

Qualitative methods are especially useful in studying specific groups, locales, and events. What have you in mind to study: the creation of policies that are intended to promote gender equality or their application in real-life settings? [email protected]

Hi Craig! Thank you for your helpful answer and for the link to the open access resources! I didn't know about this before. And how very encouraging to read that you also used discourse analysis - as that is something I am leaning towards also.

Hi Daniel, Thank you for emphasizing the importance of qualitative methods for this - that is definitely the approach I'm taking as I would like to focus on analysing interviews and documents. I would like to understand the process (more than the result) of working with implementing policies (developed on a macro-level) in organizations (micro-level). All suggestions, advice, references concerning methods for ananlysing that kind of qualitative data are very welcome at this point. Thanks!

In that case, your observations -- whether based on a single or multiple-case study -- will most likely chronicle the ways in which both the would-be reformers and the people resistant to reform worked to limit the extent to which the changes being implemented made more fundamental and far-reaching alterations in the workplace, the number of people involved, and everyday routines.  

Hi Helen,

I recommend a report on behavioural change measurement by the Joint Research Centre of the European Commission: http://ftp.jrc.es/EURdoc/JRC83284.pdf. Behavioural science can be useful when designing a new policy, implementing it or evaluating it. Hope this helps.

Gender Indicators are criteria or measures against which changes can be assessed. Educated girls and women have greater control over their fertility and participate more in public life. Greater gender equality in the political sphere may lead to higher investments in development cooperation.

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/304462331_Topical_Issues_on_Equality_before_the_Law_for_Intersex_and_Transgender_Persons

Article Topical Issues on Equality before the Law for Intersex and T...