Gender perspective in the Final Degree Projects: an experience in the Economics Degree of the USC

Abstract

The aim of this paper is to highlight the importance of introducing the gender perspective in the field of Economics. The economic analysis must take into account all those factors that explain the existence of unequal levels of individual and social development, as well as, to recognize the different impact that economic activities can have on women and men. We note that despite the existence of a favorable legislative framework to its incorporation into the university curricula in the economic profile - including the Final Degree Projects (FDP) - the presence of the gender approach is insufficient. In this paper we present our experience of the inclusion of a gender approach in the FDP in the Degree in Economics of the University of Santiago de Compostela; specifically, in the subjects of Quantitative Economics, History of Economics and Applied Economics, during the 2011-12 academic year. We describe the methodology developed: the design process and its phases, the main contents studied, based on gender indicators that characterize inequalities detrimental to women in the socio-labor field; and the results obtained. The main contributions have been a broader understanding of a social problem from the gender perspective and the deepening of the knowledge on each subject. This experience was highly satisfactory because of the knowledge and skills exercised as well as the degree of students’ involvement in their research on the issues discussed. The gender approach is a qualitatively differentiating element and an added value in their academic training.