Integration of the gender dimension into socioeconomics analysis

Men and women carry out different and complementary activities, specially if we consider rural environments. The environmental resources are therefore differently used and perceived with respect to gender, and different needs may emerge. To achieve equality conditions, these features should be considered in a constructive way and in an integrated perspective, avoiding gender segregation also in the theoretical perspective. Women activities and duties are often related to the domestic sphere and, even if essential to the household, generally do not generate money flow, so they may escape the socioenomic approach. A tuning is needed, to give voice to all social components, also considering their different (in space, time, status, power, etc.) scales. This chapter synthetically illustrates how the challenge of gender integration in the socioeconomic analysis was faced throughout the WADI project. © 2010 Springer Science+Business Media B.V.