IEEE Technology and Society Magazine - Fall 2013 - 55
Kelkar and Nathan's case study
of the Luoshui village in Yunnan,
China, includes reference to the
historical background of the area
when "people began to seize political power" and the "gendered division of labor tended to be equal"
[25, p. 29]. Kelkar and Nathan point
out: "It is not energy itself that has
certain inevitable consequences, but
the economic and social situation in
which technologies are introduced
and the balance of forces at any
time" [25, p. 17].
Renewable Energy
and Gender Equity
These findings point to a degree
of causality between clean and
renewable energy development and
gender equity and show that this
causality is context driven. They
concur with feminist theories that
renewable energy technologies are
"social products" and need to be
designed and developed as such to
optimize social and gender benefits.
There is no "technological fix"
to the socio-economic problems
and gender challenges facing the
rural poor and women in South
Asia. The relationship between
technology and social and gender
relations has to be understood as an
interactive one. In rural South Asia,
where clean and renewable energy
technology is emerging as an
essential infrastructure to improve
modern energy access of poor communities, there is an opportunity
to use these "social products" in a
way that helps to improve gender
equity and reconfigure gender relations. This necessitates drawing
women into the process of designing and developing these energy
systems and projects, i.e., to go
"beyond the meter" and the narrow
confining of the social product to
its purely technological functions
and features.
Author Information
The author is an international development specialist consultant with the
Asian Development Bank, currently
undertaking a PhD on renewable
energy and its gender implications in
Asia, at the University of Melbourne
Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Grattan Street,
Parkville, Melbourne, Victoria
2010, Australia. Email: reihana.m@
student.unimelb.edu.au.
References
[1] International Energy Agency, "World Energy Outlook 2011," OECD/IEA, Paris, Nov.
2011.
[2] International Energy Agency, "World Energy
Outlook 2012," OECD/IEA, Paris, Nov. 2012.
[3] E. Cecelski, "Women, energy and environment some directions for policy research,"
International Federation of Institutes for Advanced Study, Toronto, Canada [Working Paper
Series: Gender Science and Development - 2],
Nov. 1992.
[4] World Health Organisation. (2011). Fact
sheet no. 292: Indoor air pollution and health.
[Online]. Available: http://www.who.int/
mediacentre/factsheets/fs292/en/
[5] R. Mohideen and T. Sonomi, "Gender Tool
Kit: Energy Going Beyond the Meter," Asian
Development Bank, Metro Manila, 2012.
[6] Asian Development Bank (Feb. 2011),
Proposed Grant Assistance Improving Gender-Inclusive Access to Clean and Renewable energy in Nepal, Bhutan and Sri Lanka,
[Online]. Available: http://www.adb.org/projects/44135-012/main
[7] J. Sawin et al., "Renewables: global status
report," Renewable Energy Policy Network for
the 21st Century Secretariat, Paris, 2011.
[8] Infrastructure Development Company
(2013, January), Solar Energy Program,
[Online]. Available: http://www.idcol.org/
energyProject.php
[9] Ministry of New and Renewable Energy,
"Annual Report 2011-2012," Ministry of
New and Renewable Energy, Government of
India, New Delhi, 2012. [Online]. Available:
http://mnre.gov.in/file-manager/annual-report/2011-2012/EN/index.htm
[10] Administrative Unit, Renewable Energy
for Rural Economic Development Project Sri Lanka (2011), Statistics and Reports, [Online]. Available: http://www.energyservices.lk/
IEEE TECHNOLOGY AND SOCIETY MAGAZINE
|
FALL 2013
statistics/esd_rered.htm Accessed, October
2012.
[11] E. Cecelski, "The role of women in sustainable energy development," for National
Renewable Energy Laboratory, US Department of Energy, Washington DC, 2000.
[12] G. Kelkar (2010), Adivasi women engaging with climate change, Energia News, May
2010, [Online]. Available: http://www.energia.org/fileadmin/files/media/energianews/
en-052010.pdf
[13] J. Wajcman, "Feminist theories of technology," Cambridge J. Econ., Vol. 34, pp. 143152, 2010.
[14] R. Mohideen, and T. Sonomi, "Gender tool
kit: Energy Going Beyond the Meter," Asian
Development Bank, Metro Manila, 2012.
[15] N. Tamrakar, "Strategy on gender equity
and social inclusion for the Biogas Support
Program," unpublished.
[16] P. Bosshard, "Infrastructure for whom? A
critique of the infrastructure strategies of the
Group of 20 and the World Bank," International Rivers, Berkeley, CA, May 2012.
[17] E. Bast and S. Krishnaswamy, "Access to
energy for the poor: The clean energy option,"
ActionAid, June 2011.
[18] R. Verzola, (2007). Crafting a sustainable energy program for the Philippines,
[Online]. Available: http://rverzola.wordpress.
com/2008/01/18/towards-a-sustainable-energyprogram-for-the-philippines
[19] P. Bosshard, "Infrastructure for whom? A
critique of the infrastructure strategies of the
Group of 20 and the World Bank," International Rivers, Berkeley, CA, May 2012.
[20] J. Chow et al., "Energy resources and
global development," Science, Vol. 302, Issue
5650, pp. 1528-1531, Nov.2003.
[21] J. Jacobsen, "The role of technological
change in increasing gender equity with a focus
on information and communication technology," World Bank, Washington DC, World Development Report 2012, Gender Equality and
Development Background Paper, April, 2011
[22] M. Skutsch, "The gender issue in energy
project planning: welfare, empowerment or efficiency?," Energy Policy Vol. 26, No.12, pp.
945-955, 1998.
[23] M. Skutsch, "Gender analysis for energy
projects and programmes," Energy for Sustainable Development, Vol.IX, No.1, pp. 3752, March, 2005.
[24] J. Clancy et al., "Social influences on
gender equity in access to and benefit from
energy," World Bank, Washington DC, World
Development Report 2012, Gender Equality and Development Background Paper, Nov.
2011.
[25] G. Kelkar and N. Dev. (2005). Gender
relations and the energy transition in rural
Asia, pp.17-29, [Online]. Available: http://
r4d.dfid.gov.uk/pdf/outputs/energy/r8346_
finrep_kelkar.pdf
|
55
http://www.ener
http://www.gia.org/fileadmin/files/media/energianews/
http://www.rverzola.wordpress
http://www.who.int/
http://www.adb.org/proj
http://www.idcol.org/
http://mnre.gov.in/file-manager/annual-re
http://http://
http://r4d.dfid.gov.uk/pdf/outputs/energy/r8346_
http://www.energyservices.lk/
Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of IEEE Technology and Society Magazine - Fall 2013
IEEE Technology and Society Magazine - Fall 2013 - Cover1
IEEE Technology and Society Magazine - Fall 2013 - Cover2
IEEE Technology and Society Magazine - Fall 2013 - 1
IEEE Technology and Society Magazine - Fall 2013 - 2
IEEE Technology and Society Magazine - Fall 2013 - 3
IEEE Technology and Society Magazine - Fall 2013 - 4
IEEE Technology and Society Magazine - Fall 2013 - 5
IEEE Technology and Society Magazine - Fall 2013 - 6
IEEE Technology and Society Magazine - Fall 2013 - 7
IEEE Technology and Society Magazine - Fall 2013 - 8
IEEE Technology and Society Magazine - Fall 2013 - 9
IEEE Technology and Society Magazine - Fall 2013 - 10
IEEE Technology and Society Magazine - Fall 2013 - 11
IEEE Technology and Society Magazine - Fall 2013 - 12
IEEE Technology and Society Magazine - Fall 2013 - 13
IEEE Technology and Society Magazine - Fall 2013 - 14
IEEE Technology and Society Magazine - Fall 2013 - 15
IEEE Technology and Society Magazine - Fall 2013 - 16
IEEE Technology and Society Magazine - Fall 2013 - 17
IEEE Technology and Society Magazine - Fall 2013 - 18
IEEE Technology and Society Magazine - Fall 2013 - 19
IEEE Technology and Society Magazine - Fall 2013 - 20
IEEE Technology and Society Magazine - Fall 2013 - 21
IEEE Technology and Society Magazine - Fall 2013 - 22
IEEE Technology and Society Magazine - Fall 2013 - 23
IEEE Technology and Society Magazine - Fall 2013 - 24
IEEE Technology and Society Magazine - Fall 2013 - 25
IEEE Technology and Society Magazine - Fall 2013 - 26
IEEE Technology and Society Magazine - Fall 2013 - 27
IEEE Technology and Society Magazine - Fall 2013 - 28
IEEE Technology and Society Magazine - Fall 2013 - 29
IEEE Technology and Society Magazine - Fall 2013 - 30
IEEE Technology and Society Magazine - Fall 2013 - 31
IEEE Technology and Society Magazine - Fall 2013 - 32
IEEE Technology and Society Magazine - Fall 2013 - 33
IEEE Technology and Society Magazine - Fall 2013 - 34
IEEE Technology and Society Magazine - Fall 2013 - 35
IEEE Technology and Society Magazine - Fall 2013 - 36
IEEE Technology and Society Magazine - Fall 2013 - 37
IEEE Technology and Society Magazine - Fall 2013 - 38
IEEE Technology and Society Magazine - Fall 2013 - 39
IEEE Technology and Society Magazine - Fall 2013 - 40
IEEE Technology and Society Magazine - Fall 2013 - 41
IEEE Technology and Society Magazine - Fall 2013 - 42
IEEE Technology and Society Magazine - Fall 2013 - 43
IEEE Technology and Society Magazine - Fall 2013 - 44
IEEE Technology and Society Magazine - Fall 2013 - 45
IEEE Technology and Society Magazine - Fall 2013 - 46
IEEE Technology and Society Magazine - Fall 2013 - 47
IEEE Technology and Society Magazine - Fall 2013 - 48
IEEE Technology and Society Magazine - Fall 2013 - 49
IEEE Technology and Society Magazine - Fall 2013 - 50
IEEE Technology and Society Magazine - Fall 2013 - 51
IEEE Technology and Society Magazine - Fall 2013 - 52
IEEE Technology and Society Magazine - Fall 2013 - 53
IEEE Technology and Society Magazine - Fall 2013 - 54
IEEE Technology and Society Magazine - Fall 2013 - 55
IEEE Technology and Society Magazine - Fall 2013 - 56
IEEE Technology and Society Magazine - Fall 2013 - 57
IEEE Technology and Society Magazine - Fall 2013 - 58
IEEE Technology and Society Magazine - Fall 2013 - 59
IEEE Technology and Society Magazine - Fall 2013 - 60
IEEE Technology and Society Magazine - Fall 2013 - 61
IEEE Technology and Society Magazine - Fall 2013 - 62
IEEE Technology and Society Magazine - Fall 2013 - 63
IEEE Technology and Society Magazine - Fall 2013 - 64
IEEE Technology and Society Magazine - Fall 2013 - 65
IEEE Technology and Society Magazine - Fall 2013 - 66
IEEE Technology and Society Magazine - Fall 2013 - 67
IEEE Technology and Society Magazine - Fall 2013 - 68
IEEE Technology and Society Magazine - Fall 2013 - 69
IEEE Technology and Society Magazine - Fall 2013 - 70
IEEE Technology and Society Magazine - Fall 2013 - 71
IEEE Technology and Society Magazine - Fall 2013 - 72
IEEE Technology and Society Magazine - Fall 2013 - 73
IEEE Technology and Society Magazine - Fall 2013 - 74
IEEE Technology and Society Magazine - Fall 2013 - 75
IEEE Technology and Society Magazine - Fall 2013 - 76
IEEE Technology and Society Magazine - Fall 2013 - 77
IEEE Technology and Society Magazine - Fall 2013 - 78
IEEE Technology and Society Magazine - Fall 2013 - 79
IEEE Technology and Society Magazine - Fall 2013 - 80
IEEE Technology and Society Magazine - Fall 2013 - Cover3
IEEE Technology and Society Magazine - Fall 2013 - Cover4
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/technologysociety_march2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/technologysociety_december2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/technologysociety_september2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/technologysociety_june2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/technologysociety_march2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/technologysociety_december2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/technologysociety_september2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/technologysociety_june2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/technologysociety_march2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/technologysociety_december2020
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/technologysociety_september2020
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/technologysociety_june2020
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/technologysociety_march2020
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/technologysociety_december2019
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/technologysociety_september2019
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/technologysociety_june2019
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/technologysociety_march2019
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/technologysociety_december2018
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/technologysociety_september2018
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/technologysociety_june2018
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/technologysociety_march2018
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/technologysociety_winter2017
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/technologysociety_fall2017
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/technologysociety_summer2017
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/technologysociety_spring2017
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/technologysociety_winter2016
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/technologysociety_fall2016
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/technologysociety_summer2016
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/technologysociety_spring2016
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/technologysociety_winter2015
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/technologysociety_fall2015
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/technologysociety_summer2015
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/technologysociety_spring2015
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/technologysociety_winter2014
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/technologysociety_fall2014
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/technologysociety_summer2014
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/technologysociety_spring2014
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/technologysociety_winter2013
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/technologysociety_fall2013
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/technologysociety_summer2013
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/technologysociety_spring2013
https://www.nxtbookmedia.com