Critical frame analysis is the approach followed in analysing chapter six where such approach aim to capture the diversity in understandings of gender equality and present the different dimensions affecting managing gender equality in both Jordan and Egypt. Like all of the following analysis chapters in this PhD thesis Nvivo was conducted to assist the researcher in the analysis process of chapter six.
Defining the main aim of chapter six was the first step where this aim was defined in order to present the current and the diverse dimensions of gender equality in Jordan and Egypt where this research data were collected.
Chapter six will contribute to answering the third research question which focuses on the effect of the different cultural dimensions in managing gender equality. The cultural dimensions of gender equality are present in both the people and their surrounding environment (Acker 2006) and this is what chapter six aims to clarify in order to produce the affecting dimensions within the country on managing gender equality.
The second step was the selection of the data to be analysed. In this step the researcher developed the following selection criteria of four steps; these steps are the researcher own approach and guidelines of selecting the reports based on his readings and understandings. This approach was influenced by the pilot interviews with the participants where they advised the researcher on the differences within the policy reports in the UN system.
1. Using only UNDP reports: unlike UNFPA reports which are focused on certain aspects of gender equality such as sexuality and reproductive health, the researcher believes that UNDP reports are diverse in relating gender
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equality to different aspects of development. UNDP reports will relate gender equality to different dimensions within a country as the case in human development reports and millennium development goals reports for each country. Where UNFPA reports, and based on their scope of work, gender equality was always linked to sexual and reproductive health. Such opinion by the researcher was formed based on his continuous readings of UNDP/UNFPA reports.
2. Up to date information: The reports chosen to be analyzed for chapter six depended on the latest information published by the UNDP in order to present accurate results of gender equality in Jordan/Egypt based on the time scale of this PhD.
3. Relevancy of the reports: the human development reports and millennium development goals reports were chosen to be analyzed due to their relevancy to gender equality. Gender equality is the third goal of the MDGs and one of the main analyzed themes within the HDR published by the UNDP.
4. Countries partnership in presenting gender equality: building on the relevancy of the reports, all chosen reports are presented in cooperation with the countries governmental and non-governmental bodies which reflect both views of gender equality the view of the UNDP as an international organization and the local view of the countries bodies.
Based on the above, the selected reports that were analyzed in chapter six were; 1. Jordan human development report (HDR): Building sustainable livelihoods,
published by the UNDP (2004).
2. Second national millennium development goals report (MDG) on Jordan, published by the UNDP in (2010).
3. Egypt human development report (HDR): Youth in Egypt building the future, published by the UNDP in (2010).
4. Egypt’s progress towards achieving the millennium development goals (MDG), published by the UNDP in (2010).
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In regard to the quantity selection of the reports, the selected reports are the latest published reports at the time this thesis was submitted. Later reports were available, though, the researcher did not select later reports to maintain a recent timescale of the knowledge to be analyzed.
2.19.1. Applying critical frame analysis
As discussed in section (2.11), one of the main limitations of frame analysis is presenting the actual process of applying it within the research. Verloo and Lombardo (2007) argue that defining the aim and the coding process are the most visible techniques of frame analysis. Therefore, the first stage in chapter six was to define the aim and link it to critical frame analysis. In this aspect, the aim of chapter six is to capture the diversity in understandings of gender equality and present the different dimensions affecting managing gender equality in both Jordan and Egypt. Hence, as the aim of critical frame analysis is to present the frames diversity of the researched issue in different contexts’, this is a result of different understandings and practices (Verloo and Lombardo 2007).
Identifying the frames was the following stage to conduct after defining the aim and selecting the data to analyze. Each country analysis was based on two reports as highlighted earlier. Therefore, each country report was read over seven times and notes were taken of frequent ideas, perspectives. The average report consists of (30) pages each page consist of minimum (500) words.
Applying critical framing was conducted in terms of presenting the diversity of gender equality dimensions in both countries. Such philosophy guided the coding approach in this chapter guided. The coding approach was based on capturing the
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different dimensions that affect managing gender equality in Jordan/Egypt.
After reading each of the reports several times frequent keywords and perspectives beside “gender equality” were identified. The keywords were, “Economy, social, political, public policy, education.” Such keywords formed the affecting dimensions of gender equality and the initial frames for this chapter. Each initial frame was set as a “Node” in Nvivo and relevant texts were coded to it through the uploaded reports within Nvivo.
These keywords were frequent as both, words and perspectives. Moreover, the reports structure consisted of sections of the relation of gender equality to each of these keywords.
Frequency of words and perspectives were measured through using “Nvivo” and the electronic reports in portable document format (PDF) find tools.
Moreover, coding criteria of the status of gender equality in twenty nine EU member states conducted by the Institute for human sciences in Vienna (2007) were considered in chapter six. Such criteria consisted of three main guidelines;
1. Coding texts that integrate the most current and most recent issues related to gender equality.
2. Coding texts that not only highlight most dominant issues on frame analysis but also other related issues which are not necessarily frequent but effective.
3. Aim to code texts that can be compared.
Based on the above the following five frames were identified in chapter six; 1. The economical structure of gender equality
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2. The educational structure of gender equality 3. Social structure of gender equality
4. Gender equality within public policy 5. Gender equality in political participation
The above frames existed within the text and have been identified by the researcher based on their frequency unlike other frame that can be driven by the research questions (D’ Angelo 2002) a concept which would be more visible in chapter seven and chapter eight.
Coding process was based on the frequency of the keyword for each frame and related perspectives. The coding was conducted using Nvivo software. For example, the key word economy was used (46) times in Jordan HDR (2004) report each paragraph consisted of this keyword was read and decided if its related to the first frame or not. Following such example a related perspective of economy to gender equality were coded in the same frame such as the following quotation from Jordan HDR (2004); “In urban and rural communities, many men are moving away from their communities in search of new employment opportunities. More women are entering the paid labour force especially in seasonal agricultural work and in the manufacturing sector.” Jordan HDR (2004:4). More detailed section on the coding of the data is provided in section (2.22). Therefore, in chapter six the coding process was based on two main steps;
Step one: coding texts from the related sections in the reports.
Step two: coding texts that are not directly related to the sections still, such texts reflect on the frames.
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