Learning Journal Quarter 2

Format
! Date: (date of the class or time spent doing research)
! Questions: (what are you trying to find out / what questions are you trying to answer) - this is
done at the beginning of project time
! Summary: (notes from sources in your own words) what did you learn from your research
! Analysis and opinion: (what do you think/feel about what you have learnt / does this connect to
anything else you have learnt or is there a deeper meaning?)
! References: (All sources that you used should be listed here) - this is done during project time -
must be APA format

Date : 17 October 2017

Question : What is the history of Albania? Is there any civil war?

Summary:

Albania is a small, mountainous country in the Balkan peninsula in East Europe. In the west side of
the country is the Adriatic sea. The North West near to Montenegro, and the North East near to
Kosovo of Serbia. The East near to Macedonia, and the South near to Greece.

1939-1941 Before the start of World War II, Albania was invaded by Italy which made Enver Hoxha
becomes head of new Albanian Communist Party while King Zog flees to Greece.

1943-1946 Then, Germany invaded and occupied which made Italy surrender. However, Germany
withdraw after that but Enver Hoxha who is a communist politician installed as new leader which
made the non-communist were forced to leave from government position.

1948-1955 After that, Albania breaks ties with Yugoslavia and Soviet Union begins economic aid to
Albania which leads to the founding of Warsaw Pact.

1985 Enver Hoxha, the Stalinist dictator died lead to the fall of Communist rule in Eastern Europe.

The Independent political parties formed. At first, the Communist Party wins the multiparty
elections. But, in the next year elections, Democratic Party wins and Sali Berisha becomes the first
elected president.

2009 Albania joins Nato officially and applies for membership of the European Union

2014 The European Commission recommends Albania as a candidate for EU membership.

Analysis and opinion :

I think it is connected to what I have learned in class. It happened between communist and
democratic party which is happen in every war in every country. I think it is because these two
political ideologies is too contrast to each other when look at the first meaning of it.There will
always be some people who agree only one ideology. I think it is quite the same in every country
that I know. For example, Thailand also have this situation before become democracy. I think the
problem is peoples education because lower class people who did not educate would not know
about the system of these ideologies. They can only use their power to fight. This is the main
reason that civil war happen.

Reference : Albania profile - Timeline (2017). Retrieved October 17, 2017, from, http://
www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-17681099
Date : 05 November 2017

Question : What is the gender inequality problem in Albania?

Summary :

The gender inequality problem in children

- In one school, the amount of boy students are more than girl students. The girls that did not
attend school is more than boy. For example, if there are 100 boys who did not attend school,
there will be 117 girls who did not attend school.
- Girls did not go to school because of their family money condition. If their family can afford the
school fees for only one child, that will be a boy who family will sent him to school.
- Girls has to carry water and do housework instead of going to school
- Also, the one who has to take care of siblings and sick people in the house is girls.
- Girls will also most likely be withdrawn from school early in adolescence as the age of marriage
approaches.

If girls are educated, it will make the country better, for example :
- Girls who studied for at least six years of school education are more likely to protect themselves
from HIV/AIDS and many other diseases.
- Educated mothers have more chance to send their own children to school
- A child who born from educated mother has 40% more chance to survived.
- Educated mother can take care of their children better.

High poverty > Gender inequality > HIV/AIDS

High poverty > no sanitation

Albania is one of the country that does not have enough access to clean water. Some of the rural
area has to find clean water by themselves and the person who has to find water is girls. It is their
burden to find and haul safe water for the whole family. Also, they are prevented from attending
school because of the lack of facilities for girls like dirty toilet.

Analysis and opinion :

I think all of the problem in Albania is linked to each other. The cause of the problem in this country
is poverty. When the country becomes poor, it will effect the people in the country too. When the
family become poor, the husband of the family will think that it is hard to take all of the
responsibility for himself. Also, he might become stress because of the financial problem in
household. So, he might use violence against wife and children. This will make the people in the
countrys perspective of women change. They will think that women is weaker than them or women
have to rely on men to live. When adult thought like that, it will affect the children in the society.
When children saw the actions of adult, they will adapt and follow them.

Reference : Goal: Promote gender equality and empower women. (n.d.). Retrieved November 05,
2017, from https://www.unicef.org/mdg/gender.html
Date : 08 November 2017

Question : How the problem effect people in the country?

Summary :

Women in poor family who lives in rural area cannot take a decision making in family. Husband is
the one who take the decision in spending money. Also, the number of children and schooling. In
easy way, male is the one who takes all of the decision in the house. So, if husband want to take
all of the advantage for himself, it will be bad for wife and their children. Sometimes, they might not
selfish, but they did not have enough education to take the right decision. For example, not
everyone who knows about finance If they is just a normal worker, they can spent money in the
wrong way and waste those money. The more poor, the more that women cannot make decision.
However, the point is education. Women who has education can make more money for family
compared in poor family.
The respect for womens right in Albania determined by level of their representation in the decision-
making process. This level is low, so the respect for womens right is low too. Therefore, women
did not get as much attention as men or boys. Not only in most of the families, but also the
government. There are few women in the government which leads to the lack of women in policy
making position. Because of this, it becomes harder to change or reform the policies and mindset.

More than 50 percent pop women in Albania reported that they are violent by both physical and
psychological. Also, these violence are in family by husband. One of the reason is the poverty and
unemployment problem makes men find that it is difficult to responsible for the whole family. Also,
some of them resort to violence exercise against women and their children to demonstrate their
power. There also kidnapped women who is more than 16 years old to become prostitute. It
happen with poor family that did not get enough education to secure themselves from these things.

All of this problem makes the country looks bad in other country perspective. Other countries will
not want to trade with this country because of this problem. Therefore, it will make the economic
become worse.

Analysis and opinion : Actually, I think Albania is a very beautiful country. It has a lot of mountains
and sea that is very beautiful. I can see from the picture of the tourist attraction place that it is the
same as Maldives. Also, the building in the rich part of the country is quite the same as Greece. It
is very unique and attracting. However, after I saw these news and problem in this country, it
makes me does not want to go there. If I go, I will go to the rich part for sure, but it makes me feel
guilty to spend money in only rich part of the country. Then, left the poor part of the country still
poor. Also, I think the gender inequality in this country might affect the tourist. So, it decrease the
number of tourists in this country. If the government can solve this problem, this country will
become more cozy to live and travel. Therefore, it will also increase the amount of income from
tourists. After that, the economic will become better.

Reference : Woman and Children in Albania Double Dividend of Gender Equality (2007). Retrieved
November 08, 2017 from https://www.unicef.org/eca/
Women_and_Children_in_Albania_english.pdf
Date : 10 November 2017

Question : What did Albanias government done?

Summary :

The government pays close attention to womens right and gender equality. They has a lot of
progress in improving the inequality by cooperated with international and national gender equality
standards and obligation.

They create specific laws in domestic violence and gender equality.

- The first law was dated on 18th December, 2006 with the name Measures against domestic
violence.
- The second law was dated on 24th July, 2008 with the name Gender equality on society
- The third law was dated on 4th February, 2010 with the name Protection from discrimination
These all three laws was created during the time that they are achieving the MDG.

In Albanian government
- Minister part : 10 women ministers from 19 ministers which is 52%
- Deputy minister part : 10 women deputy ministers out of 29 which is 34.4%
The women in Albanias parliament is only 32 people out of 140 members which is 23%.
Representation of women in the municipal councils as councillors was increased from 12% to
34.60%

They also have a plan for year 2016-2020

Strategic goal 1 : economic empowerment of women and men
Strategic goal 2 : Guarantee the factual and equal participation of women in the politic and public
decision-making
Strategic goal 3 : Reduce gender-based violence and domestic violence
Strategic goal 4 : Empower the role in national gender equality mechanism, as well as awareness-
raising of the society on gender equality advancing.

They also concerned about the economic independence for women which is about the vocationing
training program. The company that runs by women have benefited from competitiveness fund
which is the fund for creative economy and start-up fund.

Analysis and opinion : This source is quite direct to the topic. It shows the information that our
group need which is the part that government had done it already. I feel that after the MDG was
formed, this country paid a lot of attention this MDG. I only think that the way to change the law
about gender equality is impossible. I think that it is only in the our group opinion about the solution
part. However, I think it is good to know that this can be done. I really shock that it also has a goal
until now, the goal on year 2016-2020. I dont know how many women in Thailand parliament, but I
think Albania has more women in parliament than Thailand. However, I think I am more familiar
with men doing jobs in the parliament. It would be good to have some opinion from women, but I
think men can do better in decision-making. In the other hand, I think the point is the unequal
salary between men and women. If they work the same amount, they should receive the same
salary.

Reference : Sheshi, E. (n.d.). National Gender Equality Policies in Albania. Retrieved November
10, 2017, from: http://eurogender.eige.europa.eu/sites/default/files/events-files/al_1-2june17.pdf
Date : 15 November 2017

Question : What happen after Albania start the MDG? (The result of the MDG)

Summary :

When the country was communist, there were a lot of women who participate in work force but
when the country become democracy, lots of impact effect them. It made them get low salary and
cause reduced in the amount of women in the work place. There are very women participate in
business, parliament, and elected office.

The first target, eliminating gender disparities in basic education has a chance to achieve in 2015.
The ratio of literate women to men has reached already but there is a different in between the rural
and urban area.

The second target on eliminating gender disparities in elected bodies and other components of
public service. This goal is seems to be continuing. At first, it has very few chance to be achieve in
2015 but it has more chance when the females that employed in the civil service in office is
currently 43% which is very close to 50%.

Another target goal is dealing with the wage gap between men and women that exist in private.
The target is to reach 50% in both employed women and women in waged employment. The
employed women reached 58% since 2008 so, it succeed. However, the women in waged
employment only reach 32% in 2008. In the other hand, they still need to research about the
unemployment in women that remains higher than men. Also, the reason the women participated in
the unprotected or informal labour market.

They succeed in this MDG a lot because they have the government for planning and reporting on
gender equality and the fight against violence on women. Also, the financial crisis had a lot of effect
on this gender goal. The fall-off in trade might affect the low-paid and low-skilled worker which
were especially women. In 2010, the is a economic constraint and many people lost jobs. So, they
might migrate to the Albania rural area which made Albanian family become stress.

In the future, they want to focus on the women and mens need for social protection and
employment assistance. Also, put more budget in punishing violence case and provide needed
services. Lastly, the national strategy for gender equality and against domestic violence.

Analysis and opinion : Albania had achieved more than 50% in this goal. Some of the target were
achieved before the year goal, 2015, which is a good start for the country that want to develop.
I think the reason that they can improve this much is because the government. The part that they
said that they have the government for planning and reporting on this subject is the main reason.
Their government concern about the gender equality a lot. I think this is good because it shows
that people in this country accept the change. This government were elected because of the
people in the country so, it means that they want to change and get rid of the gender equality.
This is one of the biggest problem when one country want to change. Fortunately that this country
accept the change that the government want to make. Sometimes, the main power might be
women but, if men did not go along with it, this would not happen. It might become a civil war in the
country.

Reference : Albania National Report (2010). Retrieved November 15, 2017 from
http://www.erru.al/doc/Albania_National_MDG_Progress_Report_-_July_2010.pdf
Date : 22 November 2017

Question : How to solve gender inequality problem?

Summary :

There is 12 ways in this article to to achieve gender equality.

1. Talk to women and girls : one of the reason that our world cannot achieve the gender equality
is because of women and girls voices are excluded from global and national decision-making.
They said that major obstacle for girls education is that girls have more risk of physical and
sexual assault when they have to walk for a long distance. So, it would be better for them to
stay home taking care of their siblings and fetching water.
2. Let girls use mobile phones : Majority of girls do not have access to mobile phones and
computer because of economic reason. Also, we see the bans from using electronic devices in
girls. There is not a good acknowledge in STEM education in girls. So, it would be better for
them to be able to access the technology.
3. Stop child marriage and sexual harassment : many girls are married before age 18 which is the
main reason that they will not be able to complete the education. For the sexual harassment
part, insecurity is one of the reason.
4. Make education gender sensitive : the progress in increasing education is high, but the gender
education is low. This is important for girls to graduated and shape the society.
5. Raise aspirations of girls and their parents : it is one of the key strategies to change girls
mindset. We have to give girls a role model that the expand their dreams. Also, parents must
encourage their own children too.
6. Empower mothers : If you empowering women and community level, you will also enhance
girls education. When mothers are educated and empowered to make choices in their lives,
there will be more chance that they will want their daughter to be educated.
7. Give proper value to womens work : women should receive equal pay for equal work
worldwide.
8. Get women into power : a way to overcome many barriers to a womens success is to empower
women by other women in local, regional, and national legislation. The ratio between men and
women in the parliament house still low. Womans voice and ability to become leader is one of
the main factor to empowering women.
9. Encourage women into non-traditional vocations : this way is not long lasting chance in their
lives but it helps to break social taboos.
10. Work together : Girls have different ideas and opinions. It would be better to work together and
share ideas. Some of girls idea is different from boys. Therefore, it would be good to combined
these together to get the best one.
11. Stop the violence : UN found that globally, women will experience violence in her life time which
is from her husband.
12. Beware the backlash : we can see that when women trespass in males dominated spaces,
there will be a punishment. The backlash often comes in form of sexual harassment,
humiliation, and violence. These also happen in education and workplace.

Backlash is a negative reaction on an idea, especially political idea.

Analysis and opinion : This article contains 12 best ways to solve the gender inequality in the
country. It can be use to every country, only adapted to each countrys law or religion. I think all of it
are true. The first one, I never meet this situation before but, I think that the part that it said about
the risk when girls go to school is not true for Thailand. I think it safe in the morning or during the
time that many people are around. It will not be safe at night, but no students will go home at that
time. The second one, I just know that women in some country do not have access to the mobile
phones and computer. The only problem for them is because they are poor. If one of the family
member has electronic devices, they have to be able to access it for sure. The third one, this is the
biggest problem in every country. Many girls married before they graduated from grade 12. It
happen because they are not educated in these topic. This also linked to the forth one which is to
educated girls in gender education. It is good to educate these girls so, when they become mother,
they will be able to educate their children. The fifth one, I like this one. Girls who used to work in
their house for housework, taking care of siblings, and fetching water would thought that they
cannot be any other job. Their career path was shaped from their ancestor. But, if one mother was
educated, she will change her mindset and change the way she teaches her children. The sixth
one, this is quite the same as the one that I just mentioned. The seventh one, this is like what I said
in one of my learning journal above. If women can work the same as men, they should receive the
same salary. The eighth one, this is good to encourage women to have right in the society. If only
male is the one who take the decision-making, it will not be fair for women. After that, women might
protest about their right. Therefore, it would be better to have some women in the parliament
during the decision-making so, they can give some opinion of other women in the country. The
ninth one, I do not think I agree with this because some work that have to use power such as
mechanical or repairing, these should be done by men. Next, if this happen in kids, it would be
great. Children are innocent. They did not know the gender inequality between them so, if there is
a chance to make them work together since they are young, it should be done. The eleventh, this
is also the main one. If men still use violence on women, they will think that they are beyond
women. It is true that women are weaker than men but, it is because of the appearance of human.
This should not shape peoples mindset. Lastly, at first, I did not know the word backlash. This is
happen around the world. It is hard to explain but every women feel bad when they are sexual
harassment by a men.

Reference : 12 steps to achieve gender equality in our lifetimes (2016). Retrieved November 22,
2017 from https://www.theguardian.com/global-development-professionals-network/2016/mar/14/
gender-equality-women-girls-rights-education-empowerment-politics