Conclusion

This book started off its analysis with the promise of finding out whether states, which were handled by the contributors, present similarities or differences in the way that they fail in achieving gender equality. As demonstrated in each chapter, the states have taken progressive measures in addressing gender inequality over the last few decades, yet challenges and backlashes remain. Discriminatory legal practices and social norms are still pervasive; women and sexual and gender minorities continue to face unequal treatment, prejudice and violence. On this final note, by drawing upon the case studies presented in each chapter, we aim to bring together the patterns that the states present in how and why they fail in achieving gender equality. We observe that there are four overarching reasons why the states studied in this book fall short in bringing justice to gendered matters: (1) the states’ tolerance of friction and ambiguity in laws, (2) the states’ inertia in fully pursuing a human rights-based approach, (3) the states’ oversight of intersecting marginalisation of women as well as sexual and gender minorities and (4) the states’ problematic approaches towards gender-based violence. Each of these themes will be discussed in turn below.