VII. Gender awareness and Cross Cutting Topics (CCT)
7.1. Introduction
Cross-cutting topics (CCTs) are a range of different topics which could affect the mission in a number of ways, but which fall outside of the military’s primary responsibilities. Different military disciplines, branches and command levels may have to consider and deal with a variety of CCTs. CCTs have a significant impact on all missions. To date the following CCTs have been identified:
Gender awareness is not a separate cross-cutting topic, rather something that is an integral part of the CCTs listed above. Gender refers to the social attributes associated with being male and female learned through socialization and determines a person's position and value in a given context. This also means the relationships between women and men and girls and boys, as well as the relations between women and those between men. These attributes, opportunities and relationships are socially constructed and are learned through socialization processes.