Understanding the Role of Affective Empathy in Promoting the CEDAW Principles of Equality and Non-Discrimination against Women

This is the first body of research to examine the interplay of affective empathy and gender equality through the lens of social constructionism and behaviour change theory. The overarching objective of the doctoral research is to characterise affective empathy and gender equality with the goal of exploring whether affective empathy can advance gender equality. In this thesis, gender equality and empathy are defined and reviewed. Then, the relationships between gender equality and affective empathy is examined quantitatively, theoretically and qualitatively.