Last month (6-17 March 2023) gender equality activists convened at the Sixty-seventh Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) in New York and virtually. This year’s theme was centred on, “Innovation and technological change, and education in the digital age for achieving gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls”. This theme […]
Category: Gender
Men and COVID-19: where’s the policy?
The COVID-19 pandemic has refocused attention on many health inequalities, not least those related to gender. Globally, men and women are thought to be infected with COVID-19 in roughly equal numbers. But, overall, men are 40% more likely than women to die from COVID-19 and almost three times more likely to require admission to an […]
The gendered and public health consequences of anti-Asian racism in America
Six of the eight victims killed in the Atlanta massacre on Tuesday March 16, 2021 were women of Asian descent. This horrific incident is illuminating the United States’ long history of anti-Asian racism and violence, especially gender-based violence, and raising questions about what we know and don’t know about the intertwined effects of racism, […]
Wheels of the bus go round and round: racism in women’s health organizations
First it was the claims of Women Deliver being a White Faux Feminism agency, now it’s the International Women’s Health Coalition (IWHC). Recently, the President of IWHC resigned after a report found a work culture of fear and intimidation experienced by junior staff and people of colour. October is the month dedicated to mental […]
Caste, graded patriarchies, gender hierarchies and sexual violence in India
Perhaps one of the most distressing aspects of the pandemic has been denied dignity in death. On 30th September, in a place called Hathras, Uttar Pradesh, India, a 19-year-old girl was denied dignity in death. No, she didn’t suffer from COVID-19, she was victim of an endemic – caste and gender-based violence. Every day, […]
When Women’s Spaces Don’t Deliver!
It seems to take a lot to shock us. We get shocked when we see violent and racist situations, like the murder of George Floyd in the United States. In South Africa the killing of, Collins Khosa who suffered brutality during the Corona Virus lockdown, raised some protest. Although, in Africa, we are no […]
COVID-19 in the Caribbean region : indications of gendered nature
National governments across the world are scrambling to contain the novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). The Caribbean region has been affected later than other regions including Asia, Europe and Africa. As at 21st March 2020, twenty-four countries/territories in the Caribbean region have reported a total of 384 confirmed COVID-19 infections. Most cases are imported […]
Gender inclusion in global health can start with our words
What is the impact of language that, implicitly or explicitly, excludes women? Drs Anthea Katelaris & Meru Sheel discuss There is increasing recognition that women are uniquely affected during public health emergencies. For example, women may be exposed to infections in their roles as caregivers, as seen with Ebola outbreaks. The needs of women may […]
An open letter to the WLGH18 Steering Committee: The need to adopt an intersectional lens to the gender equity agenda in global health
The second Women Leaders in Global Health (WLGH) Conference is being held on 8-9 November 2018. The conference is committed to “celebrating and supporting women in global and public health” and “will highlight emerging and established women leaders in global health”, with a strong focus on mentoring. (1) While we appreciate and support the initiative, we […]
Toxic masculinity: a poor excuse for poor global health
In 1978 the relatively unknown Australian Ken Warby fitted his boat, the Spirit of Australia, with a military surplus Westinghouse jet engine bought at an auction, and went on to set the world water speed record reaching 511 kilometres per hour. The record has lasted for 40 years; dozens of people have died chasing their […]