Disrupting gender norms in health systems : making the case for change Katherine Hay, Lotus McDougal, Valerie Percival, Sarah Henry, Jeni Klugman, Haja Wurie, Joanna Raven, Fortunate Shabalala, Rebecca Fielding-Miller, Arnab Dey, Nabamallika Dehingia, Rosemary Morgan, Yamini Atmavilas, Niranjan Saggurti, Jennifer Yore, Elena Blokhina, Rumana Huque, Edwine Barasa, Nandita Bhan, Chandani Kharel, Jay G Silverman, Anita Raj, on behalf of the Gender Equality, Norms, and Health Steering Committee
By: Hay, Katherine [et al. ]
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Contributor(s): Gender Equality, Norms, and Health Steering Committee.
Material type: 
ArticleSeries: The Lancet; Gender Equality, Norms, and Health (The Lancet series).Publisher: The Lancet, 2019Subject(s): ATTITUDES | GENDER | GENDER EQUALITY | HEALTH | MEDICAL PROFESSION | SOCIAL CHANGE | WOMENOnline resources: Read abstract | Access the series
In:
The Lancet, 2019, 393(10190): 2535–2549 (Gender Equality, Norms and Health 4)Summary: Restrictive gender norms and gender inequalities are replicated and reinforced in health systems, contributing to gender inequalities in health. In this Series paper, we explore how to address all three through recognition and then with disruptive solutions. We used intersectional feminist theory to guide our systematic reviews, qualitative case studies based on lived experiences, and quantitative analyses based on cross-sectional and evaluation research. We found that health systems reinforce patients' traditional gender roles and neglect gender inequalities in health, health system models and clinic-based programmes are rarely gender responsive, and women have less authority as health workers than men and are often devalued and abused. With regard to potential for disruption, we found that gender equality policies are associated with greater representation of female physicians, which in turn is associated with better health outcomes, but that gender parity is insufficient to achieve gender equality. We found that institutional support and respect of nurses improves quality of care, and that women's empowerment collectives can increase health-care access and provider responsiveness. We see promise from social movements in supporting women's reproductive rights and policies. Our findings suggest we must view gender as a fundamental factor that predetermines and shapes health systems and outcomes. Without addressing the role of restrictive gender norms and gender inequalities within and outside health systems, we will not reach our collective ambitions of universal health coverage and the Sustainable Development Goals. We propose action to systematically identify and address restrictive gender norms and gender inequalities in health systems. (Authors' abstract).
This is the fourth in a Series of five papers about gender equality, norms, and health.
The Series on Gender Equality, Norms, and Health is a collection of five papers, led by Gary Darmstadt and colleagues, that provides new analysis and insights into the impact of gender inequalities and norms on health, and the opportunities that exist within health systems, programmes, policies, and research to transform gender norms and inequalities. (From the website). For more information about the series, follow the link. Record #6335
The Lancet, 2019, 393(10190): 2535–2549 (Gender Equality, Norms and Health 4)
Restrictive gender norms and gender inequalities are replicated and reinforced in health systems, contributing to gender inequalities in health. In this Series paper, we explore how to address all three through recognition and then with disruptive solutions. We used intersectional feminist theory to guide our systematic reviews, qualitative case studies based on lived experiences, and quantitative analyses based on cross-sectional and evaluation research. We found that health systems reinforce patients' traditional gender roles and neglect gender inequalities in health, health system models and clinic-based programmes are rarely gender responsive, and women have less authority as health workers than men and are often devalued and abused. With regard to potential for disruption, we found that gender equality policies are associated with greater representation of female physicians, which in turn is associated with better health outcomes, but that gender parity is insufficient to achieve gender equality. We found that institutional support and respect of nurses improves quality of care, and that women's empowerment collectives can increase health-care access and provider responsiveness. We see promise from social movements in supporting women's reproductive rights and policies. Our findings suggest we must view gender as a fundamental factor that predetermines and shapes health systems and outcomes. Without addressing the role of restrictive gender norms and gender inequalities within and outside health systems, we will not reach our collective ambitions of universal health coverage and the Sustainable Development Goals. We propose action to systematically identify and address restrictive gender norms and gender inequalities in health systems. (Authors' abstract).
This is the fourth in a Series of five papers about gender equality, norms, and health.
The Series on Gender Equality, Norms, and Health is a collection of five papers, led by Gary Darmstadt and colleagues, that provides new analysis and insights into the impact of gender inequalities and norms on health, and the opportunities that exist within health systems, programmes, policies, and research to transform gender norms and inequalities. (From the website). For more information about the series, follow the link. Record #6335
