Transcript Gender Mainstreaming/ En-Gendering Health programmes

Gender Mainstreaming/
En-Gendering Health programmes
By Commissioner
Winfred Lichuma
Objectives
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To understand the terms gender and mainstreaming gender.
To understand how gender affects health care.
To understand how gender stereotypes influence of recognition
and management of women’s health issues.
To understand how education and research should give us
knowledge about women’s health issues and the difference in
caring for men and women.
To implement the concept of mainstreaming gender into health
programmes.
Gender (Concept)
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Refers to the social construction roles of men
and women.
Looks at the relationship between men and
women an a given society.
Gender is dynamic and varies from one
society to another and changes over time.
Gender Equality
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Refers to equal enjoyment by women and men of
socially valued goods, opportunities, resource or
rewards.
It does not mean sameness.
Men and women are different both physiologically
and psychologically.
Will be important to understand current status of
women, power relations, inclusion and exclusion and
how gender bias is perpetuated.
Gender Analysis
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Application of a set of tools to better
understand the realities of women and men.
It is about understanding culture, expressed
in the construction of gender identities and
inequalities.
Gender Mainstreaming
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Is the process of assessing the ways
legislation, policies or programmes impact on
men and women.
It is a strategy for making the concerns and
experiences of both men and women
integral to design, implementation,
monitoring and evaluation of policies and
programmes in all spheres.
The goal is to achieve gender equality.
Mainstreaming gender in health
Policies
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All health issues should be analyzed to
determine the benefits and the risks to both
men and women.
Women gender most often than not face
gender biases.
Manifestations of gender bias for
women in Health
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Preoccupation with women’s reproductive system
and maternal health concerns to the exclusion of
other pressing health concerns)
Ignoring or circumventing women. Resulting in
reduced access to resources, under-representation
or absence from governance, research and
educational materials.
Treating men and women the same when
inappropriate
Treating men and women differently when
inappropriate.
Mainstreaming gender in Health
programmes/Policies
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Health is understood to encompass physical,
physiological, biological health and well
being.
Mainstreaming gender in health related
policies and programmes is best
accomplished when determinants of health
approach is taken.
This appreciates the different roles of men
and women.
Gender Needs and Interests
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Meeting gender practical needs include provision of
what men and women perceive to be immediate
necessities such as water, food and shelter.
Strategic needs (usually long term) are related to
structural changes that include legislation, increased
participation in decision making and in areas of
reproductive choice.
The issues are mostly related to women as opposed
to men.
The end goal to be achieved is women’s
empowerment.
Basic measures to mainstream gender
in programmes
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Undertake gender needs analysis.
Establish attainable gender objectives, results and
performance indicators.
Align resources both human and financial with
objectives.
Ensure equal participation of both men and women.
Ensure the attainment of gender is measured
through gender impact studies and evaluations.
Gender Mainstreaming in an
organization (Key considerations)
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Have a gender focal person.
Staff training.
Formulate a gender policy.
Mainstream gender in all programmes
Gender sensitive budget
Sharing of decision making positions between men and women
Maintain gender balance in staffing
Have mechanisms to address gender biases.
Gender disaggregated data.
Invite gender experts in project management.