Gender, Health, and Equity: The Intersections

Abstract

This chapter considers the issues of gender, equity, and health to illustrate the ways in which gender influences health inequalities. It argues that gender bias is one of the fundamental causes of inequity in health, and emphasizes the need for more equitable gender relations. The first part of the chapter explains the meaning of gender and how it informs a health equity perspective. Through a gender lens, it then examines inequalities in mortality, morbidity, health care, and health research. A policy analysis describes recent progress in bringing gender issues to the global health agenda and suggests mechanisms for moving toward greater gender equity both in process and in outcomes.