Gender
According to the United Nations, gender equality is fundamental to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals, affecting access to quality health care, exposure to health risks, and the outcomes of disease and disability—for children and parents alike. Improvements in health, from lower child mortality to greater access to reproductive care, can alter the power to access gender-related rights and freedoms. This section examines the new ways in which health and gender intersect and reinforce each other.
Gender
132 M
Number of girls out of school worldwide in 2016
Number of girls out of school worldwide in 2016
303,000
Women die from complications in pregnancy or child
Women die from complications in pregnancy or childbirth
21%
Unmet need for contraception in sub-Saharan Africa
Need for contraception in sub-Saharan Africa left unmet
2.7 B
Women legally restricted from same jobs as men
Women legally restricted from same job choices as men
Featured
The Gender Pay Gap Is Wider Than You Thought
Making women's unpaid care work count toward an economy for health
Periods Don't Stop For Conflict
Addressing women's health in Ukraine and other conflict zones
A Look at Women's Protests
A snapshot of women-led protests around the world
Hiding in Plain Sight
Although schistosomiasis affects many women and the treatment is simple, it is often misdiagnosed
COVID-19 Led to Worse Social and Economic Consequences for Women
Around the globe, the pandemic set back girls and women in education, work, and homes
Ghana's Proposed Hate Bill Threatens Safety, Livelihood, and the Health of LGBTQI+ People
Human rights defenders in Ghana and in the diaspora should work with a broad base of allies to defeat the proposed bill
Suicide and Indian Housewives
In India, the chances of dying by suicide jump drastically if a woman is a housewife
How the Pandemic Changed Attitudes About Menstrual Health in India
Innovation and outreach by individuals, governments, and global organizations have advanced understanding and support
Breaking "Code Red": Why Words Matter When Talking About Menstruation
How vernacular perpetuates stigma and shame, portraying menstruation as "unclean"
Women in Health Care: A Call for Pandemic Equity
At the G20 in Rome, it's time for a gender-responsive approach to COVID-19
Abortion in China
Writer Leta Hong Fincher reflects on abortion, women's rights, and the resilient feminist movement in China
Women and Suicide During COVID-19
In some countries, suicide among females has increased as the pandemic wears on