Gender Equity

“Taking action to improve gender equity in health and to address women’s rights to health is one of the most direct and potent ways to reduce health inequities and ensure effective use of health resources.”[i]

Please see our recent submission to the Victorian Government: Acheiving Gender Equity in Victoria here

And for a short presentation click on the picture below (works best in full screen and use the arrows to navigate)

• What is Gender?

  Gender, as opposed to sex, refers to the social structures of what it means to be a man or a woman.

  Gender is an important determinant of health and wellbeing as gendered norms, stereotypes, expectations and assumptions influence all areas of life for women and men.

  WHG works to emphasise the role gender plays in the formation of traditional roles and stereotypes and the ways in which these reflect and continue bias against women.

• Why does gender matter?

  Women experience health differently to men. Women’s health is shaped by biological factors, cultural norms, diversity and gender. Considering gender is vital for improving the health of not only women but men as well. Supporting women to feel a sense of empowerment, control and connectedness will lead to positive health outcomes for women, their families and the whole community.

  Women and men are also positioned differently in society. While it would appear that women and men have all the same formal opportunities, gender inequity causes significant disadvantage, impacting on physical, mental and social health and wellbeing for many women.

• What is Gender Equity?

  Gendered Equity highlights the importance of considering gender in order to improve health outcomes and challenge the current state of gender inequity in society.

  Gender equity is concerned with fairness and justness and recognises that men and women have different life experiences, different needs and different levels of power and access to decision making. A gender equity approach is concerned with recognising the need for full participation of women and men in decision making. Achieving gender equity often requires gender specific programs and policies to address existing inequalities.

  WHG’s Gender Equity works to encourage organisations and business to adapt gendered policies and practices that will:

  • Give equal weight to the knowledge, values and experiences of women and men.
  • Ensure that both women and men identify their health needs and priorities
  • Acknowledge that certain health problems are unique to, or have more serious implications for men and women.
  • Result in more effective interventions to improve health.

  By considering the needs of women and men, a more targeted approached to improving the health and wellbeing of the whole community can be undertaken and greater results will be achieved.

• What are we doing?

  WHG works to highlight the role of gender and particularly the impact it has on the health and wellbeing of women. WHG strive to have women included in population planning and policies across the Grampians region.

  We do this by:

  • Seizing opportunities to highlight the importance of considering gender as a determinant of health and wellbeing.

  • Partnering with organisations and business to improve knowledge of gender and the role it plays in shaping the health and wellbeing of communities.

  • Providing gendered health information on current health and wellbeing issues.

  • Developing a Gender Audit Tool and Gender Audit Policy Package, in partnership with Ballarat University.

  If you need any further information or would like to learn more about our role and how we can support you and your work, please contact us on 5322 4100.

• Resources

  Gender Equality in Victoria Grampians Submission

  Ten Ways local government can advance gender equity

  

  National Women’s Health Policy

  Australian Government 2010

  

  Women and Health and Wellbeing

  Australian Women’s Health Network Position Paper 2012