Gendered Institutions in Global Health

Somerville, Claire

doi:10.1007/978-3-030-84498-1_2

Cited by 2 publications

(6 citation statements)

References 27 publications

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“…8 According to Claire Somerville, Lecturer and Executive Director at the Gender Centre Geneva Graduate Institute, gendered institutions are "not only an individual attribute but also organizing system that structures, patterns of interactions and expectations throughout and between organizations and their networks." 71 She further explains that historically the "delivery of health care at the frontline exhibits highly sex-selected divisions of labor with women as nurses and caregivers at the bedside and men as doctors, surgeons, and specialists." 71 Additionally, the gender stratification of these labor roles in health care and medicine is linked to the influence of the lesser assigned societal value ascribed to women and its continuing effect upon the patterns, policies, and processes of contemporary and present-day health systems, governance structures, ministries, and global health organizations and networks.…”

Section: Public Policy Barriersmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…71 She further explains that historically the "delivery of health care at the frontline exhibits highly sex-selected divisions of labor with women as nurses and caregivers at the bedside and men as doctors, surgeons, and specialists." 71 Additionally, the gender stratification of these labor roles in health care and medicine is linked to the influence of the lesser assigned societal value ascribed to women and its continuing effect upon the patterns, policies, and processes of contemporary and present-day health systems, governance structures, ministries, and global health organizations and networks. 71 As an example, Boniol et al in a review of 2017 health care workforce data from the International Labour Organization revealed that the majority of dentists, physicians, and pharmacists jobs in the 104 countries examined were men, but the overwhelming majority of nursing and midwifery jobs were held by women.…”

Section: Public Policy Barriersmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…71 Additionally, the gender stratification of these labor roles in health care and medicine is linked to the influence of the lesser assigned societal value ascribed to women and its continuing effect upon the patterns, policies, and processes of contemporary and present-day health systems, governance structures, ministries, and global health organizations and networks. 71 As an example, Boniol et al in a review of 2017 health care workforce data from the International Labour Organization revealed that the majority of dentists, physicians, and pharmacists jobs in the 104 countries examined were men, but the overwhelming majority of nursing and midwifery jobs were held by women. 7 However, despite the gender stratification apparent in nursing and that women significantly outnumber men in the field, men in nursing throughout the world hold a disproportionate number of senior leadership roles.…”

Section: Public Policy Barriersmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…6 In service to others, women provide three-quarters of all unpaid global domestic and home care, which represents a collective total of 11 billion hours per day. 71 Prior to the pandemic, research showed that women also provided 3 hours per day more unpaid work in comparison to men. 6 During the pandemic, the number of hours for women providing unpaid labor increased by 15 hours per week.…”

Section: Individual Barriersmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Furthermore, a major barrier to women's participation is the “gendered” stratification of global‐health‐care‐work along gender lines due to stereotypical gender norms that devalue women and view certain caregiving work as women's work 8 . According to Claire Somerville, Lecturer and Executive Director at the Gender Centre Geneva Graduate Institute, gendered institutions are “not only an individual attribute but also organizing system that structures, patterns of interactions and expectations throughout and between organizations and their networks.” 71 She further explains that historically the “delivery of health care at the frontline exhibits highly sex‐selected divisions of labor with women as nurses and caregivers at the bedside and men as doctors, surgeons, and specialists.” 71 Additionally, the gender stratification of these labor roles in health care and medicine is linked to the influence of the lesser assigned societal value ascribed to women and its continuing effect upon the patterns, policies, and processes of contemporary and present‐day health systems, governance structures, ministries, and global health organizations and networks 71 . As an example, Boniol et al in a review of 2017 health care workforce data from the International Labour Organization revealed that the majority of dentists, physicians, and pharmacists jobs in the 104 countries examined were men, but the overwhelming majority of nursing and midwifery jobs were held by women 7 .…”

Section: Persistent Barriers To Women In Global Health Leadershipmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Gender equality in the 21st century: Overcoming barriers to women's leadership in global health

Smith

Sinkford

2022

Journal of Dental Education

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PurposeThe purpose of this manuscript is to provide an overview of the significant role that women play in providing global health care, barriers encountered to achieving gender equality in global health leadership, and to propose key recommendations for advancing gender equality in global health decision‐making through the integration of gender mainstreaming, gender‐based analysis, and gender transformative leadership (GTL) approaches.MethodData were evaluated to determine the participation rate of women in global health care and social sector roles in comparison to men. Gender equality data from the United Nations, World Health Organization, Organization for Economic Co‐operation and Development, International Labour Organization, and other resources were analyzed to assess the impact of the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic on gender equality with an emphasis on women in global health leadership positions, the health care and social sector, and gender equality measures for girls and women throughout the world. The literature was examined to identify persistent barriers to gender equality in global health leadership positions. Additionally, a review of the literature was conducted to identify key strategies and recommendations for achieving gender equality in global health decision‐making; integrating gender mainstreaming; conducting gender‐based analysis; and adopting GTL programs, incentives, and policies to advance gender equality in global health organizations.FindingsWomen represent 70% of the health and social care sector global workforce but only 25% of senior global health leadership roles. Since 2018, there has been a lack of meaningful change in the gender equality policy arenas at global health organizations that has led to significant increases in women serving in global leadership decision‐making senior positions. During the pandemic in 2020, there were nearly 100 open vacancies—one‐quarter of CEO and board chair positions—at global health organizations, but none were filled by women. Women disproportionately provide caregiving and unpaid care work, and the pandemic has increased this burden with women spending 15 hours a week more on domestic labor than men. A lack of uniform, state‐sponsored paid parental leave and support for childcare, eldercare, and caregiving, which is overwhelmingly assumed by women, serve as major barriers to gender parity in global health leadership and the career advancement of women.ConclusionThe pandemic has adversely impacted women in global health care and social sector roles. During the pandemic, there has been a widening of the gender pay gap, a lack of gains for women in global health leadership positions, an increase in caregiving responsibilities for women, and more women and girls have been pushed back into extreme poverty than men and boys. Globally, there is still resistance to women serving in senior leadership roles, and social and cultural norms, gender stereotypes, and restrictions on women's rights are deeply intertwined with barriers that reinforce gender inequality in global health leadership.To ensure comprehensive human rights and that equitable workforce opportunities are available, the concept of gender equality must be expanded within the global health community to consistently include not only women and girls and men and boys, but also persons who identify as nonbinary and gender nonconforming. Efforts to eliminate remnants of systemic and structural gender discrimination must also incorporate gender mainstreaming, gender‐based analysis, and gender transformative approaches to achieve gender equality throughout global health systems and organizations.

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Section: Public Policy Barriersmentioning

confidence: 99%