Missing knowledge of gendered power relations among non-governmental organisations doing right to health work: a case study from South Africa

BMC International Health and Human Rights
Mayara Fontes MarxAlex Müller

Abstract

Despite 20 years of democracy, South Africa still suffers from profound health inequalities. Gender roles and norms are associated with individuals' vulnerability that lead to ill-health. For instance, gender inequality influences women's access to health care and women's agency to make health-related decisions. This paper explores gender-awareness and inclusivity in organisations that advocate for the right to health in South Africa, and analyses how this knowledge impacts their work? In total, 10 in-depth interviews were conducted with members of The Learning Network for Health and Human Rights (LN), a network of universities and Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) which is explicitly committed to advancing the right to health, but not explicitly gendered in its orientation. The results show that there is a discrepancy in knowledge around gender and gendered power relations between LN members. This discrepancy in understanding gendered power relations suggests that gender is 'rendered invisible' within the LN, which impacts the way the LN advocates for the right to health. Even organizations that work on health rights of women might be unaware of the possibility of gender invisibility within their organisational structures.

References

Sep 26, 2002·Social Science & Medicine·Rachel JewkesLoveday Penn-Kekana
May 23, 2006·Reproductive Health Matters·Kate Wood, Rachel Jewkes
Jan 1, 2008·Global Public Health·R C Snow
Jul 30, 2009·Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes : JAIDS·Dean PeacockThomas J Coates
Jul 7, 2011·Journal of Public Health Policy·Bronwyn HarrisMatthew Chersich
Nov 15, 2011·International Journal for Equity in Health·John E AtagubaDi McIntyre
Dec 4, 2012·Lancet·Bongani M MayosiUNKNOWN Lancet South Africa team
Dec 18, 2012·Health Promotion International·Morgan StreckerLeslie London
Apr 9, 2013·PLoS Medicine·Naeemah AbrahamsRachel Jewkes
Jun 19, 2014·Bulletin of the World Health Organization·Oscar J MújicaJarbas Barbosa da Silva Junior
Sep 30, 2014·The New England Journal of Medicine·Bongani M Mayosi, Solomon R Benatar

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Software Mentioned

Lovelife

Related Concepts

Trending Feeds

COVID-19

Coronaviruses encompass a large family of viruses that cause the common cold as well as more serious diseases, such as the ongoing outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19; formally known as 2019-nCoV). Coronaviruses can spread from animals to humans; symptoms include fever, cough, shortness of breath, and breathing difficulties; in more severe cases, infection can lead to death. This feed covers recent research on COVID-19.

Blastomycosis

Blastomycosis fungal infections spread through inhaling Blastomyces dermatitidis spores. Discover the latest research on blastomycosis fungal infections here.

Nuclear Pore Complex in ALS/FTD

Alterations in nucleocytoplasmic transport, controlled by the nuclear pore complex, may be involved in the pathomechanism underlying multiple neurodegenerative diseases including Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Frontotemporal Dementia. Here is the latest research on the nuclear pore complex in ALS and FTD.

Applications of Molecular Barcoding

The concept of molecular barcoding is that each original DNA or RNA molecule is attached to a unique sequence barcode. Sequence reads having different barcodes represent different original molecules, while sequence reads having the same barcode are results of PCR duplication from one original molecule. Discover the latest research on molecular barcoding here.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Chronic fatigue syndrome is a disease characterized by unexplained disabling fatigue; the pathology of which is incompletely understood. Discover the latest research on chronic fatigue syndrome here.

Evolution of Pluripotency

Pluripotency refers to the ability of a cell to develop into three primary germ cell layers of the embryo. This feed focuses on the mechanisms that underlie the evolution of pluripotency. Here is the latest research.

Position Effect Variegation

Position Effect Variagation occurs when a gene is inactivated due to its positioning near heterochromatic regions within a chromosome. Discover the latest research on Position Effect Variagation here.

STING Receptor Agonists

Stimulator of IFN genes (STING) are a group of transmembrane proteins that are involved in the induction of type I interferon that is important in the innate immune response. The stimulation of STING has been an active area of research in the treatment of cancer and infectious diseases. Here is the latest research on STING receptor agonists.

Microbicide

Microbicides are products that can be applied to vaginal or rectal mucosal surfaces with the goal of preventing, or at least significantly reducing, the transmission of sexually transmitted infections. Here is the latest research on microbicides.

Related Papers

Atencion primaria
Gema Coira Fernandez, Emilia Bailon Muñoz
Sovetskoe zdravookhranenie
D Berlinguér
© 2022 Meta ULC. All rights reserved