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Gender

Health worker interviewing a woman

Gender refers to the socially constructed roles, behaviour, activities and attributes that a particular society considers appropriate for men and women.

The distinct roles and behaviour may give rise to gender inequalities, i.e. differences between men and women that systematically favour one group. In turn, such inequalities can lead to inequities between men and women in both health status and access to health care.


GENERAL INFORMATION

Q&A: what is a gender-based approach to public health?

MULTIMEDIA

10 facts about women's health

RELATED TOPICS

Gender and rights
Social and economic research, including gender research
Gender and women's mental health
Tuberculosis and gender

TECHNICAL INFORMATION

What is "gender mainstreaming"?
Integrating gender analysis and actions into the work of WHO

Gender-based violence
WHO's work on gender and violence

Gender and HIV/AIDS
Gender inequalities and HIV/AIDS

- More about gender

PUBLICATIONS

WHO Multi-country Study on Women's Health and Domestic Violence against Women

Summary of "So what?" report [pdf 1.02Mb]

- More publications


WHO PROGRAMMES AND ACTIVITIES

Department of Gender, Women and Health
GENDER IN WHO REGIONS

African Region
Region of the Americas-PAHO
South-East Asia Region
European Region
Eastern Mediterranean Region
Western Pacific Region


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