Women and Global Health Leadership: Power and Transformation

Hawkins, Kate; Morgan, Rosemary; Overs, Cheryl; Manzoor, Mehr; Dhatt, Roopa; Bali, Sulzhan

doi:10.1007/978-3-030-84498-1_1

Cited by 5 publications

(21 citation statements)

References 18 publications

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“…The original goal of tropical health was the protection of the health of invading soldiers and colonizers sent to conquer territories, expand trade, and raid the resources of the Global North and Global South. 38,39 With the freedom of colonies, international health emerged from…”

Section: Global Health Leadership and Gender-transformative Leadershi...mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The historical underpinnings of tropical medicine and global health further represent the structural basis for the modern-day, deeply held obsession with male dominant leadership traits, overvaluation of men as more effective leaders, the exclusion of women in global health leadership, and the devaluation of women as property in some countries, and other violations of women's human rights. 38,39,43 Recent definitions of global health have begun to reframe and incorporate the concepts of social justice, paternalism, and colonialism to provide a more transparent viewpoint from which to reflect upon global health in hopes of creating a more inclusive lens. Abrar Karan, an Infectious Disease Fellow at Stanford University, 44 writes: ".…”

Section: Oppressionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…For these women, educationally or financially acquiring professional credentials may not be possible, and they lead and provide care that is often unpaid and unrecognized. 38 The lack of inclusion of women of color-particularly, women in the Global South and women living in lowand middle-income countries-in agenda-setting global health organizations and their lack of inclusion in the policy-setting framework are additional barriers and gender disparities that must be overcome. 38,39 Additionally, strategic interventions to improve gender equity often do not account for the racial and ethnic heterogeneity of women in fields such as science, technology, engineering, mathematics, and medicine.…”

Section: Public Policy Barriersmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…38 The lack of inclusion of women of color-particularly, women in the Global South and women living in lowand middle-income countries-in agenda-setting global health organizations and their lack of inclusion in the policy-setting framework are additional barriers and gender disparities that must be overcome. 38,39 Additionally, strategic interventions to improve gender equity often do not account for the racial and ethnic heterogeneity of women in fields such as science, technology, engineering, mathematics, and medicine. 76 Furthermore, academic scholarship, frameworks for change, and discussion of women in global health leadership have often centered on the experiences of elite white women in high-income countries.…”

Section: Public Policy Barriersmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…76 Furthermore, academic scholarship, frameworks for change, and discussion of women in global health leadership have often centered on the experiences of elite white women in high-income countries. 38 It is important to note that the experiences of all women are duly important. However, white women, particularly, from developed countries in the Global North, often through power and privilege occupy spaces that indigenous and other women of color cannot.…”

Section: Public Policy Barriersmentioning

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: Global Health Leadership and Gender-transformative Leadershi...mentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Oppressionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Public Policy Barriersmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Public Policy Barriersmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Public Policy Barriersmentioning

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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Strengthening health systems and peacebuilding through women’s leadership: a qualitative study

et al. 2023

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Background Active and protracted conflict settings demonstrate the need to prioritise the peace through health agenda. This can be achieved by reorienting attention toward gender diverse leadership and more effective governance within health systems. This approach may enable women to have a greater voice in the decision-making of health and social interventions, thereby enabling the community led and context specific knowledge required to address the root causes of persistent inequalities and inequities in systems and societies. Methods We conducted a qualitative study, which included semi-structured interviews with 25 key informants, two focus group discussions and one workshop with humanitarian workers in local and international non-governmental organisations (NGOs), United Nations (UN) agencies, health practitioners, and academics, from Sub-Saharan Africa, Middle East and North Africa (MENA), and Latin America. Findings were then applied to the peacebuilding pyramid designed by John Paul Lederach which provides a practical framework for mediation and conflict resolution in several conflict-affected settings. The purpose of the framework was to propose an adapted conceptualisation of leadership to include women’s leadership in the health system and be more applicable in protracted conflict settings. Results Five interrelated themes emerged. First, perceptions of terms such as gender equality, equity, mainstreaming, and leadership varied across participants and contexts. Second, armed conflict is both a barrier and an enabler for advancing women’s leadership in health systems. Third, health systems themselves are critical in advancing the nexus between women’s leadership, health systems and peacebuilding. Fourth, across all contexts we found strong evidence of an instrumental relationship between women’s leadership in health systems in conflict-affected settings and peacebuilding. Lastly, the role of donors emerged as a critical obstacle to advance women’s leadership. Conclusion Continuing to empower women against social, cultural, and institutional barriers is crucial, as the emerging correlation between women’s leadership, health systems, and peacebuilding is essential for long-term stability, the right to health, and health system responsiveness.

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Gender dynamics in humanitarian leadership: navigating COVID-19 and beyond

Bode

2024

Int J Humanitarian Action

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This paper explores the intersection of the impacts of COVID-19 on women and girls in humanitarian settings with the necessity of incorporating female perspectives in decision-making roles within multilateral institutions delivering humanitarian aid. Women remain underrepresented in leadership positions in these multilateral institutions. However, increased female participation in leadership roles is linked to greater consideration of women’s needs in humanitarian response plans, thereby promoting gender-sensitive recovery efforts. Given COVID-19’s exacerbation of preexisting gender disparities in fragile settings, gender-responsive relief measures are crucial in humanitarian contexts. With the rising demand for humanitarian aid, prioritizing gender-sensitive and inclusive responses is essential for fostering an equitable and resilient post-COVID-19 future.

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Women and Global Health Leadership: Power and Transformation

Cited by 5 publications

References 18 publications

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

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

Strengthening health systems and peacebuilding through women’s leadership: a qualitative study

Gender dynamics in humanitarian leadership: navigating COVID-19 and beyond

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