Advance Gender Equality

At Women’s Health East we recognise the significant influence of gender inequality on the  health and wellbeing of women.

Inequality between men and women can take many forms. Inequality in power, resources, and entitlements, as well as historical norms and values around the roles of women in society, negatively impact the health of girls and women. The ways in which organisations are structured and programmes are run can similarly have a negative impact on the health of girls and women. Inequality between women and men can also affect women’s capacity to access resources such as income, education and employment, which themselves promote health.

To address these inequalities, Women’s Health East advocate for a gender equity approach to health. This approach acknowledges that men and women do not function on a level playing field and, as a result, the health of women is impacted. To account for this, different strategies and measures must be implemented for men and women in order to create fair outcomes. For example, increasing the representation of women in organisational leadership roles and positions of power can help to shift cultural norms around gender roles, and gives women the opportunity to have input into decision making that affects their lives and the lives of other women in their community.

Women’s Health East believe that gender equality is possible through acknowledging that women are disadvantaged in many areas of society and shifting social values. We work with partners across the Eastern Metropolitan Region to ensure that existing inequalities experienced by women are recognised, and influence policy and practice to ensure gender equality and positive health outcomes for women in the Eastern Metropolitan Region. This gendered perspective to women’s health underpins all the work that Women’s Health East do, and has an overarching influence on our priority areas, planning, communication, and advocacy. It also informs how we influence the public discourse around gender equity in order to bring about the best possible health for women in the East.

For more information on Advancing Gender Equality, please see our Resources section.