Global Health Corps’ Health Equity Champions Share Their Visions for Gender Equity: Each for Equal this International Women’s Day
The Global Health Corps community is united by the belief that health is a human right. On International Women’s Day, we’re highlighting how fostering gender equity is a critical aspect of realizing that right for all people around the world.
“I am working on ensuring that women can menstruate without incurring a cost for a natural process and teaching women of reusable menstrual products. Just as it is free to breathe, it should also be free to menstruate. My vision is for a time when women all over the world will be free to make decisions and policies about their bodies, without fear of patriarchal cultural pressures and repercussions.” -Aude Isimbi, 2016–2017 Rwanda fellow
“To me, #EachforEqual means equitable land tenureship around the globe, ensuring that women — as the drivers of rural agriculture — enjoy ownership of lands to maximize food and nutritional autonomy for themselves and their families. I envision a future where our leadership looks more like our global community. A homogenous collective isn’t much of a collective at all — it stands in the way of fully recognizing the diversities that give us power in different ways.” -2018–2019 Zambia fellow Ben Cramer
“To me, #EachforEqual means every individual has a stake in contributing to gender equal societies to create a gender equal world. I conduct research to understand how public health institutions streamline gender into programming to create more equitable, inclusive interventions that reach girls, boys, women, and men equally. My vision for a gender equitable world includes access to comprehensive sexual and reproductive health education for girls and boys all over the world.
I would also like to shout out my GHC co-co Jasmine Burton who also conducts gender research and inspires me every day with her tenacity, passion, mentorship, and love.” -2015–2016 Zambia fellow Reena Gupta
“I believe my role in catalyzing gender equity is knowing when I should step aside and make room for others and ensuring that all women are provided the same opportunities and treated equally. My vision for gender equity in our world is ensuring that all women have what they need to be successful. This means equal access to capital, education, economic opportunities, and health services. From a health lens, we must make sure that we change the gender norms that exist between men and women to tackle challenges such as GBV and sexual violence.” -Lanice Williams, 2016–2017 U.S. fellow
“#EachforEqual means that everyone has a responsibility — both moral and functional — to do their part to address the power imbalances between women and men (and trans and gender non-conforming individuals) that continue to drive gender inequity. My role in this fight is both personal and professional. Professionally, I lead feminist research and writing projects for women’s rights organizations and international agencies such as UN Women as a part of The Prevention Collaborative, a collective of practitioners and researchers working to end violence against women. Personally, I speak out when I hear sexist or misogynist remarks from those around me or on social media, I listen to women rather than interrupting or talking over them, I challenge male-coded nouns and pronouns in my speech and others’, and regularly engage other men (and women!) in discussions about my own male privilege to learn how I can keep from perpetuating patriarchal norms in all my actions and work.
My vision is a world where the women working on the front lines of women’s movements and women’s health work are regarded as the foremost experts on what is needed for the women they serve, one where women and men have open and honest discussions about gender norms and harmful socially prescribed expectations for masculinity and femininity, and one where all women not only have access to all of their health needs, but have the power to have full agency over their health, their bodies and their ambitions and actions throughout their lives.
I’m always inspired by the work Chiara Bercu is doing with Ibis Reproductive Health to end abortion stigma and learn from local and indigenous women’s groups throughout Latin America to provide safe abortion services to their communities. As a bilingual researcher, Chiara is tasked with hearing and translating the stories and experiences of these incredible women advocates and frontline responders, thus using her unique position to elevate the value of practitioner knowledge and learning throughout the field of global reproductive health.” -Devin Faris, 2014–2015 Uganda fellow
“#EachforEqual means that we recognize our own privileges (be they gender, socioeconomic, race, etc) and notice if we’re using our privilege to either be the loudest in the room, or create organic space for those whose voices are often shrouded. This pertains to all of us, regardless of who we are. My vision is a world where each woman and girl feels free and valued, whatever that means to them.” -Samia Kemal, 2018–2019 Rwanda fellow
“To me, #EachforEqual means that a lack of equality for everyone threatens the wellbeing of everyone. I am deeply committed to advocating and working for women and girls locally and globally because the wellbeing of women and girls is one of the biggest indicators of wellness for a population! I try to catalyze gender equity through living through this mission: paying it forward, being a mentor to younger girls — and especially trying to advocate for a world where innovation is being thoughtfully designed to be inclusive and equitable.
Nothing about us without us! I want to innovate our understanding of wellness and governance to be more inclusive of gender, being more involved in the decisions and conditions that impact their health. Women make up 70% of the health workforce and are drivers in ensuring that our world is safe. My vision is to continue to shift the narrative — investing in women and girls is the smartest investment, not a cost! Women have been, are and will continue to be gamechangers!
I’m incredibly inspired by all of the women in the GHC community who inspire me, lift me and are prime examples of people who are invested in the fight for global health equity. We are scientists, computer engineers, architects, entrepreneurs, strategists, critical thinkers, founders, inventors, artists, communicators and LEADERS! No words could ever encapsulate how much edge the women of GHC have and how committed we are to equity.” -Sarah Kashef, 2017–2018 U.S. fellow
Global Health Corps (GHC) is a leadership development organization building the next generation of health equity leaders around the world. All GHC fellows, partners, and supporters are united in a common belief: health is a human right. There is a role for everyone in the movement for health equity. To learn more, visit our website and connect with us on Twitter/Instagram/Facebook.
