10 of our favorite reads from 2018
2018 was a year of momentum for gender equality in global health. The year opened with a strong call from the community to address the lack of gender parity in global health leadership across the industry. Around the world, government officials, executives, and academic leaders began to acknowledge gender equality issues, pledge to lead with a gender inclusive lens, and rebuild to better represent the global health workforce. New research found evidence of barriers to career advancement for women, and reports designed to keep organizations accountable for their commitments were published. The demand for women to be represented in government and on executive teams, to byline research publications and op-eds, and to sit on panels at major convenings grew.
And with this, the community had more to say—and celebrate—on these issues than ever before.
As the year comes to a close and we reflect on the progress achieved for women in global health, here's a look back at some of our favorite reads on gender equality in global health from 2018:
By Senait Fisseha and Mikaela Hildebrand in The BMJ
To ensure policy coherence for gender equality for global health organizations, we need to better understand gender and gender equality. Gender equality is not just a part of the women’s empowerment agenda. Gender is a determinant for the health of everyone.
By Cheryl A. Moyer, Nauzley C. Abedini, Jessica Youngblood, Zohray Talib, Tanvi Jayaraman, Mehr Manzoor, Heidi J. Larson, Patricia J. Garcia, Agnes Binagwaho, Katherine S. Burke, and Michele Barry in the Annals of Global Health
This study, led by 11 women, gathers information about the attitudes, perceptions, and beliefs of women and men about the opportunities and barriers for career advancement for women in global health, and what can be done to address barriers going forward.
By Roopa Dhatt, Ann Keeling, Kelly Thompson, and Mehr Manzoor in Devex
The Women in Global Health leadership team explain that progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals—to which universal health coverage is central—can not be achieved if we continue to exclude women from decision-making.
By Lottie Watters in Devex
Takeaways from established and emerging leaders as they work towards gender equity in health leadership at the second Women Leaders in Global Health conference.
Even as gender equality is embraced as a priority in global health, few global health organizations have made changes towards this goal. The Global Health 50/50 report reviewed the gender-related policies of more than 140 major organizations working in and/or influencing the field of global health.
By The Lancet
Journals are part of the problem of gender inequity in science as women are under-represented as peer reviewers and authors. In reflection, the Lancet put out a call for papers for a theme issue on women in science, medicine, and global health that will be published in early 2019.
By Madhukar Pai in Nature
In a review of TB conferences around the world, one of Madhu Pai’s five suggestions is to discourage all male panels and sessions. “Equity is central to all global health work and conferences should be a place to demonstrate that commitment,” Pai says.
By Abdi Latif Dahir in Quartz Africa
In October, Ethiopia’s prime minister Abiy Ahmed made history and named 10 women in the country’s new 20-person cabinet to recognize women’s participation in nation-building and to “disprove the adage that women can’t lead.”
In September, Grand Challenges Canada (GCC) appointed Jocelyn Mackie and Dr. Karlee Silver to lead GCC as co-Chief Executive Officers. The appointment distinguished GCC as one of the few research organizations in the world to be led by women at both the executive and board levels.
By Adrienne O'Neil, Victor Sojo, Bianca Fileborn, Anna J. Scovelle, and Allison Milner in The Lancet Sexual harassment is rarely considered to be a public health issue. The #MeToo movement is an opportunity for the public health community to consider sexual harassment as a health issue with implications for disease prevention and health promotion.
What did you read? Share your favorite gender equality reads of 2018 with us on Twitter. Tag @WomeninGH and #WomeninGH.
