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BMC International Health and Human Rights
Published in: BMC International Health and Human Rights 1/2018

Open Access 01-12-2018 | Research article

Missing knowledge of gendered power relations among non-governmental organisations doing right to health work: a case study from South Africa

Authors: Mayara Fontes Marx, Leslie London, Alex Müller

Published in: BMC International Health and Human Rights | Issue 1/2018

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Abstract

Background

Despite 20 years of democracy, South Africa still suffers from profound health inequalities. Gender roles and norms are associated with individuals’ vulnerability that lead to ill-health. For instance, gender inequality influences women’s access to health care and women’s agency to make health-related decisions. This paper explores gender-awareness and inclusivity in organisations that advocate for the right to health in South Africa, and analyses how this knowledge impacts their work?

Methods

In total, 10 in-depth interviews were conducted with members of The Learning Network for Health and Human Rights (LN), a network of universities and Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) which is explicitly committed to advancing the right to health, but not explicitly gendered in its orientation.

Results

The results show that there is a discrepancy in knowledge around gender and gendered power relations between LN members. This discrepancy in understanding gendered power relations suggests that gender is ‘rendered invisible’ within the LN, which impacts the way the LN advocates for the right to health.

Conclusions

Even organizations that work on health rights of women might be unaware of the possibility of gender invisibility within their organisational structures.
Appendix
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Glossary
Gender
The socially constructed characteristics of individuals; usually associated with “being a man and woman”. For a long time, gender was assumed to be binary (ie. women and men), however a more contemporary understanding of gender is that it exists on a continuum, with women and men being on opposite ends, as well as gender diverse, including transgender people.
Sex
Biological characteristics that define whether a person is female or male. These include external and internal genitalia, as well as hormones.
Gender norms
Ideas how men and women should ‘typically’ behave. These influence what is considered ‘acceptable’ behaviour for women or men in society. Gender norms are specific to both geographical location and historical moment of a society. Often these are enforced through social policing, ranging from social pressure to social exclusion to violence.
Gender roles
Social and behavioural norms attributed to individuals according to their gender. Closely linked to gender norms, and often stereotypical.
Gendered power relations
Unequal social relations of power between gendered persons, most often men and women, due to patriarchy and the resulting unequal distribution of wealth, resources and social power. Based on Connell’s relational theory of gender and power [17].
Gender- based violence
Physical, sexual or psychological violence against a person or group of people based on their gender. Most often perpetrated along the power differential, i.e. by men against women or transgender people.
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Metadata
Title
Missing knowledge of gendered power relations among non-governmental organisations doing right to health work: a case study from South Africa
Authors
Mayara Fontes Marx
Leslie London
Alex Müller
Publication date
01-12-2018
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
BMC International Health and Human Rights / Issue 1/2018
Electronic ISSN: 1472-698X
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12914-018-0172-4

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