Gender Equality Month

History of Gender Equality Month

Every March, many choose to dedicate time and resources to bring awareness to Gender Equality Month. This effort typically involves recognizing the achievements of people who live with identities that were or are currently marginalized. It also involves ways we can continue to work toward and promote this equality across the globe. The awareness color that represents Gender Equality Month is purple. For this reason, wear a purple awareness ribbon pin made of enamel, a purple fabric ribbon, or a purple silicone wristband bracelet for this important month.

So, what exactly does this mean? How else can this effort appear in our day-to-day lived experiences? What are ways individuals can celebrate while continuing to work toward gender justice in the world all year long?

Gender is considered by many to be a spectrum. Some people might identify as a woman or man. Others may fall outside of the socially constructed gender binary. When someone feels aligned with their assigned gender at birth, this might mean that they are “cisgender.” When someone does not identify with their assigned gender at birth, they may refer to themselves as “transgender, nonbinary or genderfluid”. It can be important to note that we generally cannot assume someone’s gender based on how they look or behave.

Women’s Rights Movement

The Women’s Rights Movement began on July 13, 1848, when Elizabeth Cady Stanton invited some of her friends for tea. Their talk turned toward the despondent situation of women and their lack of freedom in the world. Today, we celebrate Gender Equality in the month of March to observe the social, political, cultural, and academic achievements of women today and throughout history. The objective is to raise awareness against gender bias in our society.

What Defines Gender Equality?

Gender Equality in Health means that women and men are on an equal footing to fully exercise their rights and potential to be healthy, contribute to health development, and benefit from outcomes.

What Impact Does Gender Inequality Have On Our Health?

Gender inequality can impact all areas of a person’s life and wellbeing, including their mental health, physical health, safety and financial health. You may be wondering: What are some of the tangible impacts that we are still seeing in the world when it comes to gender inequality?

Here are just a few for your consideration:

Possible Gender Inequality Impacts On Mental Health

• Minority stress can have a direct impact on emotional, psychological, and social health outcomes. This can be why certain mental health conditions and concerns might be experienced at a higher rate in marginalized people, including those who might be marginalized based on gender.

• Stereotypes and expectations surrounding masculinity, for example, may prevent men and those assigned male at birth (AMAB) from getting mental health care or support when needed. As a result, many men and AMAB individuals can face significantly higher rates of substance use and suicide attempts.

• Period poverty that can occur in people who menstruate can be affiliated with poor mental health outcomes.

• Transgender individuals are generally statistically more likely to face a number of mental health concerns, including a  higher suicide risk. However, respecting a person’s pronouns, the ability to change one’s gender marker, and receiving gender-affirming healthcare (if desired) can all possibly positively impact mental health outcomes.

Achieving gender equality requires concrete measures to eliminate gender inequities. Gender equity means fairness and justice. This pertains to the distribution of benefits, power, resources, and responsibilities between women and men. Women and men have different needs, access to, and control over resources. These differences should be addressed in a manner that rectifies the imbalance between the sexes.

Key Facts about Gender Equality

In the Region of the Americas, indigenous peoples, Afro-descendants, Roma, and members of other ethnic groups continue to experience structural discrimination, exclusion, and inequality. The invisibility and discrimination often experienced by these populations heighten their conditions of vulnerability. These populations pose a challenge for meeting the targets of the health-related Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This includes those on universal access to health and universal health coverage, tuberculosis, malaria, and mental health, among others.

How To Celebrate Gender Equality Month

What are some things you can do to celebrate Gender Equality Month and help conquer gender-based inequality?

Here are some practices you can implement year-round:

1. If You See Inequality Or Discrimination, Speaking Up

One of the best ways to celebrate Gender Equality Month can be to continue striving toward gender equality in the ways you can in your own life. For example: If you are in a leadership position that provides you the privilege to do so, you can consider making an active choice to fight against gender-based inequality, harassment or discrimination.

Of course, this task isn’t just for people in leadership. Examples of things you can do in this category at any level include taking note of any ways that implicit bias related to gender might show up in your own life, stepping in if you see gender-based harassment, allowing all children and adults to express themselves freely and fully, supporting the rights of minority and gay children and adults, and engaging with other important global causes (such as those related to reproductive health).

2. Honor Those Who Have Made Strides Toward Gender Equality

There are many different ways to honor people in history who have made strides toward gender equality. You may find webinars and conferences dedicated to this, and there are also many free online resources, books, and more. It can also be important to learn about and uplift the voices of people who are actively working toward a better world in the present.

3. Join Or Support Initiatives And Organizations Striving For Gender Justice

There are many different ways to fight for gender equality. For example: You can show financial support for gender justice through donations. Or you can share information on current initiatives in the world to support gender equality. You can also support people in your community who may experience marginalization based on gender.

This might look like visiting a locally owned business that is run by those of marginalized genders, or it may look like participating in a local campaign. In either case, you can choose to support companies and organizations that are inclusive over those that are not.

4. Learn From And Amplify The Voices Of Others

It can be important to amplify the voices of other people who may be overlooked or dismissed by others, especially if you are someone in a position of privilege. Examples of this can include signing up for diversity education events held by marginalized people or implementing them into your workplace. Another example is sharing content from people who experience gender injustice, boosting information that pertains to the fight for equal rights, and so on.

Education Resources

There are many resources available to help raise awareness of Gender Equality and to achieve gender parity and inclusiveness:

• Understand gender-inclusive language such as how to use people’s correct pronouns. Learn what pronouns are and how to help foster more inclusivity.
• Volunteering and mentoring are great ways to make a difference in the lives of women and girls, during Women’s History Month and all year long.
• Legacies of American Women in our National Parks from the U.S. National Park Service celebrates the role of women in American history.
• The Smithsonian American Women’s History Museum advances understanding of women’s contributions throughout American history.
• Watch the History of Women’s History Month video created by the National Women’s History Museum.
• HeForShe: HeForShe is an invitation for men and people of all genders to stand in solidarity with women to create a bold, visible, and united force for Gender Equality.
• UnitedNations: Gender Stereotyping.
• Unicef: Equal rights and opportunities to help all children fulfill their potential.

Sources: Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), Regional Office for the Americas of the World Health Organization (WHO)