1.2 Why is intersectional gender analysis important in research on infectious
diseases of poverty?
An intersectional gender lens enables us to better understand the etiology, prevention, control and management of infectious diseases. This includes vulnerability to disease(s), exposures to disease(s), experiences of disease, health-related decision-making, responses to treatment, and the extent of impact on individuals or social groups. Figure 3 ►.
Intersectional gender analysis allows us to see how such things are experienced differently by different groups of men/boys, women/girls and people in all their diversity, including people with non-binary identities, and where these differences might be the result of inequities.
By generating evidence about these differences, we are better able to create policies, services and programmes to address them.
Intersectional gender analysis is of critical importance in all forms of research to ensure that ‘no one is left behind’ in the attainment of the sustainable development goals: particularly goal 5 focused on gender equality. However, it recognizes interactions across gender and the health-related targets of a range of SDGs not limited to goals 3 and 5 (12). Both exploratory and implementation research studies are of equal value in understanding new and emerging challenges for gender equality, as well as in developing solutions to address these challenges.
Gender, as a social determinant of health and a relational construct of power, manifests in different ways to influence the examples above; the ways in which gender power relations manifest are further explored in Module 3 ►.
By taking an intersectional gender lens, we can explore how gender interacts with other social stratifiers to create difference. Decisions will need to be made in regard to which social stratifiers are included within your intersectional gender analysis. Further information about choosing stratifiers for inclusion within research is provided in Module 3 ►.
