Health

The strong influence of gender norms – the informal, often implicit rules of masculinity and femininity that guide people’s attitudes and behaviours – can harm the health and wellbeing of women and men, girls and boys. Gender norms expose them to different health risks, distort the recognition of their health needs, and embed disparities in their access to health care.

ALIGN's research and supporting resources look at the impact of gender norms on:

• non-communicable diseases
• communicable and infectious diseases
• poor nutritional status
• threats to physical integrity: violence, body modification and unintentional injuries
• sexual and reproductive health risks and infections
• challenges for mental health and psychosocial wellbeing
• gendered responses of health systems
• psychosocial well-being
• sexual and reproductive health
• Covid-19