WTVY: Plastic surgeons group calls for delaying gender-affirming surgery until age 19 (AP) - The nation’s largest professional organization for plastic surgeons recommended that gender-affirming surgeries be delayed until patients turn 19, changing the group’s stance on the politically ... Gender refers to the characteristics of women, men, girls and boys that are socially constructed. This includes norms, behaviours and roles associated with being a woman, man, girl or boy, as well as relationships with each other.

Understanding the Context

As a social construct, gender varies from society to society and can change over time. Gender is hierarchical and produces inequalities that intersect with other ... Gender norms, roles and relations, and gender inequality and inequity, affect people’s health all around the world. This Q&A examines the links between gender and health, highlighting WHO’s ongoing work to address gender-related barriers to healthcare, advance gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls in all their diversity, and achieve health for all.

Key Insights

Gender refers to the characteristics of women, men, girls and boys that are socially constructed. This includes norms, behaviours and roles associated with being a woman, man, girl or boy, as well as relationships with others. As a social construct, gender varies from society to society and can change over time. Gender is hierarchical and produces inequalities that intersect with other social ... Every year, from 25 November (International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women) to 10 December (Human Rights Day), the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence call for global solidarity to end violence against women and girls everywhere.

Final Thoughts

Violence against women is a major public health and human rights crisis, affecting almost one in three women in their lifetime. The ... Gender inequality remains a critical challenge in the health sector. Although women make up most of the health workforce, few women are in leadership roles. Compared with men, they are underpaid, underrepresented in decision-making positions and frequently experience gender-based discrimination, violence and harassment. A new report published by the World Health Organization (WHO), “Fair share for health and care: gender and the undervaluation of health and care work" illustrates how gender inequalities in health and care work negatively impact women, health systems and health outcomes.