MANIFESTATION OF THE PROTEST AGAINST GENDER INEQUALITY IN THE PERSPECTIVE OF SOME SELECTED NOTABLE FEMALE AUTHORS.
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
BACKGROUND TO THE STUDY
Gender inequality damages the physical and mental health of millions of girls and women across the globe, and also of boys and men despite the many tangible benefits it gives men through resources, power, authority and control.
Because of the numbers of people involved and the magnitude of the problems, taking action to improve gender equity in health and to address women’s rights to health is one of the most direct and potent ways to reduce health inequities and ensure effective use of health resources. Deepening and consistently implementing human rights instruments can be a powerful mechanism to motivate and mobilize governments, people and especially women themselves. Gender relations of power constitute the root causes of gender inequality and are among the most influential of the social determinants of health. They determine whether people’s health needs are acknowledged, whether they have voice or a modicum of control over their lives and health, whether they can realize their rights. This report shows that addressing the problem of gender inequality requires actions both outside and within the health sector because gender power relations operate across such a wide spectrum of human life and in such inter-related ways. Taking such actions is good for the health of all people – girls and boys, women and men. In particular, inter-sectoral action to address gender inequality is