Gender in Global Public Health
Throughout my career, I have contributed to various gender-related research projects that explore the complexities of gender dynamics in society. My work has resulted in several published articles that shed light on important findings and foster discussions on gender equity, for instance during outbreaks or in global health policy.
Additionally, I have offered teaching sessions, where I engage students in critical thinking about gender aspects, emphasizing the perspectives of gender-diverse communities, and encouraging students to challenge stereotypes and promote inclusivity.
These efforts reflect my commitment to knowledge and awareness in the field of gender studies.
Some Highlights
Gender in outbreaks
SAGER-IOA (Integrated Outbreaks Analytics)
The project highlights the importance of integrating sex and gender aspects in outbreak analytics (IOA) while developing guidelines for this purpose:
Key Points
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Integrating sex and gender in outbreak analytics is essential for understanding disease impact and creating effective responses
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Despite existing recommendations, sex-disaggregated data and gender analysis remain underutilized in outbreak responses
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The SAGER-IOA project builds on the 2016 SAGER guidelines (for research reporting) to address this gap
Project Objectives
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Research the importance of sex-disaggregated and gendered data analysis in public health emergencies
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Identify practical mechanisms to improve collection, analysis, and use of such data
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Develop actionable guidelines for outbreak response teams
Project Phases
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Scoping review of existing evidence on sex/gender intersections with disease outbreaks
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Stakeholder interviews and workshops to identify practical data collection mechanisms
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Drafting of SAGER-IOA guidelines
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Pilot testing of the guidelines
The ultimate goal is to provide practical guidance that will lead to more holistic understanding of outbreaks and more effective responses.
This article presents a framework for Feminist Global Health Policy (FGHP), developed through a participatory research approach involving three online focus groups with 11 participants from all WHO regions between August-September 2022.
Key Points
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Global health policy is shaped by power hierarchies that require transformational change
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Intersectional feminist approaches can help address health inequities but are underutilized in global health policy
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The FGHP framework centers on intersectionality, power dynamics, and knowledge paradigms
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The framework balances guiding principles with context-specific adaptations to be applicable globally and locally
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Implementation aims to advance health equity and reproductive justice
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Communities and policymakers are identified as the main actors for implementation
The study emphasizes the importance of dismantling existing power structures through intersectional and participatory approaches. The framework is intended to spark debate among global health stakeholders and recognizes that meaningful change toward health equity requires continuous, collaborative work.
My involvement in this project evolved from being an initial focus group participant to actively contributing to the analysis and manuscript development, ultimately leading to my recognition as a co-author. That was a great project!
Gender & Health
Session during the course "Introduction to International Health" at ITM, Belgium
For three years, my colleague Clara Affun-Adegbulu and I have been instructing
a course on Gender & Health for students at the Institute.
The program covered:
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Theoretical perspectives on sex and gender
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Gender as a determinant of health
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Intersectionality
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Gender as a category of analysis in public health
Everyday Ethics, Gender and Othering
Postdoctoral research (2014-2016) at the Centre for Ethnography
University of Toronto Scarborough
Research funded by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council
Led an innovative ethnographic study, "Everyday Ethics and the Process of Othering in/about Haiti," exploring the lived experiences of gender and sexual minorities in Haitian society.
Key Contributions
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Designed and conducted rigorous qualitative research examining stigmatization and identity formation among marginalized communities in/outside of Haiti
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Facilitated in-depth interviews with gender diverse persons and sexual minorities
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Synthesized complex sociocultural data to identify emerging patterns of Othering and resistance
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Authored peer-reviewed publication communicating research findings to academic and civil society audiences
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Conceptualized and organized the interdisciplinary symposium "Imminence/Immanence of the Ethical" (January 2016), bringing together scholars across humanities and social sciences
Genders and Sexualities
Undergraduate course - 2016
University of Toronto Scarborough, Department of Anthropology (Canada)
Delivered a comprehensive one-term course exploring diverse gender expressions and sexual identities through anthropological perspectives.
Responsibilities
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Developed original curriculum and innovative course materials integrating contemporary theory with real-world case studies
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Presented engaging lectures fostering critical thinking and nuanced understanding of complex gender- and sexuality-related sociocultural concepts
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Evaluated student work with detailed feedback designed to enhance analytical skills and scholarly development
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Provided personalized mentorship and academic guidance to support student achievement and intellectual growth