Towards a Feminist Global Health Policy: Power, intersectionality, and transformation

Hannah Eger, Shubha Chacko, Salma El-Gamal, Thomas Gerlinger, Alexandra Kaasch, Marie Meudec, Shehnaz Munshi, Awa Naghipour, Emma Rhule, Yatirajula Kanaka Sandhya and Oriana López Uribe, (2024). Towards a Feminist Global Health Policy: Power, intersectionality, and transformation. PLOS Global Public Health, n/a-n/a

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  • Sub-type Journal article
    Author Hannah Eger
    Shubha Chacko
    Salma El-Gamal
    Thomas Gerlinger
    Alexandra Kaasch
    Marie Meudec
    Shehnaz Munshi
    Awa Naghipour
    Emma Rhule
    Yatirajula Kanaka Sandhya
    Oriana López Uribe
    Title Towards a Feminist Global Health Policy: Power, intersectionality, and transformation
    Appearing in PLOS Global Public Health
    Publication Date 2024-03-07
    Place of Publication Online
    Publisher PLOS Global Public Health
    Start page n/a
    End page n/a
    Language eng
    Abstract In the realm of global health policy, the intricacies of power dynamics and intersectionality have become increasingly evident. Structurally embedded power hierarchies constitute a significant concern in achieving health for all and demand transformational change. Adopting intersectional feminist approaches potentially mitigates health inequities through more inclusive and responsive health policies. While feminist approaches to foreign and development policies are receiving increasing attention, they are not accorded the importance they deserve in global health policy. This article presents a framework for a Feminist Global Health Policy (FGHP), outlines the objectives and underlying principles and identifies the actors responsible for its meaningful implementation. Recognising that power hierarchies and societal contexts inherently shape research, the proposed framework was developed via a participatory research approach that aligns with feminist principles. Three independent online focus groups were conducted between August and September 2022 with 11 participants affiliated to the global-academic or local-activist level and covering all WHO regions. The qualitative content analysis revealed that a FGHP must be centred on considerations of intersectionality, power and knowledge paradigms to present meaningful alternatives to the current structures. By balancing guiding principles with sensitivity for context-specific adaptations, the framework is designed to be applicable locally and globally, whilst its adoption is intended to advance health equity and reproductive justice, with communities and policymakers identified as the main actors. This study underscores the importance of dismantling power structures by fostering intersectional and participatory approaches for a more equitable global health landscape. The FGHP framework is intended to initiate debate among global health practitioners, policymakers, researchers and communities. Whilst an undeniably intricate and time-consuming process, continuous and collaborative work towards health equity is imperative to translate this vision into practice.
    Keyword Global Health
    Power
    Intersectionality
    Copyright Holder Authors
    Copyright Year 2024
    Copyright type Creative commons
    DOI https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pgph.0002959
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    Created: Tue, 12 Mar 2024, 13:05:03 JST by Silvia Fancello on behalf of UNU IIGH