What is the difference between sex and gender?

Sex includes the biological and physiological characteristics of men and women while gender is socially constructed roles and behaviours.

The UN has approved, as one of the Millennium Development Goals, to promote gender equality and empower women.

Why is gender important?

Women make up 70% of the worlds poor and only hold 6 % of seats in National Cabinets. This gives them less power to protect their rights. Women have less access to education witch is proved to be an important factor for good health. Gender issues concerns both men and women. The culture could expect men to be more risk taking and there is an expectation of men to be more violent. This leads to harm for both men and women. HIV/AIDS increases more among women today but they have less access to treatment.

Gender is an aspect of life that follows us in everything we do. (WHO)

What can we do then?

1. Educate ourselves
2. Educate other medical students about gender issues related to health like:
• Rape
• Contraception
• Right to your own sexuality
• Domestic violence
• Circumcision
3. Make statements and increase the consciousness in society

Gender values are not the same in different times or places. Therefore actions on this issue have to be suited for each countries needs.

But remember-it is possible to make a change!