The World Health Organisation: Gender and Sex

[Velella]

The link is to the glossary of the WHO. While they accurately define sex as the state of being a biological male or female, and gender as socially constructed roles which vary over time and cultures, they then go on to list how equity and discrimination is all based on gender, not sex.

If an organisation of the size, reach and influence of the WHO do not accept that women are discriminated against and abused based on their sex as opposed to their conformance to stereotypical roles, then we have even more work to do than I imagined.

www.who.int/gender-equity-rights/knowledge/glossary/en/

www.who.int/gender-equity-rights/knowledge/glossary/en/

Let's write to them.

Hmm that tells me that some interest groups are better organised/funded/served by lobbyists than others. And Blythe is absolutely right. Maybe the WHO need to be directed towards the UN's own Convention on the elimination of all forms of discrimination against women which defines 'discrimination against women' as 'any distinction, exclusion or restriction made on the basis of sex which has the effect or purpose of impairing or nullifying the recognition, enjoyment or exercise by women, irrespective of their marital status, on a basis of equality of men and women, of human rights and fundamental freedoms in the political, economic, social, cultural, civil or any other field' (my emphasis).

I did battle with this when I read it a while ago however I summised they talked about gender from the POV that, as they've outlined, it's the constructed stereotyped social structures linked to the female sex that discriminate against those women. They're using the word correctly I feel. When I think about the contexts of women in perhaps parts of India or Africa, it makes sense. Perhaps a back up sentence to remind that the gender discrimination is sex linked might be helpful.

Elsewhere they talk (separately) about other diversity issues such as discrimination against disabilities, trans people or homophobia.

The problem is that here, the word gender is increasingly being used to replace sex. So then when you read the who info with that perspective it really could be confusing.

I'm not getting much sleep and have s chest infection so what I'm thinking may not translate correctly onto the page

The WHO changed their pages on sex and gender last year, which were once much clearer.
It looked like this until last year:

Thanks @Barracker, that's interesting. I might re-use those definitions.

The WHO still does make a distinction between gender as a social construct and biological sex. It’s in their gender and genetics section.

www.who.int/genomics/gender/en/

They also use clear language, such as talking about unsafe abortions being a risk to women.

To be clear, they use clear language in the genetics and sex discrimination section. I’m not disputing what people have said upthread. Just saying the gender and genetics section is a useful resource.

Those definitions are all fine and correct if you aren't talking about 'trans' at all - and as far as I could see, there was no discussion of 'gender identity' etc. I searched for 'trans' - only shows up as parts of words such as 'transform'.

The only part which seemed relevant was
When individuals or groups do not “fit” established gender norms they often face stigma, discriminatory practices or social exclusion – all of which adversely affect health.

Which is true, whether 'trans' or GNC.

My take is that the WHO is largely composed of medical, scientific types who are dealing with real health problems in underprivileged parts of the world and when you're worried about stuff like clean water and women having to carry it, you aren't very concerned about Kool-Aid.

Errol said it better than I could.