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Johns Hopkins University | SA.503.154

Systems Change for Gender Equity: the Why, What, and How

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Most social problems are "sticky"—they persist because they are embedded in, or are by-products of, social and structural systems that keep them in place. Gender inequity is one such sticky social issue. Traditional international development interventions aimed at reducing gender inequity often fail to address the underlying structures and conditions that sustain it. Instead, these programs tend to focus on creating or improving access to opportunities for individual women, girls, and occasionally nonbinary people, men, and boys. As a result, these initiatives typically help individuals manage or cope within the confines of gender inequity rather than transforming the systems and structures that perpetuate it. In this course, we will examine the persistence of gender inequities and the limitations of conventional international development approaches to address them. We will explore the systems that need to change to achieve gender equity, including systems of power and privilege, funding flows, and the structure of philanthropic and foreign aid organizations. We will also discuss various systems change approaches—why they are essential, what they entail, and why they are not used more widely. Finally, we will collaborate to develop actionable ideas through research, advocacy, and innovative programming.

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