This research investigates the connection between community health workers (CHW) in India and the effect gender has on their role. It is important to understand the ways in which other global health systems function effectively while noting the aspects that may be inadequate. In India, community health workers play an essential role as advocates and liaisons who ultimately improve the accessibility of medical information and services. Despite their important role in improving health outcomes in Indian communities, they also face limitations because of their gender. This research not only has the ability to inform other health systems about aspects that may help communities better serve their members and staff, but it most importantly reviews the benefits and limitations that women working in community health worker roles may face in India simply because of their gender. Through conducting a thorough literature review, this research investigated the specific ways in which gender plays a role in the work of a female community health worker and therefore, how health outcomes can be affected. A stronger understanding of what the literature says about ideas such as historical and current gender dynamics in India, what specific work CHWs participate in throughout various regions of India, and case studies of discrimination against CHWs informed the findings of this research greatly. CHWs both benefit from and are negatively impacted by being a woman; this often has an effect on their personal lives, communities, and community health outcomes overall. This research helps me think critically about the functionings of health systems and gender dynamics on a global scale. Presenting complex data through the means of a presentation and a literature review remind me to acknowledge and abstain from projecting my idea of effectiveness on another group of people who live and have experiences different from me.
Author: Jessica Enhelder
Faculty Advisors: Cameron Hay-Rollins, Department of Anthropology, and Paul Flaspohler, Department of Psychology
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