This Special Issue of Adolescents focuses on the ways in which gender inequities affect health and well-being among female adolescents. Gender inequities arise from traditional gender norms that limit girls’ power in making life decisions, restrict girls’ opportunities and access to resources, and that even threaten girls’ safety and basic human rights. These gender inequities disfavor girls over boys and result in substantial economic, social, and health burdens among adolescent girls. Worldwide, in their lifetime, girls receive fewer opportunities than males for education, employment, and political leadership. Girls are also often deprived of their freedom of choice. For example, many girls have limited control over decisions related to marriage, sex, family planning, and their own health care due to traditional gender norms that unfairly place such decisions in the hands of girls’ families or male partners. Additionally, substantial proportions of girls experience physical or sexual partner violence or non-partner rape. Other forms of gender-based violence include child marriage, honor killings, and sex trafficking. As a result of these gender-based deprivations of opportunity and freedom of choice, girls experience a number of poor health outcomes, including malnutrition, mental health concerns, infectious diseases (e.g., HIV, other sexually transmitted infections), chronic health issues (e.g., cancers, asthma), and unplanned pregnancy. Efforts are needed to better address the gender inequities affecting girls’ lives. Supporting human potential, progress, and health will require a future where the world invests fully in girls.
Papers that focus on the gender inequities experienced by cisgender or transgender populations of girls are welcomed, and those that provide new approaches for alleviating health disparities resulting from gender inequity will be prioritized. Original research, brief reports, methodological papers, systematic reviews, and commentaries will be accepted.
For more information and how to submit a paper, visit: https://www.mdpi.com/journal/adolescents/special_issues/GenderEquity_Gir...
Deadline: 1 September 2022.