Ritu Mahendru | Canterbury Christ Church University (original) (raw)

Papers by Ritu Mahendru

Routledge eBooks, Aug 31, 2022

Decentralizing Health Services, 2013

In this chapter, gender analysis is conducted from an intersectional lens to see how well the con... more In this chapter, gender analysis is conducted from an intersectional lens to see how well the concept of gender is included at policy and research levels. Using international evidence to contextualise gender in relation to different regional experiences from the low-, middle- and high-income countries, the review demonstrates that there is poor quality information and lack of robust data that presents limitations and difficulties in terms of understanding gender inequalities in health. The chapter argues that women and men cannot be uniformly considered disadvantaged in terms of health. Inequalities are not concentrated in one gender or the other rather disadvantaged social positions that are multidimensional and are fundamental causes of gender inequities in health. Therefore, the focus needs to be on understanding health inequities rather than health inequalities, which should be explored through the intersecting domains of inclusion, exclusion and identity that have potential to explain where inequalities exist and why. The chapter argues that serious gender analysis requires an intersectional approach with a spatial dimension. Finally, it discusses how well gender in decentralised system is included at research and governance levels. It then concludes that the concepts of decentralisation and health equity require women empowerment as well empowerment and involvement of those who are socially excluded at institutional levels.

EThOS - Electronic Theses Online ServiceGBUnited Kingdo

This empirical research documented voices of women and girls in female shelters and prisons in Sa... more This empirical research documented voices of women and girls in female shelters and prisons in Samangan, Laghman and Wardak provinces who experienced systematic sexual and gender based violence before and after they escaped forced marriages, forced virginity tests, physical and sexual violence. Women who challenged the status quo, fundamentalism and extremism faced imprisonment for up to five years. The research interviewed primary, secondary and territory health care professionals, who carried out or witnessed invasive virginity tests. The evidence suggests that women are being deprived of basic human rights of exercising autonomy and freedom. It shows difficulties some health professionals’ encounter in documenting, reporting and treating cases of violence against women and girls. The research concludes that a survivor-centered approach, and secular framework is required against tyranny, misogyny and oppression. Instead of imposing moral arguments and harmful laws that undermine w...

Global Public Health, 2020

This empirical research documented voices of women and girls in female shelters and prisons in Sa... more This empirical research documented voices of women and girls in female
shelters and prisons in Samangan, Laghman and Wardak provinces who
experienced systematic sexual and gender based violence before and
after they escaped forced marriages, forced virginity tests, physical and
sexual violence. Women who challenged the status quo,
fundamentalism and extremism faced imprisonment for up to five
years. The research interviewed primary, secondary and territory health
care professionals, who carried out or witnessed invasive virginity tests.
The evidence suggests that women are being deprived of basic human
rights of exercising autonomy and freedom. It shows difficulties some
health professionals encounter in documenting, reporting, and treating
cases of violence against women and girls. The research concludes that
a survivor-centered approach and secular framework are required against
tyranny, misogyny, and oppression. Instead of imposing moral
arguments and harmful laws that undermine women’s rights, brave
leadership at many levels is required to tackle health inequities,
dismantle patriarchy, counter fundamentalism, and other entrenched
systems of inequality. A new kind of feminist citizenship is needed not
based on identity but political values.

Independent Evaluation on Implementation of UN Women’s Empowerment Principles (WEPs) by Behind the Brands Companies, 2021

This report is an independent assessment of the extent to which the world’s ten largest food and ... more This report is an independent assessment of the extent to which the world’s ten largest food and beverage companies have implemented the UN Women’s Empowerment Principles. The Big Ten are: Associated British Foods (ABF), Danone, General Mills, The Kellogg Company, Mars, Mondelēz, Nestlé, PepsiCo, The Coca-Cola Company, and Unilever. These companies were pursued by Oxfam’s Behind the Brands campaign, initiated in February 2013, with the main objective of improving the companies’ policies and strengthening their economic, social, and environmental performance. This initiative drew the support of almost a quarter-million advocates and spurred well-known companies to make unprecedented commitments.

Behind the Brands Independent Evaluation on the Implementation of Gender and Cocoa Commitments, 2021

This report presents the findings of an independent evaluation carried out by Dr. Ritu Mahendru. ... more This report presents the findings of an independent evaluation carried out by Dr. Ritu Mahendru. The evaluation, commissioned by Oxfam’s Behind the Brands (BtB) initiative, provides an analysis of gender assessments and action plans published by Mars, Mondelēz, and Nestlé from the top three (3) cocoa-producing countries namely Cote d’Ivoire, Ghana, and Indonesia.

In this chapter, gender analysis is conducted from an intersectional lens to see how well the con... more In this chapter, gender analysis is conducted from an intersectional lens to see how well the concept of gender is included at policy and research levels. Using international evidence to contextualise gender in relation to different regional experiences from the low-, middle- and high-income countries, the review demonstrates that there is poor quality information and lack of robust data that presents limitations and difficulties in terms of understanding gender inequalities in health. The chapter argues that women and men cannot be uniformly considered disadvantaged in terms of health. Inequalities are not concentrated in one gender or the other rather disadvantaged social positions that are multidimensional and are fundamental causes of gender inequities in health. Therefore, the focus needs to be on understanding health inequities rather than health inequalities, which should be explored through the intersecting domains of inclusion, exclusion and identity that have potential to explain where inequalities exist and why. The chapter argues that serious gender analysis requires an intersectional approach with a spatial dimension. Finally, it discusses how well gender in decentralised system is included at research and governance levels. It then concludes that the concepts of decentralisation and health equity require women empowerment as well empowerment and involvement of those who are socially excluded at institutional levels.

Intersectionality theory first introduced by Crenshaw (1989) is concerned with discrimination in ... more Intersectionality theory first introduced by Crenshaw (1989) is concerned with discrimination in circumstances where gender, class, age, race, religion, sexuality and other forms of identities and circumstances intersect at the same time where one ontological level does not take priority over the other. Yuval-Davis (2005, p. 202) argues that it is equally important to separate “the different analytical levels in which social divisions need to be examined [...] the ways different social divisions are constructed by, and intermeshed in, each other in specific historical conditions”. The intersectionality framework is useful in understanding the different dimensions of power, privilege, discrimination and inequalities that are historical, spatially and structurally stratified, and systematically contribute to social injustice. In this special issue, social patterns of oppression are shown to be both interrelated and brought together, and occurs through race, gender, marital status, location, nationality and class.
Across the world women face different levels and forms of GBV. The root causes of GBV are gender inequalities and lower status of women; the economic, social and other intersectional factors exacerbate violence. GBV is one of the major threats to girls and women’s full participation in political, economic and social spheres and the articles in this special issue provide a timely assessment of its intersectional causes and consequences.
The first paper entitled “The effect of the 2014 West Africa Ebola virus disease epidemic on multi-level violence against women” by Melanie O’Brien and Maria Ximena Tolosa (2016) provides a review of literature to highlight the impact of the Ebola virus epidemic on women’s health by examining violations of their human rights that occurred as a direct and indirect consequence of the epidemic with a focus on structural violence against women and barriers to receive appropriate sexual and reproductive health care. By putting intersectionality at the heart of its argument the paper brings out critical elements that contribute to and cause GBV (race, economics/wealth, class, religion, development, security and gender) in West African countries.
The second paper “Intersectionality and adolescent domestic violence and abuse: addressing classed sexism’ and improving service provision” by Rhona Bridget O’Brien (2016) explores the intersections of age, race, location, class and gender as experienced by adolescent service users living within an economically deprived neighbourhood in the North West of England. The paper skillfully makes thematic links to policy and programmes and provides background on intersectionality by making race and class as central themes.
The third in the issue entitled “Making practice inclusive in gender based violence work” by Suzane Patricia Martin (2016) is a viewpoint that presents a case for reflective practice with an intersectional focus in supporting practitioners working with GBV with its links to social exclusion. The author carefully identifies intersectionality, power and empathy as central themes in improving practitioner responses to GBV. How these themes apply to interactions between practitioners and abused women is demonstrated through examples from reflective practice sessions by drawing on UK-based evidence.
The fourth article “Mental health predicted by coping, social support, and resilience among young unwed pregnant Malaysian women and mothers living in shelter homes” by Jana et al. (2016) makes marital status, honour, culture, motherhood and gender as key intersectional factors that contribute to emotional violence. The author’s indirect reference to intersectionality highlights some of the key factors contributing to gender inequalities faced by Malaysian women.

The fifth and the final paper “Honour based violence as a global public health problem: a critical review of literature” by Bhanbhro et al. (2016) introduces honour-based violence as a form of violence by drawing examples from several sources. The paper enmeshes itself in race and identity politics. While culture and religion are the causes of GBV, the author suggests politicising race and identity. The paper engages itself in nuanced debates of representation of minority women that intersectionality is concerned with.
Together these papers contribute to feminist knowledge of “difference” and “representation” in order to legitimatise the voices of women from different and minority backgrounds deeply embedded in identity politics. Evidently, they have demonstrated the use of intersectionality at different analytical levels to understand female lived experiences. They have engaged themselves with sociologically and culturally constructed ideas of discrimination on a multiplicity of different levels. They produce a wide range of responses influenced by the intersectional system of society.
This special issue on a highly contentious human rights topic has been brought together by the support and encouragement of many people but particularly the Series Editor, Dr Theo Gavrielides. We thank him for supporting the idea and giving the much needed space to debate evidence around intersectionality and GBV.

Books by Ritu Mahendru

This book focuses on the comparative analysis of sexual health of young people (ages 16-18 years)... more This book focuses on the comparative analysis of sexual health of young people (ages 16-18 years) living in India and UK. This study used quantitative and qualitative methods to gather relevant data from 32 young Indians in the year 2003 and 207 White young Britons from year 2000 to 2003. The study focused on gender, sexual safety and HIV prevention awareness in India and UK and on the central and crucial role of gender relationships in HIV/AIDS education and prevention. It explored the dilemmas and challenges through gender analysis in the context of social roles, and conditions of young men and women in both societies. This current study looked on one aspect of the work previously undertaken by Lewis and Clift (2001) and explored gender differences in the perceptions of casual sexual encounters and the reasons given by young people as to why condoms are not used in the context of casual heterosexual relationships.

Drafts by Ritu Mahendru

First Health and Human Rights Strategy of Afghanistan, 2011

Routledge eBooks, Aug 31, 2022

Decentralizing Health Services, 2013

In this chapter, gender analysis is conducted from an intersectional lens to see how well the con... more In this chapter, gender analysis is conducted from an intersectional lens to see how well the concept of gender is included at policy and research levels. Using international evidence to contextualise gender in relation to different regional experiences from the low-, middle- and high-income countries, the review demonstrates that there is poor quality information and lack of robust data that presents limitations and difficulties in terms of understanding gender inequalities in health. The chapter argues that women and men cannot be uniformly considered disadvantaged in terms of health. Inequalities are not concentrated in one gender or the other rather disadvantaged social positions that are multidimensional and are fundamental causes of gender inequities in health. Therefore, the focus needs to be on understanding health inequities rather than health inequalities, which should be explored through the intersecting domains of inclusion, exclusion and identity that have potential to explain where inequalities exist and why. The chapter argues that serious gender analysis requires an intersectional approach with a spatial dimension. Finally, it discusses how well gender in decentralised system is included at research and governance levels. It then concludes that the concepts of decentralisation and health equity require women empowerment as well empowerment and involvement of those who are socially excluded at institutional levels.

EThOS - Electronic Theses Online ServiceGBUnited Kingdo

This empirical research documented voices of women and girls in female shelters and prisons in Sa... more This empirical research documented voices of women and girls in female shelters and prisons in Samangan, Laghman and Wardak provinces who experienced systematic sexual and gender based violence before and after they escaped forced marriages, forced virginity tests, physical and sexual violence. Women who challenged the status quo, fundamentalism and extremism faced imprisonment for up to five years. The research interviewed primary, secondary and territory health care professionals, who carried out or witnessed invasive virginity tests. The evidence suggests that women are being deprived of basic human rights of exercising autonomy and freedom. It shows difficulties some health professionals’ encounter in documenting, reporting and treating cases of violence against women and girls. The research concludes that a survivor-centered approach, and secular framework is required against tyranny, misogyny and oppression. Instead of imposing moral arguments and harmful laws that undermine w...

Global Public Health, 2020

This empirical research documented voices of women and girls in female shelters and prisons in Sa... more This empirical research documented voices of women and girls in female
shelters and prisons in Samangan, Laghman and Wardak provinces who
experienced systematic sexual and gender based violence before and
after they escaped forced marriages, forced virginity tests, physical and
sexual violence. Women who challenged the status quo,
fundamentalism and extremism faced imprisonment for up to five
years. The research interviewed primary, secondary and territory health
care professionals, who carried out or witnessed invasive virginity tests.
The evidence suggests that women are being deprived of basic human
rights of exercising autonomy and freedom. It shows difficulties some
health professionals encounter in documenting, reporting, and treating
cases of violence against women and girls. The research concludes that
a survivor-centered approach and secular framework are required against
tyranny, misogyny, and oppression. Instead of imposing moral
arguments and harmful laws that undermine women’s rights, brave
leadership at many levels is required to tackle health inequities,
dismantle patriarchy, counter fundamentalism, and other entrenched
systems of inequality. A new kind of feminist citizenship is needed not
based on identity but political values.

Independent Evaluation on Implementation of UN Women’s Empowerment Principles (WEPs) by Behind the Brands Companies, 2021

This report is an independent assessment of the extent to which the world’s ten largest food and ... more This report is an independent assessment of the extent to which the world’s ten largest food and beverage companies have implemented the UN Women’s Empowerment Principles. The Big Ten are: Associated British Foods (ABF), Danone, General Mills, The Kellogg Company, Mars, Mondelēz, Nestlé, PepsiCo, The Coca-Cola Company, and Unilever. These companies were pursued by Oxfam’s Behind the Brands campaign, initiated in February 2013, with the main objective of improving the companies’ policies and strengthening their economic, social, and environmental performance. This initiative drew the support of almost a quarter-million advocates and spurred well-known companies to make unprecedented commitments.

Behind the Brands Independent Evaluation on the Implementation of Gender and Cocoa Commitments, 2021

This report presents the findings of an independent evaluation carried out by Dr. Ritu Mahendru. ... more This report presents the findings of an independent evaluation carried out by Dr. Ritu Mahendru. The evaluation, commissioned by Oxfam’s Behind the Brands (BtB) initiative, provides an analysis of gender assessments and action plans published by Mars, Mondelēz, and Nestlé from the top three (3) cocoa-producing countries namely Cote d’Ivoire, Ghana, and Indonesia.

In this chapter, gender analysis is conducted from an intersectional lens to see how well the con... more In this chapter, gender analysis is conducted from an intersectional lens to see how well the concept of gender is included at policy and research levels. Using international evidence to contextualise gender in relation to different regional experiences from the low-, middle- and high-income countries, the review demonstrates that there is poor quality information and lack of robust data that presents limitations and difficulties in terms of understanding gender inequalities in health. The chapter argues that women and men cannot be uniformly considered disadvantaged in terms of health. Inequalities are not concentrated in one gender or the other rather disadvantaged social positions that are multidimensional and are fundamental causes of gender inequities in health. Therefore, the focus needs to be on understanding health inequities rather than health inequalities, which should be explored through the intersecting domains of inclusion, exclusion and identity that have potential to explain where inequalities exist and why. The chapter argues that serious gender analysis requires an intersectional approach with a spatial dimension. Finally, it discusses how well gender in decentralised system is included at research and governance levels. It then concludes that the concepts of decentralisation and health equity require women empowerment as well empowerment and involvement of those who are socially excluded at institutional levels.

Intersectionality theory first introduced by Crenshaw (1989) is concerned with discrimination in ... more Intersectionality theory first introduced by Crenshaw (1989) is concerned with discrimination in circumstances where gender, class, age, race, religion, sexuality and other forms of identities and circumstances intersect at the same time where one ontological level does not take priority over the other. Yuval-Davis (2005, p. 202) argues that it is equally important to separate “the different analytical levels in which social divisions need to be examined [...] the ways different social divisions are constructed by, and intermeshed in, each other in specific historical conditions”. The intersectionality framework is useful in understanding the different dimensions of power, privilege, discrimination and inequalities that are historical, spatially and structurally stratified, and systematically contribute to social injustice. In this special issue, social patterns of oppression are shown to be both interrelated and brought together, and occurs through race, gender, marital status, location, nationality and class.
Across the world women face different levels and forms of GBV. The root causes of GBV are gender inequalities and lower status of women; the economic, social and other intersectional factors exacerbate violence. GBV is one of the major threats to girls and women’s full participation in political, economic and social spheres and the articles in this special issue provide a timely assessment of its intersectional causes and consequences.
The first paper entitled “The effect of the 2014 West Africa Ebola virus disease epidemic on multi-level violence against women” by Melanie O’Brien and Maria Ximena Tolosa (2016) provides a review of literature to highlight the impact of the Ebola virus epidemic on women’s health by examining violations of their human rights that occurred as a direct and indirect consequence of the epidemic with a focus on structural violence against women and barriers to receive appropriate sexual and reproductive health care. By putting intersectionality at the heart of its argument the paper brings out critical elements that contribute to and cause GBV (race, economics/wealth, class, religion, development, security and gender) in West African countries.
The second paper “Intersectionality and adolescent domestic violence and abuse: addressing classed sexism’ and improving service provision” by Rhona Bridget O’Brien (2016) explores the intersections of age, race, location, class and gender as experienced by adolescent service users living within an economically deprived neighbourhood in the North West of England. The paper skillfully makes thematic links to policy and programmes and provides background on intersectionality by making race and class as central themes.
The third in the issue entitled “Making practice inclusive in gender based violence work” by Suzane Patricia Martin (2016) is a viewpoint that presents a case for reflective practice with an intersectional focus in supporting practitioners working with GBV with its links to social exclusion. The author carefully identifies intersectionality, power and empathy as central themes in improving practitioner responses to GBV. How these themes apply to interactions between practitioners and abused women is demonstrated through examples from reflective practice sessions by drawing on UK-based evidence.
The fourth article “Mental health predicted by coping, social support, and resilience among young unwed pregnant Malaysian women and mothers living in shelter homes” by Jana et al. (2016) makes marital status, honour, culture, motherhood and gender as key intersectional factors that contribute to emotional violence. The author’s indirect reference to intersectionality highlights some of the key factors contributing to gender inequalities faced by Malaysian women.

The fifth and the final paper “Honour based violence as a global public health problem: a critical review of literature” by Bhanbhro et al. (2016) introduces honour-based violence as a form of violence by drawing examples from several sources. The paper enmeshes itself in race and identity politics. While culture and religion are the causes of GBV, the author suggests politicising race and identity. The paper engages itself in nuanced debates of representation of minority women that intersectionality is concerned with.
Together these papers contribute to feminist knowledge of “difference” and “representation” in order to legitimatise the voices of women from different and minority backgrounds deeply embedded in identity politics. Evidently, they have demonstrated the use of intersectionality at different analytical levels to understand female lived experiences. They have engaged themselves with sociologically and culturally constructed ideas of discrimination on a multiplicity of different levels. They produce a wide range of responses influenced by the intersectional system of society.
This special issue on a highly contentious human rights topic has been brought together by the support and encouragement of many people but particularly the Series Editor, Dr Theo Gavrielides. We thank him for supporting the idea and giving the much needed space to debate evidence around intersectionality and GBV.

This book focuses on the comparative analysis of sexual health of young people (ages 16-18 years)... more This book focuses on the comparative analysis of sexual health of young people (ages 16-18 years) living in India and UK. This study used quantitative and qualitative methods to gather relevant data from 32 young Indians in the year 2003 and 207 White young Britons from year 2000 to 2003. The study focused on gender, sexual safety and HIV prevention awareness in India and UK and on the central and crucial role of gender relationships in HIV/AIDS education and prevention. It explored the dilemmas and challenges through gender analysis in the context of social roles, and conditions of young men and women in both societies. This current study looked on one aspect of the work previously undertaken by Lewis and Clift (2001) and explored gender differences in the perceptions of casual sexual encounters and the reasons given by young people as to why condoms are not used in the context of casual heterosexual relationships.

First Health and Human Rights Strategy of Afghanistan, 2011