The intersection of gender and WASH is complex and multifaceted. Gender norms and roles often determine who has control over water resources, who is responsible for sanitation and hygiene practices, and who has access to WASH facilities. For example, in many cultures, women and girls are responsible for fetching water, which can be time-consuming and physically demanding, often preventing them from attending school or engaging in other productive activities.

Gender-based violence is also a significant concern in the context of WASH, as lack of privacy and safety in sanitation facilities and water sources can put women and girls at risk. Furthermore, menstrual hygiene management is often neglected in WASH programs, which can have significant health consequences for girls and women. 

Menstrual health and hygiene (MHH) is an important aspect of the intersection between gender and WASH. Access to menstrual hygiene products and facilities that support safe and dignified menstrual management is a critical aspect of WASH that affects the health, education, and overall well-being of girls and women. Inadequate access to menstrual hygiene products and facilities can lead to poor menstrual hygiene practices, which can result in infections, skin irritation, and other health issues. In addition, the lack of safe and private facilities for menstrual management can result in girls and women missing school or work, leading to lost opportunities and increased vulnerability.

Addressing gender inequalities in WASH is crucial for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 5, which focuses on gender equality and empowering all women and girls. It requires a comprehensive and intersectional approach that recognizes the diverse needs and experiences of different genders and promotes their meaningful participation in decision-making processes related to WASH.

Amita Bhakta, Sally Cawood, Mariam Zaqout and Barbara Evans (2022) Sanitation work: Realizing equity and inclusion in WASH

Recognition of the human right to water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH), and equity and inclusion concerns around gender, disability and age have led to crucial change in WASH programmes and policy, responding to commonly hidden issues such as menstrual hygiene, inclusive facilities for people with disabilities, and affordable services for […]

Sanitation Workers Forum 2021 (2022) Thematic Session 4: Gender, Intersectionality & Sanitation Work

*French with English translation* This session examines the intersectional dimensions of sanitation work relating to gender, caste, class, race and age (including inter-generational change). The speakers cover particular challenges for women sanitation workers in India, Côte d'Ivoire, Madagascar and Senegal, and explore ways in which to visibilise often hidden or […]

WaterAid (2020) Status of Women Engaged in Manual Scavenging

The baseline survey was conducted in the four states of Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh and Jharkhand. This report has analysed the data generated for the following areas: a. Manual scavenging (MS) and dry latrines b. Prevalence of stigma, discrimination, untouchability, gender and caste-based discrimination and violence c. Participation in community led initiatives […]

UMC, WaterAid (2020) Health, Safety and Social Security Challenges of Sanitation Workers during the COVID-19 Pandemic in India

While sanitation workers already face several health and safety risks, financial challenges and stigma due to the nature of their work and caste-based discrimination, the COVID-19 pandemic has further added to their challenges and vulnerabilities. The Urban Management Centre and WaterAid India jointly conducted a rapid assessment to understand the […]

Mander, H., Kumbhare, S., Bhattacharya, A., Chanchani, M. (2020) Ensuring effective Enrolment and Inclusion of everyone engaged in Manual Scavenging

In the 64th year of the Republic the nation, it was recognized formally through a legislative act, for the second time after the initial 1993 act, that the “dehumanising practice of manual scavenging, arising from the continuing existence of insanitary latrines and a highly iniquitous caste system” that “still persists […]

Mander, H., Kumbhare, S., Bhattacharya, A., Chanchani, M. (2020) Enabling and supporting women engaged in manual scavenging to successfully move to alternative livelihoods

In India, gender and caste plays a dominant role in the kinds of jobs that women in the workforce are employed in. It is well established that caste and patriarchy are the main compulsive factors that force people, especially women of the specific scheduled caste communities, into manual scavenging. They […]

WSSCC, FANSA (2015) Leave No One Behind - Voices of Women, Adolescent Girls, Elderly and Disabled People, and Sanitation Workers

This publication summarizes the sanitation and hygiene hopes and aspirations of thousands of women and men of different ages and physical ability, across rural and urban areas in eight South Asian countries. In these countries, over a billion people are without safe sanitation. They represent individuals and groups rarely heard […]

Sperandeo, L., Srinivasan, S. (2020) The Heroes behind Sanitation
An insight into faecal sludge management workers in Zambia

The sanitation workforce provides an essential public service to all. They clean and empty pit latrines, septic tanks, sewers and other sanitation systems, transport faecal sludge, remove contaminants from the sludge and process the sludge for disposal or reuse. Constantly exposed to faecal microorganisms, hazardous waste and harsh chemicals, sanitation […]