Stefanie Kaiser, seecon international gmbh
Water, Sanitation and Culture
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Included in the SSWM Toolbox are materials from various organisations and sources. Those materials are open source. Following the opensource concept for capacity building and non-profit use, copying and adapting is allowed provided proper acknowledgement of the source is made (see below). The publication of these materials in the SSWM Toolbox does not alter any existing copyrights. Material published in the SSWM Toolbox for the first time follows the same open-source concept, with all rights remaining with the original authors or producing organisations.
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The contents of the SSWM Toolbox reflect the opinions of the respective authors and not necessarily the official opinion of the funding or supporting partner organisations.
Depending on the initial situations and respective local circumstances, there is no guarantee that single measures described in the toolbox will make the local water and sanitation system more sustainable. The main aim of the SSWM Toolbox is to be a reference tool to provide ideas for improving the local water and sanitation situation in a sustainable manner. Results depend largely on the respective situation and the implementation and combination of the measures described. An in-depth analysis of respective advantages and disadvantages and the suitability of the measure is necessary in every single case. We do not assume any responsibility for and make no warranty with respect to the results that may be obtained from the use of the information provided.
Water, Sanitation and Gender

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Contents
1. Introduction
2. Gender, Water and Sanitation
3. Gender and School Sanitation
4. Gender Issues in Sustainable Sanitation (EcoSan)
5. Gender Mainstreaming in Sanitation
6. References
Water, Sanitation and Gender
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Water, Sanitation and Hygiene is one of the Most Observable Divides between Women and Men
Societal barriers often restrict women’s involvement in decision-making processes .
Source: www.wsp.org/wsp/content/2012-cartoon-calendar [Accessed: 10.10.2012]
The provision of hygiene and sanitation are usually considered women’s tasks.
Source: www.wsp.org/wsp/about/Cartoon%20Calendars/2007%20Calendar [Accessed: 10.10.2012]
Water, Sanitation and Gender

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Terminology
• Gender identifies the social relationships between women and men.
• In these, power differences play a major role.
• Gender relations are context specific and change to altering circumstances.
• There are various underlying factors of gender relations:
• Class
• Age
• Race
• Ethnicity
• Culture
• Religion
• Urban/rural context
Source: http://utatravel.twoday.net/stories/4696879/ [Accessed: 10.10.2012]
Adapted from SUSANA (2009)
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Water, Sanitation and Gender

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Gender Equality - Vision of Human Rights
• Vision of human rights incorporates the acceptance of equal and inalienable rights of women and men
• Gender equality = Equal visibility, opportunities and participation of women and men in all spheres of public and private life.
• However, gender inequality is one of the most pervasive forms of inequality worldwide.
UN (2007)
• But important progress is made (e.g. school enrolment)
Gender equality is crucial for:
• Well-being of individuals
• Evolution of societies
• Development of countries
Adapted from SUSANA (2009)
Water, Sanitation and Gender
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Water and Sanitation in the Daily Life of Women
Water is necessary for a lot of women’s responsibilities:
• Drinking
• Food production & preparation
• Care of domestic animals
• Personal hygiene
• Care of the sick
• Cleaning
• Washing
• Waste disposal
Women carrying water vessels.
Source: CONRADIN (2007)
• The provision of hygiene and sanitation are often considered women’s
tasks.
• Women have accumulated considerable knowledge about water
resources, including location, quality and storage methods.
Water, Sanitation and Gender
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Role of Women in Water and Sanitation Programs
Despite their central role in water management, societal barriers often restrict women’s involvement in decisions regarding toilets, sanitation and water programs ...
SuSanA (2009 )
Source: www.saltywaffle.com/social-medias-impacts-barriers
[Accessed: 09.10.2012]
... results in gender-specific failures:
• toilets facing the street in which women feel insecure
• public toilets not allowing for standing or squatting (hygiene)
• flush toilets require more work for women
• etc.
Water, Sanitation and Gender
Women’s involvement in decisions is crucial.
Source: www.wsp.org/wsp/content/2012-cartoon-calendar [Accessed: 03.10.20©]
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Safety and Privacy are Women’s Main Concerns for Sanitation
HANNAN &
ANDERSSON (2002
Source: www.wsp.org/wsp/content/2012-cartoon-calendar [Accessed: 03.10.2012]
Women, more than men,
suffer from:
• Indignity to defecate and urinate in the open.
• Risk of assault, rape outside the village as well as in urban areas.
COHRE et al. (2008)
• Poor hygienic conditions of public sanitary facilities.
• Waiting until dark, drinking less, ‘holding out’ or modifying their diets.
• This causes physical harm and all kinds of health problems.
Water, Sanitation and Gender
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A Neglected Problem in Many Parts of the World
Hygienic conditions are often very poor (e.g. missing of hand-washing facilities and separate individual cabins).
 Girls at puberty miss school or even drop out of their schools (e.g. in rural Pakistan 50% of girls drop out of school in grade 2-3).
GWA (2006),
HANNAN and ANDERSSON (2002), UNICEF (2008)
 Lack of adequate toilets and hygiene in schools is a key critical
barrier to girl school attendance and girls education.
Water, Sanitation and Gender
Source: www.fluor100.com/Community_projects_Blog_Coment.aspx?id=115&projectid=2 [Accessed: 09.10.2012]
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Gender perspectives of sustainable sanitation projects have not been fully explored yet
Positive Effects for Women:
• Women’s attitudes towards
reuse-oriented toilets seem more positive than those of men.
• More willing to use the
fertiliser.
• Could play an important role in motivating and educating others to use reuse-oriented toilets.
• Reduces work burden to provide water.
Negative Effects for Women:
• Sustainable sanitation systems require more work in cleaning, maintenance, and application of urine and faeces.
• As women do much of that work, that could add to their work
burden.
• Use of urine diverting toilets is a little more complicated for
women.
Adapted from SUSANA (2009); HANNAN and ANDERSSON (2002)
Water, Sanitation and Gender
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Integrate a Gender Perspective in Sustainable Sanitation Planning,
Design and Implementation
Gender mainstreaming = Assessing the implications for women and men of any planned action.
ECOSOC (1997)
Design
Evaluation
Making the concerns and experiences of women, as well as of men, an integral part of policies
and programs.
Implementation
Monitoring
Water, Sanitation and Gender
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Guiding Questions to Integrate a Gender Perspective
Sustainable Sanitation Planning >> Design >> Implementation
1. Gender specific needs, interests & priorities?
4. Location & design reflect the needs of men & women?
2. Institutional barriers to involvement or access to resources?
3. How will the program
affect women & men?
5. Technology reflects women’s & men’s priorities & needs?
6. Gender balance in decision-making?
Adapted from SUSANA (2009); COHRE et al. (2008); UN WATER (2006); ADB (1998; 2006); UNICEF (2008) and VAN WIJK-SYBESMA (1998)
Water, Sanitation and Gender
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ADB (Editor) (1998): Gender Guidelines in Water Supply and Sanitation. Checklist. Manila: Asian Development Bank.
ADB (Editor) (2006): Setting the Scene: Water, Poverty, and the MDGs. Asia Water Watch 2015. Manila: Asian
Development Bank. URL: www.pdfio.com/k-537399.html
[Accessed: 17.04.2012].
COHRE (Editor); WATERAID SDC (Editor); UN-HABITAT (Editor) (2008): Sanitation: A human Rights Imperative. Geneva:
Centre on Housing Rights and Evictions (COHRE).
ECOSOC (Editor) (1997): Mainstreaming the gender perspective into all policies and agendas in the United Nations system. New York: United Nations Economic and Social Council (UN ECOSOC).
GWA (2006): Sanitation and Hygiene. Chapter 3.4 . In: Gender and IWRM Resource Guide. URL: www.genderandwater.org/url/476.html
[Accessed: 10.10.2012].
HANNAN, C.; ANDERSSON, I. (Editor) (2002): Gender Perspectives on Ecological Sanitation. Stockholm: EcoSanRes.
URL: www.ecosanres.org/pdf_files/Nanning_PDFs/Eng/Hannan%20&%20Andersson.pdf
[Accessed: 26.08.2010].
SUSANA (Editor) (2009): SuSanA Factsheet: Integrating a Gender Perspective in Sustainable Sanitation. Eschborn:
Sustainable Sanitation Alliance Working Group on Gender. URL: www.susana.org/langen/ library?view=ccbktypeitem&type=2&id=1187 [Accessed: 10.10.2012].
UN (Editor) (2007): The Millennium Development Goals Report. New York: United Nations (UN). URL: www.un.org/ millenniumgoals/pdf/mdg2007.pdf
[Accessed: 26.08.2010].
UNICEF (Editor) (2008): Water, Environment and Sanitation. 10 Key Points to Check for Gender Equity; a checklist for managers of water and sanitation programs. New York: United Nation’s Children’s Fund. URL: www.unicef.org/wash/ index_key_points.html
[Accessed: 26.08.2010].
Water, Sanitation and Gender
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UN WATER (Editor) (2006): Gender, Water and Sanitation: a Policy Brief. New York: United Nations (UN). URL: www.unwater.org/downloads/unwpolbrief230606.pdf
[Accessed: 26.08.2010].
VAN WIJK-SYBESMA, C. (1998): Gender in Water Resources Management, Water Supply and Sanitation: roles and realities revisited. Delft: International Water and Sanitation Centre (IRC). URL: www.irc.nl/page/1893 [Accessed: 26.08.2010].
Water, Sanitation and Gender
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Water, Sanitation and Culture