Vocabulary

Gender : Socially-constructed roles and responsibilities that societies consider appropriate for men and women

Gender-based violence : Violence against women based on their perceived subordinate status (e.g., physical abuse, sexual assault, psychological abuse, trafficking)

Gender equality : Equal power and opportunities for men and women

Gender gap : Discrepancy between men and women in the areas of health, education, political empowerment, and economic empowerment

Gender parity : Relative access to resources for men and women, often used for education

Maternal health : The health of women during pregnancy, childbirth, and during the postpartum period

Percy Amendment : 1974 congressional amendment to the Peace Corps Act requiring Peace Corps Volunteers to integrate women into the economic, political, and social development of their countries

Women's empowerment : The fostering of a woman's sense of self-worth, her decision-making power, her access to opportunities and resources, her power and control over her own life inside and outside the home, and her ability to affect change.