Department of Sociology and Anthropology

This inaugural chapter of the handbook's third section on gender and health systems comprises three sections: frameworks, regional evidence of note, and a description of the 16 chapters in the section. The frameworks section describes the classic 2000 World Health Organization health systems building blocks framework, its adaptations and updates, and the right to health framework instantiated by the AAAQ model. It then examines each component of the extended building blocks framework using a gender lens and presents the RinGs consortium framework on gender equitable and transformative health systems. The second part of this chapter describes evidence on gender and health systems from Bangladesh, India, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka. Subsections here explore the influence of sex and gender in access to and utilization of health services, gendered quality of care with a focus on facility-based pregnancy and delivery care, gender issues in the health workforce, and finally, the gendered consequences of specific modalities of healthcare financing. The final section of this chapter describes the 16 contributions to this section from Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka. Following this, the section also reflects on the methodological range and theoretical contributions of the chapters overall, as well as the centrality of the concept of "lack" in all contributions, positing that future contributions should speak to action and exemplars of transformative change.

Climate change is a global issue with diverse regional impacts threatening the survival of both human and non-human species. While the academic discourse on climate change predominantly focuses on macro-level studies, it often neglects the vital role of local environmental practices and the perspectives of affected communities. This paper presents insights from ethnographic fieldwork conducted among the Bishnoi community in Khejarli Village, Jodhpur, in the Thar Desert of India. This study utilizes participant observations, semi-structured interviews, focus group discussions, and case studies to explore local environmental knowledge and practices aimed at mitigating and adapting to climate change. Findings reveal the Bishnois’ deep-rooted relationship with nature and the pivotal role of religious beliefs in shaping their conservation efforts. Since the 15th century, the Bishnois have been committed to protecting local species, such as plants and animals, which has been crucial for sustaining the desert ecosystem and combating climate change. Moreover, their religious teachings and principles have helped conserve values among younger generations, ensuring a lasting culture of environmental stewardship. This paper supports integrating micro-level ethnographic studies into global climate change dialogues, urging the recognition of local knowledge as an essential resource for addressing contemporary environmental challenges.