Health disparities and equity

Feminist Lens on AMR: Why Gender Inequality Fuels Drug Resistance

Gender inequality fuels antimicrobial resistance (AMR). Women, girls, and gender‑diverse people face harmful norms, caregiving burdens, violence, stigma, and limited access to timely healthcare, all of which increase infection risk and inappropriate antibiotic use. AMR disproportionately affects those who cannot seek or complete treatment due to social, economic, and cultural barriers. A feminist, rights‑based, gender‑transformative AMR response is essential to ensure early diagnosis, equitable care, and policies that protect the most marginalized.