Gender Policy Journal

Introduction Assisted reproductive technology (ART) has become a common part of modern American life. A third of American adults have either undergone some form of fertility treatment or know someone who has.[1] While few Americans bat an eye at the idea of a child born as a result of sperm donations or in vitro fertilization […]

For every 5 hours the average Indian woman spends on unpaid care work in a day, a man spends half an hour—a ratio over three times the global average.[i] Changing this ratio can dismantle entrenched gender roles and arrest the declining participation of women in India’s paid workforce. Alarmingly, between 2006 and 2021, India’s female […]

A mantra we hear almost daily from corporate titans everywhere is, “People are our most valuable resource.” There is evidence to back up this claim. In 1975, 83% of the value of an S&P 500 company was tied to its physical assets. By 2015, that statistic had completely inverted, and human capital represented 84% of […]

Trained in literature, dance, and music, Devdasis, or servants of God, are women and girls dedicated to temples in South India. A traditional religious practice among Hindus dating back to the 6th century, girls as young as seven are “married” to a temple deity and dedicate their lives to the performance of sacred rituals and […]

Put down your borrowed copy of bell hooks and roll up the sleeves of your “This Is What A Feminist Looks Like” t-shirt made by Bangladeshi children. Lay them at the altar of my practical guide to a day in the life of a feminist. Weep, for as our ancestors foretold, there is more nuance […]

In October 2021, the Biden Administration released its National Strategy on Gender Equity and Equality.[1] In recognition of the barriers that prevent those who identify as women, primarily women of color and trans women, from achieving their full potential, it established the White House Gender Policy Council to execute ten interconnected and intersectional priorities core […]

Beginning in the 2021-2022 academic year, the Women’s Policy Journal is becoming the Gender Policy Journal. This change reflects the current work of the journal to represent the experiences of people along the gender spectrum, and especially of people who hold marginalized gender identities. This change in name has been an opportunity to re-visit our […]

In the early 1600s, a 15-year-old Native American girl was kidnapped from her home in what is now called Virginia. She was raped and forced to marry an English adult, a process in which she had to convert to Christianity and adopt the name Rebecca. Ultimately, she died under mysterious circumstances in England, with some […]

Shared Parental Leave allows UK parents to split maternity leave between both parents. But does the policy give parents the flexibility and financial security needed?

The United States remains behind its’ global economic peers in providing work-family policy that supports parents maintaining their professional status without sacrificing family responsibilities[i]. This has been particularly damaging to American women, who continue to take on the majority of domestic household duties[ii] and are more likely to sacrifice careers to compensate for family needs […]

In an interview with Harvard Graduate School of Education student Richa Gupta, Mrs. Seema Jaunsari, Director of Academic Research and Training, Government of Uttarakhand, India shares her experience with education policy in India and sheds light on how women can play a pivotal role in policymaking. Tell us about your journey in the education sector: […]

Many public leaders have taken decisive action throughout the pandemic, proposing and implementing policies to control the spread of the virus and curb its negative effects. These state responses to the pandemic have varied immensely, as has their effectiveness. Though it is essential to examine the efficacy of policies implemented, we must scrutinize the way […]