In the quest for a more equitable society, the role of data in uncovering and addressing gender disparities cannot be overstated. Gender biases and social inequalities are often deeply embedded in our institutions, policies, and therefore, even in the ways we collect and interpret data.

On August 26th, as the world marked Women's Equality Day, we reflect on how far we've come in recognizing the importance of gender-specific metrics and where we need to go from here. In this conversation, we explore the insights of three of our team members working at the intersection of gender, social inclusion, and data measurement.

This interview brings together Anupama Ramaswamy (Associate Director), Shruti Cheriyan (Consultant), and Vaibhav Dutt (Senior Consultant) as they share their experiences and the significance of incorporating gender perspectives in their work.

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Let’s dive into how data can be a powerful tool for driving social change.
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Q: What draws you to the intersection of gender and social inclusion and data measurement and analysis?

Anupama Ramaswamy (AR):  My interest stems from understanding that women face unique challenges due to deeply entrenched gender biases, societal norms, and discriminatory laws. These barriers are not always visible, and without reliable data and evidence, it becomes nearly impossible to identify and effectively tackle them. By leveraging rigorous data and analysis, we can shine a light on these inequalities and drive the change needed to create more equitable societies.

I'm particularly passionate about advancing gender-transformative research practices that not only inform policy and practice but also ensure that interventions are grounded in the lived realities of women, leading to more impactful and lasting outcomes.

Shruti Cheriyan (SC): Although my direct work in gender and social inclusion has been somewhat limited, my personal experience as a woman has naturally drawn me to explore these critical issues. I've always been motivated to understand and address fundamental beliefs and disparities related to gender through my professional and personal endeavours. My interest in gender-transformative evaluation and intersectionality has deepened over time. Through practical field experiences, I've learned that actively involving women in evaluations is crucial for capturing their unique narratives of exclusion and understanding the full scope of their experiences. This approach not only enriches the analysis but also ensures that interventions are more accurately tailored to address the diverse needs of all individuals.

"Actively involving women in evaluations is crucial for capturing their unique narratives of exclusion and understanding the full scope of their experiences."

Vaibhav Dutt (VD): The study of social inclusion and the effectiveness of public policy interventions is incomplete without addressing the social inequalities that permeate all aspects of society. My legal background has instilled in me a keen awareness of the varied impacts that broad regulations, policies, and decisions can have on different groups. Gender biases often operate at a structural level, affecting everything from policy design to research methodologies that may overlook critical gendered differences.

‍As a male researcher, I'm also constantly mindful of my own biases, striving to ensure that my work—whether it involves designing a research project or selecting indicators for analysis—promotes equitable inclusion and addresses the specific needs of marginalized gender groups.

‍The critical need to recognize and address these complexities is what draws me to the intersection of gender, social inclusion, and data measurement and analysis.

Q: In your work across various sectors like workforce development and public health, how have you incorporated gender-specific metrics to ensure equitable outcomes? Can you provide an example of how this has led to meaningful change?

AR: In my work across all sectors, we have always prioritized the inclusion of gender-specific metrics to ensure that our efforts are truly equitable. For example:

• We developed the Women Entrepreneurial Environment Index (WEEI) that could be used to evaluate the extent to which the business ecosystem is favourable for starting and scaling a women-led and managed enterprise.
• Our work with Emory University on the MUSE project has resulted in the development and validation of a portfolio of scales and indices to measure women's empowerment in the context of urban sanitation.
• Our work on USAID's Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene Partnerships and Learning for Sustainability (WASHPaLS) resulted in the development of indicators for monitoring menstruation-related work to better understand the relationship between menstruation and women's opportunities for economic empowerment and growth.
• We led a strategic review of the Inclusive Data Charter (IDC) to comprehensively assess IDC's progress so that it can better foster action on inclusive data, aligning with our commitment to inclusive and equitable data solutions and governance models.

These examples underscore the importance of incorporating gender-specific metrics in our work, as they help us move beyond surface-level improvements and drive meaningful, equitable change that truly benefits all members of society.

SC: In our work with SAMRIDH, where we served as the technical M&E partners evaluating blended finance instruments and their effectiveness, we consistently applied a gender-specific lens to ensure equitable outcomes. Our approach involved closely examining how various interventions and solutions supported by USAID and other grants impacted different demographics, particularly focusing on gender distribution.

One key aspect of our evaluation was to assess whether women were adequately reached and supported by the health interventions. Often, women are excluded, or their health needs are deprioritized in such programs. By incorporating gender-specific metrics, we were able to identify gaps and make recommendations to better address women's health needs.

VD: In our recent work with the International Water Management Institute (IWMI) on gender and productive water use in Sub-Saharan Africa, we adopted a Gender-Transformative Approach (GTA) to address the under-researched area of women's use of water for income-generating activities. Historically, studies have focused on domestic water responsibilities, overlooking the critical role of productive water access in improving women's livelihoods and resilience to climate change.

The GTA allowed us to recognize that gender inequalities are not just individual-level issues but are deeply rooted in structural and institutional factors. For instance, investments in the water sector often favour those with formal land ownership and political networks—typically men—further marginalizing women. By using this approach, we developed an analytical framework that provided a more nuanced, intersectional understanding of gender, water access, and climate change in the region. This framework provides researchers with a pathway to facilitate intersectional and structural policy improvements, leading to more gender-equitable outcomes.

"The Gender-Transformative Approach allowed us to recognize that gender inequalities are not just individual-level issues but are deeply rooted in structural and institutional factors."

Q: In view of Women's Equality Day, how has the measurement and analysis of gender-disaggregated data evolved over the years, and what further improvements are needed to drive policy changes in your opinion?

AR: Over the years, there has been a growing awareness of the evidence gaps in gender data and the critical need to address these gaps. Global initiatives are advancing the dialogue around gender-disaggregated data, highlighting the importance of collecting and using this data to inform policy and drive change. There has been a marked improvement in how gender-disaggregated data is collected, analysed, and used. We've seen advancements in methodologies that go beyond just counting men and women. However, it's essential that we go beyond just sex-disaggregated data. We need to expand our focus to include dimensions of intersectionality and explore the experiences of other vulnerable groups, such as LGBTQ+ individuals, who often face unique challenges that are not captured by traditional gender data. Also, there is a need for more robust qualitative data that captures the lived experiences of women and other marginalized gender groups, which is often not reflected in quantitative data alone.

To drive meaningful policy changes, we need to continue to improve the quality and scope of gender-disaggregated data. This includes investing in better data collection methods, ensuring that data is regularly updated, and integrating gender-disaggregated analysis into all stages of policy and program development. Policymakers also need to be better equipped with the skills and knowledge to interpret gender-disaggregated data correctly and use it to inform policies that address the root causes of gender inequality. Advocacy for the use of this data in policy formulation is also key, as is the need for ongoing monitoring and evaluation to assess the effectiveness of these policies and make necessary adjustments.

"We need to expand our focus to include dimensions of intersectionality and explore the experiences of other vulnerable groups, such as LGBTQ+ individuals, who often face unique challenges that are not captured by traditional gender data."

It’s evident that while we've made significant strides in gender data measurement and analysis, there's still much work to be done. At Athena, we consciously keep in mind that it’s essential to continue refining our approaches to gender-disaggregated data, ensuring that it not only informs policy but also drives meaningful change.

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Note: Image is for representational purposes only