ABSTRACT:
Why are gender and sexuality important for policymakers, practitioners and activists? Sexuality and gender can combine to make a huge difference in people’s lives – between well-being and ill-being, and sometimes between life and death. Because sexuality is influenced by gender norms: In the WHO definition of sexuality, social influences around sexuality affect us all. Gender is one of these influences, i.e. expectations about how women and men, boys and girls, will behave differently from each other (as well as expectations that everyone will be either male or female, and not transgender. This article deals with the role played by gender in a society and its impact upon the same as well as on the development of an individual. The article explains the social, cultural and psychological aspects of gender roles. It also includes the approaches adopted by various scholars to throw light upon gender inequality and its impact upon the society. Because ideologies around sexuality are used to control women: In recognizing women’s sexual and reproductive autonomy rather than protecting women’s sexual purity, one can tackle the roots of gender-based violence. An attempt has also been made to explain the concept of sexuality and the change in its notion along with changing times.