Apply GBA+ to your work
We often assume that our work or our policies apply to everyone equally and there are no gender or diversity issues to consider.
GBA+ helps us recognize and move beyond our assumptions, uncover the realities of people’s lives, and find ways to address their needs. But we can only know if a group is affected differently if we explore it using GBA+. Incorrect assumptions can lead to unintended and unequal impacts on particular groups of people. You can begin to challenge your assumptions and apply Gender-based Analysis Plus (GBA+) to your work by asking these key questions:
- Do I believe that the issues I work on are gender neutral? Or culturally neutral? Ability neutral? Is this based solely on my own experience?
- Is it possible that my assumptions prevent me from asking questions and hearing or understanding answers that are outside my own experience?
- How might attitudes and norms – my own, those of my organization, and those of the institutions and society that surround me – limit the range of policy options I consider and propose?
Using GBA+ is simply a different approach, focused on diversity and inclusion. Many people and organizations routinely consider gender and diversity intuitively; in other cases it may require a more concerted effort. By routinely using GBA+ checklists and tools, asking GBA+ questions will become integrated into your thought process.
Below you will find three examples of how GBA+ can be applied to a wide range of issues, using the examples of mining, cyberbullying and Traumatic Brain Injury.
Some examples
Mining
Issue:
The mining and exploration sector will face a hiring requirement of up to 60,000 workers in the next decade.
GBA+ questions:
- What are the current socio-demographic characteristics of the mining and exploration sector workforce? Are there any segments of the population that are under-represented (e.g. women, Indigenous people, youth)?
- What are the barriers to participation for under-represented groups (e.g. shift-work, remote location, employer stereotypes)? Can measures be developed to address any perceived or identified barriers?
- In developing your approach to the issue, have you consulted a wide-range of stakeholders, including under-represented groups?
Cyberbullying
Issue:
Cyberbullying and the non-consensual distribution of intimate images is a growing concern in Canada, particularly among youth.
GBA+ questions:
- Are there gender differences in cyberbullying behaviour and victimization?
- Are there other identity factors that affect cyberbullying behaviour and/or victimization (e.g. geography, socio-economic status)?
- Are the long-term impacts of cyberbullying the same for boys, girls and non-binary youth?
- In consulting with youth, have you considered boys and girls with varied backgrounds?
Traumatic Brain Injury
Issue:
The need to better prevent and respond to Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBI) has gained increased attention as a result of recent high-profile lawsuits by athletes who have sustained concussions in professional sports.
GBA+ questions:
- Are women experiencing traumatic brain injuries (TBI) at the same rates as men?
- Are there groups at higher risk of sustaining a TBI, based on gender expectations (e.g. risk-taking behaviour), or other identity factors?
- Are there sex or gender factors that influence TBI symptoms and recovery?
- Have you ensured that the research you are consulting has included the experiences of both women and men?
To learn more about applying GBA+ to TBI, watch this micro-learning video called Applying GBA+ to Concussion Prevention and Treatment.
The GBA+ process will help you to deepen your analysis and systematically incorporate important diversity considerations into your work. It includes a number of important elements:
[Text version of Fig.2 - GBA+ Process]
Graphic illustrating the steps of GBA+: identify issue, challenge assumptions, gather the facts (research and consult), develop options and make recommendations, monitor and evaluate, communicate, document. GBA+ for excellent results for diverse Canadians.
For more information on the GBA+ process, including each element and an illustrative example, see Module 3 of the Introduction to GBA+ online course.
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