Women, Men, and Gun Violence: Options for action

Gender has become a synonym for women when gender actually refers to the socially constructed roles, behaviours, and attributes of men and women in a given society (as opposed to 'sex', which is biologically determined). Applying a gender perspective to the small arms issue—understanding the different ways that men, women, boys, and girls engage in, are affected by, and respond to gun violence—is key to developing effective solutions to the problem. This theme explores two key concepts—gender equity and gender specificity—as they impact gun violence. A gender equity approach implies working with both men and women to reduce risks and bolster resilience to insecurity and violence. Gender specificity means examining the different impacts on men and women of armed violence—and then developing programmes that take into account these particular risks