Gender and Water

© Oxfam photo Geoff, Sayer, Tanzania

A Critical Global Issue

For Canada and globally, water is a critical issue.

Having access to enough safe, clean water is important to humans and all other living things on the planet.  

© Oxfam photo Abbie Trayler-Smith, Haiti

Access to Water

Who has access to water?

Where are the water sources?

Who uses them?

Who manages them?

Why?

© Oxfam photo Jerry Carreon, Phillipines

Quality of Water

What is the quality of the water?

Is it polluted? Contaminated?

Who controls the water quality?

Why?

Cost of Water

What is the cost of the water?

Is it free?

Affordable?

Who controls the cost?

Why?

© Oxfam photo, Kaya Ngwenwa, South Africa

Gender Dimension of Water

Even water has a gender dimension.

In many ways, gender roles dictate that women and girls are connected to water in many ways—fetching it, storing it, and using it.- © Oxfam photo, Shailan Parker, India

Accessing Water

Women and girls often walk many miles to a water source.

In some areas, this puts them at physical risk.

It also leads to girls leaving school at an early age due to water needs.

© Oxfam photo Gilvan Barreto, Honduras© Oxfam photo, Ami Vitale, Tanzania

Use of Water

© Oxfam photo Annie Bungeroth, Guatemala

Women and girls also carry out the tasks that require the use of water: cooking, cleaning (households, dishes and children), and drinking.

Water and Farming

In many areas of the world, this also includes farming, especially for growing food for household use.

© Oxfam photo Gilvan Barreto, Honduras

Custodians of Water

Because the work of women and girls is so tied to water, women are also best-placed to be the custodians of water quality.

It is in their best interest to ensure they have access to safe drinking water for themselves and their families. © Oxfam photo Anonymous, Kenya

Women and Water Needs

Unfortunately, women are not always considered or allowed to control or manage water issues, nor are their needs always considered in water projects. 

© Oxfam photo Jane Beesley, Kenya

© Oxfam photo Shumon Alam, Ethiopia

Water Privatization

Increasingly, water is being managed and sold for profit by large multi-national companies.

Privatization means higher costs and less income for families, and this, too, becomes the women’s burden.  

© Oxfam photo Jane Beesley, Kenya

© Oxfam photo Jane Beesley, Kenya