SAGE Glossary and Library
Sex Assigned at Birth: The designation that refers to a person’s biological, morphological, hormonal, and genetic composition. One’s sex is typically assigned at birth and classified as either male or female. “Assigned-at-birth” serves to imply that sex assignment is without the agency of the individual1. This term is also often used in the abbreviations AFAB and AMAB which mean Assigned Female/Male at Birth respectively. Sex is not the same as gender and these terms should not be used interchangeably.
Cis-gender, Cis: A person whose sense of gender identity correlates with the sex that they were assigned at birth2.
Femicide: killing women and girls because of their gender. It is a specific form of gender-based violence but needs to be mentioned separately due to the high occurrence rate and the lack of reporting.
Gender vs Sex: While sex refers to biological and physiological characteristics, gender can be understood as the social and cultural construction of norms and behaviors attributed to people differently on the basis of their sex assigned at birth. It is important to not use these terms interchangeably and keep in mind how their difference impacts different communities and people.
Gender@Work: A framework developed by the UNDP to better understand the types of changes to which UNDP contributes. The framework identifies four, interlinked domains of change needed to make sustainable progress on gender equality and women’s empowerment: individual change, formal change, systemic change and informal change3. This framework is also central to the implementation of SAGE within RCF and Aidsfonds.
Gender-based violence (GBV): The violence that is committed against a person because of their sex or gender.
Gender lens: Takes the existing differences in experience and power between – women, men, trans and non-binary people in all their diversity – into account when analyzing a situation or when developing specific approaches or programs.
Gender mainstreaming: Mainstreaming a gender perspective is the process of assessing the implications for women, men and gender-diverse people of any planned action, including legislation, policies or programs, in all areas and at all levels. Gender mainstreaming is the (re)organisation, improvement, development and evaluation of policy processes, so that a gender equality perspective is incorporated in all policies at all levels and all stages4.
Gender nonconforming: A term that describes a person whose behavior or appearance does not conform to societal and cultural expectations of what is appropriate for their gender. This term is usually more related to gender expression or gender attribution than gender identity. It is usually used as a descriptor. Although rare, some people do use this term as a gender identity term5.
Gender Results Effectiveness Scale (GRES): The GRES was developed by the UNDP and provides a five-point scale showing different levels of effectiveness, both positive and negative, to evaluate and assess the gender results of any given output or outcome. The scale ranges from Gender Negative – Gender Blind – Gender Targeted – Gender Responsive to Gender Transformative.
Gender transformative approach: A form of working which addresses the broader power structures that underpin gender inequality through collective community-led action and by influencing the enabling environment. This approach goes beyond being gender-responsive and aims to address all forms of inequalities, structural barriers and power structures to address the root of these inequalities.
Inadequately served populations (ISPs): The Robert Carr Fund (RCF) defines the term “inadequately served populations” (ISPs) as populations facing a high HIV risk, mortality and/or morbidity compared to the general population, and, at the same time, facing systematic human rights violations and barriers to information and services.
Intersectional: Intersectionality recognizes how various parts of our identity – like race, sex, gender, sexuality, class and ability – overlap to create unique experiences of oppression and privilege. The term was created to reflect how Black women face both racism and sexism. Nowadays, it’s applied more widely to other aspects of identity, and it’s vital that we start but do not stop with race6.
Intersex: A term used to describe a person who may have the biological attributes of both sexes or whose biological attributes do not fit with societal assumptions about what constitutes male or female. Intersex people may identify as male, female or non-binary7.
People living with HIV (PLHIV): People living with HIV (PLHIV) are people who carry the HIV virus as a chronic infection. People living with HIV face systematic human rights violations and related barriers to information and services in all regions of the world.
Sexual and Reproductive Health Rights (SRHR): This refers to the rights of everyone, regardless of age, ethnicity, sexual orientation, HIV status or other aspects of identity, to make informed choices regarding their own sexuality and reproduction8.
SAGE Library
Gender based violence and femicide are increasingly important topics. They impact the lives of women, men and gender-diverse people every day and are heightened by social and political climate and intersectionality. The following links contain more information on these topics.
What is gender-based violence – and how do we prevent it? | International Rescue Committee (IRC)
If you want to know more about working with a gender transformative approach or how to implement a gender lens into your work. Here are some places to help you learn about the Gender Results Effectiveness Scale and its uses.
Good-practices-in-gender-responsive-evaluations-en.pdf
Mainstreaming Primer – Gender Equality Toolbox
The Sustaining Action for Gender Equality (SAGE) project is funded by the Gates Foundation. If you want to know more about SAGE project, the following link will tell you more.
Home – Gender Equality Toolbox
The definitions in this glossary come from various sources and are at times adjusted by the RCF SAGE team to relate better to the context of HIV, SRHR and the current times. If you want to know more about gender inclusive language and related terminology, check out the following links.
Gender mainstreaming glossary | European Institute for Gender Equality
Glossary | The Gender and Sexuality Campus Center | Michigan State University
Inclusive Language Guide – Oxfam
List of SRHR terminology – Make Way
Footnotes: