Abstract:
This first chapter of the handbook begins with a brief account of the beginnings of
scholarship and activism on sex, gender, and health, including in South Asia. It
introduces key sex/gender concepts before contextualizing them in the varied
histories and politics of the region while highlighting recent advances in sexual
rights amidst the backlash. Subsequently, the authors provide a road map of
approaches to integrating a sex/gender lens into understandings of health and
illness, focusing on intersectionality, socioecological approaches, social and
structural determinants, and rights-based approaches. While not an exhaustive
review, the road map offers a foundational understanding to contextualize the
content of the subsequent chapters and sections in this handbook.
