International Women's Health and Human Rights

Instructor: Anne Firth Murray

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129,833 already enrolled

14 modules

Gain insight into a topic and learn the fundamentals.

1,712 reviews

Beginner level

No prior experience required

Flexible schedule

7 weeks at 10 hours a week

Learn at your own pace

98%

Most learners liked this course

14 modules

Gain insight into a topic and learn the fundamentals.

1,712 reviews

Beginner level

No prior experience required

Flexible schedule

7 weeks at 10 hours a week

Learn at your own pace

98%

Most learners liked this course

Details to know

Shareable certificate

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Assessments

21 assignments¹

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Taught in English

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There are 14 modules in this course

This course focuses on women’s health and human rights issues from infancy through old age, including information about positive interventions relating to those issues. Learners are encouraged to interact with each other through interactive discussions.

It is important to us that this course be available to all learners. We encourage you to apply for Coursera's financial aid (see link to left) if the cost of the course certificate is difficult for you to afford. Please note that you may view all materials in this course, and participate in it, without purchasing a certificate. The course was co-created by Consulting Professor Anne Firth Murray and Kevin Hsu. Anne Firth Murray is the Content Director of the course; Kevin Hsu is the Design Director of the course.

What's included

1 video9 readings1 assignment

1 videoTotal 12 minutes

Welcome to the Course12 minutes

9 readingsTotal 90 minutes

Welcome!10 minutes
Who we are10 minutes
Our Textbook10 minutes
Assignments10 minutes
Complete a brief pre-course survey10 minutes
What resources are available to you?10 minutes
Visit internationalwomenshealth.org10 minutes
Sharing your work10 minutes
Create a local group10 minutes

1 assignmentTotal 30 minutes

Complete the survey30 minutes

Learning the basics of women's rights and human rights. Why do we use the lens of human rights to examine women's issues?

What's included

6 videos8 readings2 assignments1 peer review3 discussion prompts

6 videosTotal 66 minutes

Why do we take a human rights lens?5 minutes
Akila Radhakrishnan on Women & Human Rights19 minutes
Helen Stacy on Women's Health, Human Rights, and International Law38 minutes
Son Preference & Demography4 minutes
Son Preference Conclusion0 minutes
Week 1 Final Remarks0 minutes

8 readingsTotal 80 minutes

About this Module10 minutes
Women's Health, Poverty and Rights [Textbook]10 minutes
About Akila Radhakrishnan10 minutes
About Helen Stacy10 minutes
(optional) Additional Resources10 minutes
WHO: Women and Health - Today's Evidence, Tomorrow's Agenda10 minutes
[Optional] We Women Worry a Lot about our Husbands (Ghana)10 minutes
A Deadly Preference10 minutes

2 assignmentsTotal 60 minutes

Check Your Learning: Women's Rights = Human Rights30 minutes
Check Your Learning: A Deadly Preference30 minutes

1 peer reviewTotal 60 minutes

Thought Question on Women's Rights and Human Rights60 minutes

3 discussion promptsTotal 30 minutes

What are my initial thoughts on these topics?10 minutes
CEDAW in your Country10 minutes
Reflect and Respond10 minutes

What's included

5 videos10 readings1 assignment1 peer review

5 videosTotal 62 minutes

Introduction to Education3 minutes
Lynn Murphy on "Learning vs. Schooling"33 minutes
Professor Wu Qing from China8 minutes
Dr. Wanjiru Kamau-Rutenberg from Kenya18 minutes
Week 2 Final Remarks0 minutes

10 readingsTotal 100 minutes

About this Module10 minutes
Chapter 3. Childhood: the Hope of Education and the Persistence of Discrimination10 minutes
(optional) Additional Resources10 minutes
New Lessons: the Power of Educating Adolescent Girls10 minutes
(optional) Additional Resources on Girls' Education10 minutes
What Works in Girls’ Education10 minutes
About Lynn Murphy10 minutes
About Wu Qing10 minutes
About Wanjiru Kamau-Rutenberg10 minutes
(optional) Add to Your Portfolio10 minutes

1 assignmentTotal 30 minutes

Check Your Learning: Education30 minutes

1 peer reviewTotal 120 minutes

Thought Question: Education120 minutes

What's included

4 videos10 readings2 assignments1 peer review

4 videosTotal 36 minutes

Female Genital Mutilation4 minutes
UNICEF: Speaking out on Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting3 minutes
Isha Daramy on FGM in Sierra Leone23 minutes
UNICEF: FGM in Côte d'Ivoire5 minutes

10 readingsTotal 100 minutes

Into a New World: Young Women's Sexual and Reproductive Lives10 minutes
About this Module10 minutes
A Violent Practice: Female Genital Mutilation [Textbook]10 minutes
World Health Organization10 minutes
UNICEF10 minutes
(optional) UNICEF Data10 minutes
Female Genital Mutilation: Guide to Laws and Policies10 minutes
Introduction to FGM in Sierra Leone10 minutes
[Optional] Cultural Perspective on FGM10 minutes
(optional) Add to Your Portfolio10 minutes

2 assignmentsTotal 32 minutes

Check Your Learning: Female Genital Mutilation30 minutes
Check-in on FGM2 minutes

1 peer reviewTotal 120 minutes

Thought Question on Female Genital Mutilation120 minutes

What's included

8 videos11 readings2 assignments1 peer review

8 videosTotal 62 minutes

Vulnerability to HIV/AIDS5 minutes
Dr. Gene Richardson on Gender & HIV/AIDS12 minutes
Why South Africa?5 minutes
What is 'structural violence'?4 minutes
Changing Paradigms5 minutes
About TeachAIDS2 minutes
TeachAIDS India23 minutes
Orphans in Africa6 minutes

11 readingsTotal 110 minutes

About this Module10 minutes
Adolescence, Change & Vulnerability [Textbook]10 minutes
Women, Poverty, and AIDS10 minutes
Women Are Not Just Transmitters10 minutes
About Dr. Gene Richardson (Stanford)10 minutes
(optional) Additional Resources10 minutes
About TeachAIDS10 minutes
About G.R.A.C.E10 minutes
(optional) Additional Resources10 minutes
About this Quiz10 minutes
(optional) Add to Your Portfolio10 minutes

2 assignmentsTotal 60 minutes

HIV/AIDS30 minutes
Check Your Learning: (Practice Quiz) HIV/AIDS30 minutes

1 peer reviewTotal 120 minutes

Thought Question: Structural Violence, HIV/AIDS120 minutes

What's included

6 videos16 readings1 assignment1 peer review3 discussion prompts

6 videosTotal 56 minutes

Introduction to Reproductive Health4 minutes
Dr. Caitilin Gerdts on Reproductive Health3 minutes
Unwanted Pregnancy, Contraception, and Abortion26 minutes
Safe abortion in Nepal - a success story8 minutes
Why Did Mrs. X Die?, Retold15 minutes
Final Remarks on Sexual Health1 minute

16 readingsTotal 160 minutes

About this Module10 minutes
Why Child Marriage Persists10 minutes
Adolescent Pregnancy and Its Outcomes Across Countries10 minutes
About Dr. Caitlin Gerdts (UCSF)10 minutes
The Maternity Death Road: Reproductive and Sexual Health [Textbook]10 minutes
Spiraling Discourses of Reproductive and Sexual Rights10 minutes
Activism for Sexual and Reproductive Rights10 minutes
Advancing women's reproductive and sexual health rights: Using the International Human Rights system10 minutes
(optional) Additional Resources10 minutes
About Ipas10 minutes
Outcomes in Nepal10 minutes
READINGS ON CERVICAL CANCER & HPV10 minutes
Lesbians, Health and Human Rights10 minutes
The Maternity Death Road10 minutes
(optional) "Birth of a Surgeon" documentary film (Mozambique)10 minutes
(optional) Add to Your Portfolio10 minutes

1 assignmentTotal 30 minutes

Check Your Learning: Reproductive Health30 minutes

1 peer reviewTotal 120 minutes

Thought Question: Reproductive Health120 minutes

3 discussion promptsTotal 30 minutes

Responsibility for Pregnancy10 minutes
Reflect & Respond10 minutes
Reflect & Respond10 minutes

One of two special assignments that will take you out to interact with members of your community

What's included

2 readings1 peer review

What's included

3 videos16 readings1 assignment1 peer review1 discussion prompt

3 videosTotal 62 minutes

Violence Against Women5 minutes
Jacqueline Pitanguy on Violence Against Women16 minutes
From Fear to Freedom41 minutes

16 readingsTotal 160 minutes

About this Module10 minutes
"Violence against Women: Abuse or Terrorism?" [Textbook]10 minutes
WHO: Intimate partner and sexual violence against women10 minutes
(optional) Additional Resources10 minutes
About Jacqueline Pitanguy (Brazil)10 minutes
WHO: Going in Depth10 minutes
(Optional) Reflections on Violence, Subordination & Sexual Control (India)10 minutes
About the Film10 minutes
(Optional) Survey10 minutes
About the Women's Learning Partnership10 minutes
Impacts on Empowerment (Mexico)10 minutes
An Obstacle to Development (Global)10 minutes
WHO: Primary prevention strategies10 minutes
Ending Violence Against Women10 minutes
Conclusion10 minutes
(optional) Add to Your Portfolio10 minutes

1 assignmentTotal 30 minutes

Check Your Learning: Violence Against Women30 minutes

1 peer reviewTotal 120 minutes

Thought Question: Violence Against Women in the Home & Community120 minutes

1 discussion promptTotal 10 minutes

Reflect & Respond10 minutes

What's included

6 videos15 readings2 assignments1 peer review1 discussion prompt

6 videosTotal 78 minutes

War & Refugee Settings6 minutes
LGBTI Refugees17 minutes
LGBIT Refugees (bonus)19 minutes
Zainab Bangura27 minutes
Marjan Sax on Refugees in Europe9 minutes
Final Remarks on Women in War and Refugee Settings1 minute

15 readingsTotal 150 minutes

About this Module10 minutes
Women Caught in Conflict and Refugee Situations [Textbook]10 minutes
Defining "What is a refugee?"10 minutes
Female refugees10 minutes
(optional) Additional Resources on "Rape as a Weapon of War"10 minutes
About Tiela Chalmers10 minutes
War and the Health of Women10 minutes
Forced Evictions in Situations of Armed Conflict (Middle East)10 minutes
Women, Violence and War (Balkans)10 minutes
About UN Special Representative Zainab Bangura10 minutes
(optional) Additional Resources10 minutes
About Marjan Sax10 minutes
About the Series "Women, War, and Peace" (2011)10 minutes
(optional) Film: "Pray the Devil Back to Hell"10 minutes
(optional) Add to Your Portfolio10 minutes

2 assignmentsTotal 60 minutes

Check Your Learning: Women in War and Refugee Settings30 minutes
Optional Reading Quiz30 minutes

1 peer reviewTotal 120 minutes

Thought Question: Women in War & Refugee Settings120 minutes

1 discussion promptTotal 10 minutes

Reflect & Respond10 minutes

What's included

4 videos10 readings1 assignment1 peer review2 discussion prompts

4 videosTotal 20 minutes

Women in Poverty4 minutes
Violeta Krasnic on Women and Work12 minutes
The Global Gender Gap2 minutes
Violeta's Comments on the Video2 minutes

10 readingsTotal 100 minutes

About this Module10 minutes
Laboring in a Globalized World10 minutes
UN WOMEN: Facts & Figures on Economic Empowerment10 minutes
(optional) Additional Resources10 minutes
About Violeta Krasnic10 minutes
The Global Gender Gap10 minutes
UN WOMEN: Decent Work and Women's Economic Empowerment10 minutes
UNDP: "Valuing Women's Work"10 minutes
UN Special Rapporteur: Unpaid Care Work and Women's Human Rights10 minutes
(optional) Add to Your Portfolio10 minutes

1 assignmentTotal 12 minutes

Check Your Learning: Women's Work and Economic Empowerment12 minutes

1 peer reviewTotal 120 minutes

Thought Question: Women's Quest to Escape Poverty - Work & Economic Empowerment120 minutes

2 discussion promptsTotal 20 minutes

Reflect & Respond10 minutes
Policy Frameworks for Gender Equality10 minutes

What's included

3 videos7 readings4 assignments1 peer review

3 videosTotal 33 minutes

Introduction to Sex Work and Sex Trafficking3 minutes
Katherine Jolluck on Human Trafficking28 minutes
Voluntary & Involuntary Sex Work2 minutes

7 readingsTotal 70 minutes

About this Module10 minutes
Sex Work and Sex Trafficking10 minutes
About Katherine Jolluck10 minutes
Trading women into sex and slavery10 minutes
International Trafficking in Women in the United States10 minutes
Women in the Sex Trade in Calcutta (India)10 minutes
(optional) Add to Your Portfolio10 minutes

4 assignmentsTotal 120 minutes

Trading women into sex and slavery30 minutes
International Trafficking in Women in the United States30 minutes
Women in the Sex Trade in Calcutta (India)30 minutes
Check Your Learning: Sex Work and Sex Trafficking30 minutes

1 peer reviewTotal 120 minutes

Thought Question: Women's Quest to Escape Poverty - Sex Work & Sex Trafficking120 minutes

What's included

3 videos10 readings3 assignments1 peer review

3 videosTotal 44 minutes

Introduction to Women Aging5 minutes
Dr. Carol Hutner Winograd on Aging and Demographic Change37 minutes
Final Remarks1 minute

10 readingsTotal 100 minutes

About this Module10 minutes
Aging in a Man's World [Textbook]10 minutes
UN WOMEN: Between Gender & Aging10 minutes
About Dr. Carol Hutner Winograd (Stanford)10 minutes
(optional) Additional Resources10 minutes
Aging in a Gendered World & Special Problems in Developing Countries10 minutes
Who Cares for the Caregivers?10 minutes
Dying and Death10 minutes
Grandmother Power10 minutes
(optional) Add to Your Portfolio10 minutes

3 assignmentsTotal 62 minutes

Aging in a Gendered World & Special Problems in Developing Countries2 minutes
Who cares for the caregivers?30 minutes
Check Your Learning: Women, Aging and End of Life30 minutes

1 peer reviewTotal 120 minutes

Thought Question: Women, Aging and End of Life120 minutes

Second of two special assignments where you engage with members of your community

What's included

2 readings1 peer review

What's included

5 videos11 readings1 assignment1 peer review

5 videosTotal 59 minutes

Women's Rights - Looking Back, Looking Ahead2 minutes
Dr. Iman Bibars (Egypt)12 minutes
Ana María Enríquez (Colombia)13 minutes
Dr. Musimbi Kanyoro (Kenya)16 minutes
Anne Firth Murray (New Zealand)17 minutes

11 readingsTotal 110 minutes

About this Module10 minutes
About Dr. Iman Bibars (Egypt)10 minutes
Turning the World Right-side Up [Textbook]10 minutes
About Ana María Enríquez (Colombia)10 minutes
How to Proceed from Concept to Action10 minutes
About Dr. Musimbi Kanyoro (Kenya)10 minutes
Women's Political Action (India)10 minutes
About Anne Firth Murray10 minutes
(optional) Add to Your Portfolio10 minutes
Post-Course Survey10 minutes
Our alumni community: internationalwomenshealth.org10 minutes

1 assignmentTotal 30 minutes

Check Your Learning: Choosing Priorities, Making a Difference30 minutes

1 peer reviewTotal 120 minutes

Thought Question: Choosing Priorities, Making a Difference120 minutes

Instructor

Instructor ratings

(582 ratings)

Anne Firth Murray

Stanford University

2 Courses167,027 learners

Offered by

Stanford University

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Reviewed on Mar 21, 2025

I really appreciate for the knowledge and understanding that I acquired from this course and I intend to share and technically it change the community with what I endure during the learning process.

Reviewed on Mar 5, 2020

It was a great experience, and I learned more than I hoped for! Very well organized, incredible readings and speakers. I fully recommend this course for anyone who believes in justice.

Reviewed on Aug 19, 2018

This course is amazingly designed to give you integrated knowledge on various factors that influence women's health and plus gives you idea about interventions you can apply to solve those problems.

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