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What is culturally relevant GBA Plus and why was it developed?

The Canadian federal government defines Gender-based Analysis Plus (GBA Plus) as:

“an analytical tool used to support the development of responsive and inclusive policies, programs, and other initiatives. GBA Plus is a process for understanding who is impacted by the issue or opportunity being addressed by the initiative; identifying how the initiative could be tailored to meet diverse needs of the people most impacted and anticipating and mitigating any barriers to accessing or benefitting from the initiative. GBA Plus is an intersectional analysis that goes beyond biological (sex) and socio-cultural (gender) differences to consider other factors, such as age, disability, education, ethnicity, economic status, geography (including rurality), language, race, religion, and sexual orientation”.[1]  

GBA gained prominence in Canada during ‘second-wave feminism’ and focused on issues like reproductive rights and wage equality, mainly prioritizing the experiences of white heterosexual women. It did not capture the lived realities of diverse groups, such as Black, Indigenous, migrant, and refugee women, members of the 2SLGBTQQIA+ community, and people with disabilities. Despite progress in women’s equality, significant disparities remained. Through ongoing research and advocacy efforts, GBA evolved to become GBA Plus, which, as the definition above highlights, encourages an intersectional analysis. However, the Native Women’s Association of Canada (NWAC) has highlighted that mainstream GBA Plus frameworks still lack cultural and historical perspectives, treat Indigenous groups as homogenous, and fail to adequately address the role of colonization in ongoing trauma and violence (NWAC, 2020). For NWAC, culturally relevant GBA Plus acknowledges the persistent and harmful effects of colonization and the power structures and oppression that have historically marginalized Indigenous Peoples (NWAC, 2020). Culturally relevant GBA Plus emphasizes the need for policies and programs that recognize and address these distinct historic, current and evolving realities, ensuring that the impacts of colonization and systemic oppression are integrated into both impact assessment (IA) and the development of solutions. In sum, culturally relevant GBA Plus combines an intersectional analysis with specific attention to colonization and the distinct experiences of Indigenous women, girls and Two-Spirit peoples.

[1] Government of Canada, What is Gender-based Analysis Plus? Available at: https://www.canada.ca/en/women-gender-equality/gender-based-analysis-plus/what-gender-based-analysis-plus.html. 

Additional details

Culturally relevant GBA Plus builds on the leadership and ongoing efforts of many researchers and advocates, including Indigenous women, girls, Two-Spirit, and gender-diverse peoples. It encourages transformative changes to achieve equity for all. Following the United Nation’s Fourth World Conference on Women in Beijing in 1995, Canada adopted GBA as an analytical tool to support the development of responsive and inclusive policies, programs, and other initiatives. This was a significant milestone in gender advocacy, which introduced the concept of gender mainstreaming, aiming to integrate gender perspectives into all policies and programs.

GBA was criticized for focusing on a single identity characteristic (i.e., gender), and mainly on the experiences of white women, which is why the “Plus” was added — to emphasize the need for an intersectional analysis. Intersectionality, a concept coined by Black feminist legal scholar Kimberlé Crenshaw, underpins the GBA Plus framework not only by highlighting how overlapping dimensions of identity — such as race, gender, social class, age, disability, and sexual orientation, — intersect, but also by recognizing the structures of oppression and power that shape unique experiences of discrimination and privilege. In other words, intersectionality is not just about the unique experiences of intersecting identities; it is also about how power shapes these experiences. The “Plus” in GBA Plus highlights the need to go beyond considering sex and gender to encompass intersecting identities and power structures and how these shape unique experiences in specific contexts.

GBA Plus still often neglects the realities of Indigenous women, girls, Two-Sprit, and gender-diverse peoples. Therefore, there is a critical need for a culturally relevant GBA Plus approach to ensure that their perspectives are not overlooked. Culturally relevant GBA Plus, as defined by NWAC (see summary response), recognizes and addresses the distinct historic and current realities, such as the impacts of colonialism, residential schools, and systemic racism, while also considering the unique experiences and lack of equitable access to opportunities for Indigenous women, girls, Two-Spirit, and gender-diverse peoples in healthcare, education, employment and justice. This helps address and incorporate their specific needs when assessing the effects of resource development and extraction, and developing mitigation measures, policies and programs in response. The goal of culturally relevant GBA Plus is to support more inclusive, equitable, and effective outcomes for ALL people; foster meaningful change; and address persistent disparities in health, social, legal, political, and economic realms. In sum, culturally relevant GBA Plus combines an intersectional analysis with specific attention to colonization and the distinct experiences of Indigenous women, girls and Two-Spirit peoples.

Examples

Example 1: Knowledge transfer of culturally relevant GBA Plus led by Indigenous women

Native Women’s Association of Canada (NWAC) has played a pivotal role in promoting culturally relevant GBA Plus in various policies affecting Indigenous women across Canada. They have developed tools and resources to help communities and policymakers incorporate gender and cultural considerations into their work. NWAC provides comprehensive guidelines on applying culturally relevant GBA Plus, emphasizing the intersection of gender with Indigenous identity, culture, and socio-economic conditions. An example of this is their culturally relevant gender-based analysis starter kit, available online. Through these efforts, NWAC ensures that the unique perspectives, needs, and interests of Indigenous women, girls, Two-Spirit, and gender-diverse peoples are recognized and addressed in policy development and implementation.

Example 2: Leadership of Indigenous women in implementing culturally relevant GBA Plus in resource development and extraction projects

Indigenous women in Canada have been actively involved in integrating culturally relevant GBA Plus into environmental and social policies. They have emphasized the importance of considering Indigenous Knowledge systems, traditional roles (such as fishing, hunting, berry picking, etc.), and the specific effects on their communities in environmental assessments. For example, the Voisey’s Bay Nickel Mine project  included significant input from Indigenous women, resulting in recommendations on women’s employment and addressing concerns about gender-based violence and community health.

Citations and useful resources

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