even seemingly neutral laws and regulations can be discriminatory in nature as they may affect men and women differently intentionally or otherwise for example a workplace regulation that permits parents to take leave to care for a sick child may apply equally to both genders but is more likely to apply to women as primary caregivers regulations also can impede the ability of women to become fuller participants in society by making it more difficult for them to find employment gain an education start a business meet the needs of their family ensure their human rights etc services are not genderneutral the way they are developed and delivered can have a differential impact on women and on men gender mainstreaming seeks to ensure that institutions policies and services respond to the needs and interests of women as well as men and distribute benefits equitably between women and men are the aims of the policy the same for women and men girls and boys