Essential reading for anyone interested in the post-2015 HRH agenda, this commentary synthesizes current opinion and state-of-the-art evidence pertaining to gender and HRH. Global HRH discussion and guidance have mostly remained gender-blind, and health systems are failing to protect, support, and retain their predominantly female workforces. The article presents original research from Kenya, Rwanda, Uganda, and Zambia to illustrate how gender discrimination and inequality operate and suggests actions at multiple levels.