Gender Inequality
Gender inequality is one of the biggest obstacles to a world where all people enjoy health, safety and prosperity. It is caused by unequal systems of power built on patriarchy that deny women and people along gender identity and sexual orientation spectrums the same rights as cisgender men. It includes everything from violence against women and girls, to a lack of representation in political offices and unequal divisions of work and wealth.
While we make progress, we are far from achieving global gender parity. In fact, we’ll be lucky to close the current gender gap in 131 years at the current rate of progress. The reasons for these gaps vary by country, but include sexism and stereotypes, limited access to quality education, inadequate social services, discriminatory laws, unequal opportunities in the workplace, and economic disparities like the pay gap.
Women and girls still earn less than men in the labor market, and women spend more time on unpaid domestic and care work than men. They are also more likely to be exposed to violence and poor living conditions.
Despite these barriers, many policies are designed to address the issue. The key is in their design, as different policies work better under different circumstances and have tradeoffs that must be considered. The graph below shows the available cross-country data on selected indicators of gender equality.
The most obvious sign of gender inequality is the pay gap. Women on average make about 23% less than men globally. This is partly because of the unequal distribution of household and family responsibilities, but it is also because of gender discrimination. Women are not hired or promoted as quickly as men, and are not rewarded the same for taking time off to care for children or elderly relatives. Women are overrepresented in low-wage industries and in lower-level jobs like customer service, while men have more access to higher-paying and more stable management positions.
Many other areas of inequality can be traced back to the gender divide, including unequal divisions of household and community responsibilities, poor educational outcomes, lack of access to financial services, and unequal political representation. But perhaps the most serious is the pervasive and often violent discrimination against transgender and non-binary people. This is why the inclusion of people with different identities in all gender equality discussions is essential.
You can help by sharing information about gender issues with your friends and colleagues, speaking out against harmful stereotypes and biases, and supporting organizations that focus on these issues. You can also support efforts to improve access to education and healthcare, and by donating money or volunteering your time. By working towards a more inclusive and gender-balanced society, we can make real progress in the fight for equality. Together, we can build a world where no person’s health, safety or prosperity is dependent on, or constrained by, their sex. The future of the planet depends on it.