A World Without Gender Inequality
A world without gender inequality is a fairer, safer and more prosperous one. When a girl can stay in school, work outside the home and earn her own money – and when boys can too – everyone benefits. Gender discrimination robs children of their childhood, limits their chances and deprives nations of the energy and talent they need to progress. Yet, despite years of progress, the COVID-19 pandemic threatens to erode years of hard-earned advances in the fight for equality and leaves a new generation of girls vulnerable to injustice.
Gender inequality is a situation of unequal access to rights, opportunities and resources based on the social construct of gender, influenced by psycho-physiological differences, assumed preferences and tendencies for different roles, and stereotyped assumptions about women and men. Gender inequality also refers to the unequal distribution of power and influence at all levels of society.
In the workplace, sex discrimination is a significant cause of wage gaps between men and women. Women are still overrepresented in low-paying jobs and underrepresented in management or leadership positions. While some of this gap can be explained by factors such as educational attainment, career progression, and choice – the overall trend continues to favor men over women.
This trend has been dubbed the ‘glass ceiling’ and is often attributed to cultural, social, and structural norms that prevent individuals from reaching high-ranking positions even when they have the necessary skills, education and experience. However, research suggests that sex-based discrimination is a bigger factor than the glass ceiling and has led to persistent inequality between males and females in the workplace.
It is also a major driver of the unequal distribution of power and influence at different levels of society, including in government. This has a direct impact on the welfare of citizens, because it can lead to unjust policies and laws that disproportionately affect women, minorities and poor people.
In the legal system, discrimination based on gender is also prevalent, particularly in sentencing and property rights. For example, in some countries such as Egypt, India and Indonesia, the law allows women to inherit less of an estate compared to their male counterparts, while in the US, judges typically sentence a woman to fewer years in prison than a man for the same crime. This is because of a general societal disposition that women are the gentler sex, and that men are more likely to commit violent crimes.
The GII is an important tool for policy makers to understand the root causes of gender inequality and identify concrete steps towards equality. It is important to note that the GII is not a proxy for economic performance, and should be considered alongside other indicators of prosperity. For more information on the GII, click here.