Ending Gender Inequality
Gender inequality – defined as men and women enjoying different levels of access to valued goods such as education, health, wealth or political power – has been a key driver of global poverty and underdevelopment for decades. It is largely the result of sexism, prejudice or discrimination against people because of their sex at birth. It primarily affects women and girls, with effects that start at birth and last for their whole lives.
Gender equality empowers individuals to break free from harmful stereotypes and pursue their interests, regardless of societal expectations. It also fosters a more open-minded society and creates opportunities for the next generation of innovators, leaders and builders. It is an essential ingredient of sustainable development and the path to achieving Goal 5.
Investing in gender equality empowers the world’s women and girls. It will ensure that the benefits of development – including economic empowerment, improved healthcare and greater participation in decision-making – are enjoyed equally by women and men. It will also enable countries to make progress towards achieving all the other goals of the Sustainable Development Goals.
Achieving a world free of gender inequality will take political leadership, investments and comprehensive policy reforms. But progress is being made. The momentum generated over the past quarter of a century shows that a shift from the status quo is possible.
In countries with well-functioning economies, women have now overtaken men in terms of earnings. However, the gap in income is still significant. In addition, the burden of unpaid at-home work – care giving, childrearing and housework – remains with women and is increasing. On average, across the world, women do three times more at-home work than men.
Gender inequality affects mental health, too. It can lead to higher rates of stress, anxiety and depression in women and other marginalized groups, and it may increase the risk of mental illness. Women and girls can be especially impacted when they are targeted with violence or discrimination based on their gender, as well as by ongoing exposure to socioeconomic inequality, chronic stress, harmful messages in the media, and harmful masculinity norms.
We must work together to end the injustice of gender inequality. This can include sharing information about what gender inequality looks like in your country and beyond, supporting campaigns that address the issue, volunteering with organisations working on the ground, using inclusive language, challenging stereotypical views and taking action when we see it. It can also mean supporting the efforts of other marginalised groups, such as those who experience racism as well as sexism and/or homophobia, as they seek to make change happen. This will be more effective than focusing solely on the needs of women and girls. The world can only achieve sustainable development if all are on board to bring about real and lasting change.