Gender Inequality – A Global Problem That Impacts Everyone

Gender inequality is a global problem that impacts everyone. Across contexts and cultures, it limits the lifelong potential of children – especially girls – and harms society as a whole. It’s rooted in centuries of oppression that started at the dawn of civilization in most cultures, and it persists in modern society despite advances.

Even in the world’s wealthiest economies, where women’s advancement has been greatest, gender inequality remains a challenge for many women. Higher education and a shift to higher-paying occupations have helped narrow the gender pay gap, but it hasn’t closed as much as in previous decades. This is due to a combination of direct harmful actions and social norms that restrict women’s choices and opportunities. This gender gap costs societies a significant amount of money and reduces overall social welfare.

Gender equality is not an impossible goal, but it’s a long journey, particularly in areas where gender bias and social norms are entrenched. Achieving gender equality means ensuring women and men have equal rights and opportunities in all spheres of life – in work, education, finance, and the family. It means allowing women and men to fully express their interests, ambitions, talents and gifts and providing them with the necessary support to do so. It also means protecting women from coercion, intimidation and violence both in the home and at work, as well as addressing systemic barriers like poverty, discrimination, isolation and lack of services (AIHW 2024).

In addition to its financial cost, gender inequality has a variety of other negative effects for individuals, families and society. It reduces the quality of health and educational outcomes, leads to distortions in the economy and reduces social welfare. It can increase the risk of natural and man-made disasters – including epidemics, droughts, climate change and wars – as they impact the most marginalised, often women and girls.

The fight against gender inequality is complex and needs to take place at every level, from individual households to regional and national governments. The COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated existing gaps and limitations in gender equality, as women took on extra domestic and care responsibilities and lost out on paid employment. But it’s clear that lasting, transformative change will require a mix of interventions at local, regional and international levels.

The UN’s Sustainable Development Goals are a key roadmap for the next 15 years, and they include an ambitious commitment to achieve gender equality by 2030. But with ongoing crises around the globe — from conflict, to climate change and economic turmoil — it will be an uphill battle. Achieving gender equality will help tackle a range of challenges and unlock the true potential for everyone on this planet. The time to act is now.