Gender Inequality Index (GII)
The pandemic has brought a renewed focus on the importance of gender equality and its negative impacts. The report highlights the growing number of cases of domestic violence and child marriage. Many women are working in low-paying, insecure jobs and the proportion of women nurses is high. The COVID-19 pandemic threatens to undermine years of progress and further the problem. Despite the need to address gender inequality, the pandemic is a spur to action.
The GII measures the degree of gender inequality and shows the percentage of men and women in different countries. It also provides a comparison between countries by using different indicators, such as the number of workers per capita and the average income of both men and women. In addition, the GII reflects the status of women in the labour market, economic growth, and female health. The higher the score, the more gender equality there is. It also shows the progress made by the UN’s Millennium Development Goals.
The GII is based on a range of indicators, including the amount of capital women are able to access. The data can be misleading, as it does not consider the effects of climate change. Andrijevic’s scenarios do not assume that gender equality will result in a climate-resilient society. And while this may be a desirable outcome, it does not guarantee that gender equality will lead to greater sustainability and equity.
Regardless of the causes of gender inequality, there are various ways in which it affects society. It can affect employment, educational opportunity, health, and more. There are different interpretations of gender inequality. Some claim that it is innate, while others believe that it is the product of cultural norms. In any case, it can be difficult to accurately measure progress in all areas of gender equality. Instead, researchers typically construct synthetic indicators to assess progress.
In some cases, the extent of gender inequality is exacerbated by other factors. For instance, women are less likely to receive loans for productive purposes. The GII is used to assess the impact of these factors, including poverty and conflict. In some regions, it is not possible to estimate the exact proportion of women in the workforce. Some studies, however, estimate the proportion of working-age women in the workforce. Moreover, they report that the gender gap in the labor market is increasing.
In addition to pay differences, gender inequality can be a sign of discrimination in hiring practices. Women may be discouraged from entering the labor market if they know that their job prospects are not favorable. Furthermore, pay gaps are not proof of discrimination in the workplace. If a woman is unaware that she will be treated unfairly, she may not participate in the labor market. In other words, pay gaps are not evidence of gender inequality.