Gender Gap Index

An ambitious undertaking, the Global Gender Gap Report 2006, was recently put out by the World Economic Forum in Geneva, Switzerland, This report gives us a new framework for measuring gender equality in four categories: economic participation and opportunity, educational attainment, health and survival, and political empowerment. The group of international experts carried out studies in 115 countries, representing 90% of the world’s population. They found that gender-based discrimination exists in all countries, transcending cultures, religions and income groups. They set out to measure the differences and inequalities between men and women by analyzing their assigned role and daily activities as to who has access to and control over resources, and who has opportunity for making important decisions. I hope that the report is useful for political, business leaders and members of the civil society as further analytical tool and as information resources for development planning. The 2006 Gender Gap Index also reveals many interesting insights on global and regional trends and specific comparative information between countries. For example, Sweden and other Nordic countries have closed about 80% of the gender gap. Sweden also is the only country in the world where men and women form equal number among cabinet ministers and members of the parliament, and holds the top spot on economic participation and opportunity. United States lags behind many European nations and Canada on economic participation and opportunity and educational attainment. Latin America as a whole has the smallest gender gaps in the world on health and survival. Kuwait has the highest ranking among the Arab countries in the region, followed closely by Tunisia and Jordan. Among Asian countries, the Philippines holds a top ten of ranking with good performances on all four categories measured, where as large countries in the region, Bangladesh, India, Iran and Pakistan hold some of the lowest ranking positions. New Zealand and Australia rank well in closing the gender-gap in general. Among African countries South Africa does well on political empowerment with more than 40% of its ministers are females, and more than a third of the positions in parliament held by women. Tanzania has the narrowest economic gap between women and men. Gender Gap Index gives me a useful tool for furthering my work in education and communication support activities aiming to reach the goal of gender equality, as set by the United Nations.

Filed under Gender Issues, United Nations |