The World Economic Forum in its latest report on the gender gap between women and men has announced that achieving equality between these two groups of citizens will take not 90 to 110 years as previously estimated in 2015, but rather six decades more. According to the Telegraph, the current gap in economic participation and social opportunities between women and men is greater than it has been at any time since 2008. Compared to men, women have access to only 59% of the same job, economic, and financial opportunities. The World Economic Forum's report examines 144 different countries in terms of health, education, economic standing, and political capabilities. The report indicates that women have 96% of men's health status, 95% in education, 59% in economic areas, and only 23% of men's presence in governance and politics. Factors contributing to the widening gender gap include lower wages for women doing the same jobs as men and a more stagnant job market for women compared to men. Additionally, the presence of women in high-level decision-making roles remains significantly lower than that of men; only four countries in the world—Barbados, Jamaica, Colombia, and Ghana—have equal numbers of women in legislative and management positions compared to men. Although the educational gap between women and men has significantly decreased worldwide (for example, in a country like the UK, this gap has completely disappeared), the gender gap in the political and major decision-making arenas remains very strong. According to this report, women only represent 23% of men in legislative and political roles. For the ninth consecutive year, Iceland has recorded the highest presence of women in political and legislative fields. Following Iceland are Finland, Norway, and Sweden. According to this report, Rwanda has managed to reduce its gender gap by up to eighty percent. Ireland, the Philippines, Slovenia, New Zealand, and Nicaragua follow in the rankings. Meanwhile, Iran ranks 139 out of 144, only above Chad, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Pakistan, and Yemen.
Economic Equality Between Women and Men? Perhaps 170 Years Later
The World Economic Forum's latest report reveals that achieving gender equality in economic participation and opportunities will take significantly longer than previously estimated, with Iran ranking poorly at 139 out of 144 countries. The report highlights persistent disparities in health, education, and political representation between genders, emphasizing the need for substantial reforms.
👥 Key Players
📰 What Happened
The World Economic Forum released a report indicating that achieving gender equality in economic participation will take an estimated 170 years, significantly longer than previous estimates. Iran ranks poorly at 139 out of 144 countries in terms of gender equality.
- Women have access to only 59% of the same economic opportunities as men.
- Iran ranks just above countries like Chad and Saudi Arabia in gender equality.
💡 Why It Matters
📚 Background
Gender equality is a critical issue affecting economic development and social justice worldwide. The gender gap persists despite improvements in education and health.
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