Reliefify Traders
Understanding the Gender Gap
Chances are, if you’re like most, you’ve heard of the gender gap and you have some idea what it refers to. But, just what is it? Here we think that grasping the phenomenon is the solution to closing it.
In short, the gender gap is the disparity between women and men in terms of access to resources, opportunity, and respect. This disparity can be expressed in a number of ways: for example, in the workplace, women earn on average only 82 cents for each dollar a man earns; in politics, just 23% of the world’s national parliaments consist of women legislators; and even in schooling, million of girls across the world are refused basic education due to their gender.
These inconsistencies unveil a bitter reality: that despite laws or social mores, gender disparity continues to prevail globally. That’s why it is our conviction that authentic progress can never be achieved until individuals opt to close this gender divide by building a fair and equitable world in which all have equal rights and liberties.
The Causes of Gender Inequality
Gender inequality is as old as history and continues to be a reality in most countries across the globe. This refers to women having lesser opportunities than men when it comes to education, employment, political participation, and decision-making. To establish genuine gender equality, one needs to know the causative factors of gender inequality and tackle them.
At the level of society, gender roles contribute significantly to gender inequality, as they constrain women from taking part in some areas of life. For instance, traditional gender roles tend to concentrate on birth giving to women and work to men. In the past, most cultures have believed in equating the male role with being active and productive while confining women to a passive role. This has been a factor that has kept women from furthering their careers and taking part in public life at large.
Moreover, economic obstacles can also play a significant part in the establishment of gender inequality. Lower pay for female workers ensures that women will be less capable of financial support or support for their families compared to men because of a lack of equal pay opportunities. Low pay also ensures that women are unable to pay for professional upgrading opportunities such as employment training or education that would enable them to improve their careers or acquire new skills.
Lastly, women’s rights are also legally restricted in ways that can create gender inequality globally. Laws that restrict a woman’s right to inherit money or own property can also restrict their economic independence and capacity to engage in society on an equal level as men.
Understanding these systemic problems is imperative in forging meaningful change and achieving actual gender equality across the globe!
What’s Being Done to Address Gender Inequality
You might not have realized it, but there is a great deal going on to address the gender gap. From campaigning to get more women represented in government to establishing programs that empower and inspire women, the battle for gender equality is most certainly on!
Below are just some of the measures being taken:
Lobbying Governments
Organizations such as Take The Lead and UN Women are working to get governments across the globe to implement policies that promote gender equality. It could be anything from engaging in lobbying efforts to raise the minimum wage or battling for improved maternity leave entitlements.
Organizations and companies also play an important role in providing an atmosphere where all the members are treated equally and justly. Consider Microsoft’s Girls Who Code initiative it’s a program aimed at preparing girls with essential coding skills so that they can have a career in technology.
Education Programs
Education has the power to fight inequality. For instance, USAID’s Girls Education Challenge is a program whose objective is to provide girls with access to quality education in addition to offering them mentorship opportunities, scholarships and after-school programs.
It’s evident that there is still a way to go before gender equality is really present on the planet, but these initiatives are making a difference one individual at a time!
The Roles of Men and Women in Reversing the Trend
Everyone has a part to play in reversing the gender equality trend and men can have an even greater impact if they join in.
Equal Pay
Studies have found that when men become allies for equal pay, there’s an 8% decrease in the gender wage gap! This has a huge ripple effect for women, and having men in positions of power advocating for better wages helps create a more equitable workplace overall.
Emotional Labor
Emotional labor is frequently regarded as work most performed by women in society, from managing the household chores to emotional support for their coworkers and friends. However, if men also engage in these tasks, it provides an equal field and allows both sexes extra freedom to work on their own objectives.
Shared Parenting Responsibilities
Research has also discovered that when fathers have an equal share of childcare responsibilities, this lessens the number of traditional gender roles in the family enabling both parents to advance their career aspirations without guilt. Not only does this serve both partners, but it also provides a better example for children and familiarizes them with actual equality at a younger age.
Steps Towards Sustainable Change
Real gender equality throughout the globe is far away, but not out of reach! To achieve it, we need to actively and sustainably move in the direction of change. The following are some of the most important ones:
Education
The first step towards achieving gender equality is equal education for boys and girls. This is to ensure that schools are accessible and inclusive for all, despite race, religion or socio-economic status. In this manner, everyone can receive education to excel in their profession regardless of whether they are male or female.
Legislation
Legislation is required to establish and implement laws that safeguard women’s rights and this extends well beyond just prohibiting discrimination on the basis of gender. It includes encouraging legal changes like equal pay laws, compulsory paternity leave, outlawing harassment in the workplace and so on.
Role Models
We also have a duty to make sure society is full of good role models for young women and girls. That involves celebrating women who are leaders in all walks of life from business, politics and science right through to technology, sport and the arts and demonstrating to future generations that anything is achievable if you set your mind to it.
Lastly, we need to work towards a world in which women enjoy opportunities without discrimination and stereotyping; where there is an equal opportunity for success for all; and where women can be respected for their labor without any pressure or judgment. Only then is real gender equality possible!
Conclusion
Though the facts prove otherwise, we are not helpless. We can move forward with purpose to close the gap between women and men and establish a solid base for genuine gender equality. Our collective progress will be much greater than any individual could ever accomplish alone.
From everyday conversations to advancing fair policies and practices, we have the opportunity to make a difference. When we show respect for all genders and appreciate the value of people’s respective contributions, we are taking action towards creating a more egalitarian and equitable world.
Gender equality remains a far cry, but we can do it. Together, let us change the status quo and create a better future for both men and women.
