Gender Equality Measures Research Articles

A VIOLÊNCIA CONTRA AS MULHERES E A TUTELA DA PORNOGRAFIA: UM DESAFIO POLÍTICO-IGUALITÁRIO

The pornographic industry, one of the most profitable of the planet, is responsable for reproducing and perpetuating gender violence. At the end of the 1970s, pornography began to be treated as a political problem by second-wave feminists, who denounced the harmful effects of pornography and believed that the prohibition of pornographic contente was a measure of gender equality. This article shares the propositions of anti-pornography feminists, so it will be demonstrated, through bibliographical researches, that the pornographers’ discourse should be trated as real hate speech Against women, so that the issue should be resolved in the light of the principle of equality, to the detrimento of freedom of speech.

Gender Equalization Studies in American Education

Whether at home or abroad, the status of women is constantly rising, which is true that women's own efforts, but the affirmative action around the world has also played an important role. The affirmative action movement of higher education aims to ease the problem of discrimination in higher education, increase the number of vulnerable students, build a diverse student group, and realize equal rights in the field of education. However, in practice, the gender-based admission policy of higher education has been criticized, and the public has received mixed praise and criticism. In the face of these arguments and challenges, the Supreme Court's decision has also made different understandings and interpretations, which has aroused controversy and doubts among policy makers and scholars. Critics have noted that the preference policy deliberately lowers the demands for women, which creates reverse discrimination against male applicants with higher scores. Supporters argue that treatment is to achieve real gender equality. Therefore, it is necessary to reflect on the equality and justice of gender equality. This paper mainly describes the brief history of gender equality in American education, studies the criterion of gender. It also discusses the legitimacy of gender equality measures in higher education, and the effect of gender equality in American higher education, which promotes women's social status to weaken or eliminate gender discrimination. It is through the above historical narration, basic concept clarification, goal certification and effect proof that this paper shows a defense theory of the gender equality movement in the field of American education, which gives a strong defense to this important milestone in the history of the feminist movement.Through analysis, this paper finds that the gender equality movement in the field of education in the United States is of great significance for safeguarding women's rights and safeguarding the justice of the United States Constitution. In recent years, the status of women in the field of education has been significantly improved, but there are still many problems in the judicial practice of women's rights, and the conservative forces still occupy the mainstream position in the courts. There is still a long way to go for equal rights in female education, which needs to be further upheld and defended to promote the actual implementation of equity and justice.

Ambivalent Sexism in the State of Qatar

Abstract This article examines public attitudes toward ambivalent sexism in the State of Qatar, which has taken considerable initiatives to prioritize women’s empowerment strategies and promote equality between men and women. It investigates whether these equality initiatives are reflected in nationals’ attitudes toward women by measuring scores on the Ambivalent Sexism Inventory (ASI). While prior research has focused almost exclusively on the role of social implications, much less has been explored regarding the public sentiments underlying traditional gender roles and patriarchal attitudes in Qatari society. This study uses original survey data from a national sample of a 2019 survey. The results of the novel analytical descriptive approach used here suggest that individuals in Qatar are highly sexist on average, indicating that as a nation, Qatar scores low on gender equality measures. The analysis also reveals that benevolent sexism is evaluated more positively than hostile sexism, although its underlying dimensions correlate with patriarchal views and gender stereotyping in the context of high gender inequality. These findings are especially important considering the ever-emerging dynamics of gender roles and the increased efforts being gradually expended for improved gender parity.

Gender Narratives in Academia: how gender is constructed through gender policies in Italian universities

This proposal aims to explore gender equality measures in the academic context, which is undergoing changes such as the recent introduction of the Gender Equality Plan requirement and the broadening of equality, diversity and inclusion topics, both in research and in the actions practically proposed. Assuming that gender is continuously made and 'unmade' through gender policies (Acker, 1990), the key question is what kind of gender narrative is proposed by these measures, often attributed to the framework of gender mainstreaming (O'Hagan and Klatzer, 2018). This paper aims to discuss and problematise this assumption from a theoretical and critical perspective, with the use of the methodology known as Critical Frame Analysis that originates in the field of public policy (Bacchi and Eveline, 2010). The use of Critical Frame Analysis applied to the main policy documents on gender measures and objectives at the Italian national level leads to a theoretical proposal on the reclassification of academic gender frameworks.

GENDER INEQUALITY INDEX: CALCULATING ANALYSIS

Abstract:
 Gender inequality remains a persistent issue worldwide. In order to measure and track progress towards gender equality, the Gender Inequality Index (GII) was introduced by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in 2010. The GII is a composite index that measures gender-based inequalities in three dimensions: reproductive health, empowerment, and labor market participation. This paper provides an overview of the methodology used to calculate the GII, including the selection of indicators and the weighting system. We also discuss the strengths and limitations of the GII as a measure of gender inequality, and highlight areas for future research.

Grandparental childcare and female labor market behaviors: Evidence from China

Using matched employer-employee survey data from China, this paper examines the relationship between grandparental childcare and female labor market behaviors based on within-firm estimations. Our analysis reveals that grandparental childcare can significantly and effectively improve the labor supply of women with children at the extensive margin although not at the intensive margin. Moreover, grandparental childcare is found to enhance the monthly earnings of working mothers without requiring more intensive work. Grandparental childcare can also assist working mothers in advancing to managerial positions. These results suggest that the discrimination by firms against women with children is reduced and their productivity is improved when grandparental childcare is available. Therefore, grandparental childcare plays a crucial role in promoting gender equality and various measures should be implemented to eliminate factors that hinder the effective utilization of grandparental childcare.

Gender equality in Swedish academia: Unpacking the toolbox

Gender inequalities persist among Swedish academic staff, and gender balance is especially skewed toward men in the most prestigious academic career positions, such as professorships. In this article, the measures used in Swedish universities to promote gender equality among academic staff are investigated and related to theories of gender. The study is based on interview survey data on gender and diversity policies from 14 Swedish universities with an actor–structure categorization of gender equality (GE) measures used in Sweden universities since 1990. This first comprehensive study of GE policy among Swedish universities provides unique data on what policies universities have in place and rejects the notion that individual measures are predominantly used to fight gender inequality. Universities mostly use structural measures to ‘fix’ the organization, but from this approach follows that those measures are often gender neutral and soft, indicating a strong belief in gender-neutral principles, and they might limit the effect of action.

Women's and Men's Status: Revisiting the Relationship Between Gender Equality and Intimate Partner Violence Against Women in Europe.

The first European Union Survey on Violence against Women (EU-VAW) released in 2014 revealed the unexpected result indicating that the world's most egalitarian countries have relatively high rates of Intimate Partner Violence Against Women (IPVAW). This phenomenon, referred to as the "Nordic Paradox," revived a heated, intermittently ongoing discussion dating back four decades where several competing hypotheses about the relationship between gender inequality and IPVAW have been proposed, but no consensus has been reached. The main aim of this paper is to revisit the most important of such hypotheses proposed in the last four decades, while proposing a new one that could potentially throw some light on understanding the "Nordic Paradox." Multilevel linear regression models are estimated using data from the EU-VAW survey conducted in 2012, and an alternative operationalization of the Gender Equality Index (GEI) (our measure of gender equality). We did not find any significant effect of gender equality on IPVAW repetition. However, we found that higher country-level status of women and men go together with less IPVAW, with a larger effect of women's status in economic domains compared to the impact of men's economic status, and a larger effect of men's overall status. These findings support the Marxist feminist hypothesis, stating that women's absolute status in the economic and labor domain is critical in lessening IPVAW, as women's real and potential access to resources is key for leaving a violent relationship. At the same time, our results support the "male privilege protection" hypothesis, which states that gains in women's status in certain domains-such as in the economic sphere considering our results for the European Union-would not suppose a threat to men, allowing ameliorative effects. In contrast, if the overall status of men is threatened, backlash effects would be triggered.

Gender equality achieved through crisis: Football Federation of Australia (now FA)

ABSTRACT This paper examines the governance reform process undertaken to achieve gender equality in Australian football (soccer). As interdisciplinary, professional practice research, this case study analyses the mechanics of influencing board composition, related policy and legal controls. It was not until the international federation for football (FIFA) threatened to withdraw its recognition of its member federation, Football Federation of Australia (now Football Australia), that gender equality measures were adopted. This governance crisis threat led to the Congress Review Working Group being established. The Working Group recommendations led to significant structural change including mandated gender equality measures. It remains to be seen if constitutional amendments, including the 40:40:20 strategy (40% women, 40% men and 20% of any gender), can translate into meaningful and lasting transformation. It is intended that this case study will be a roadmap for other sports to follow.

Linking gender differences with gender equality: A systematic-narrative literature review of basic skills and personality.

There is controversy regarding whether gender differences are smaller or larger in societies that promote gender equality highlighting the need for an integrated analysis. This review examines literature correlating, on a national level, gender differences in basic skills-mathematics, science (including attitudes and anxiety), and reading-as well as personality, to gender equality indicators. The aim is to assess the cross-national pattern of these differences when linked to measures of gender equality and explore new explanatory variables that can shed light on this linkage. The review was based on quantitative research relating country-level measures of gender differences to gender equality composite indices and specific indicators. The findings show that the mathematics gender gap from the PISA and TIMMS assessments, is not linked to composite indices and specific indicators, but gender differences are larger in gender-equal countries for reading, mathematics attitudes, and personality (Big Five, HEXACO, Basic Human Values, and Vocational Interests). Research on science and overall scores (mathematics, science, and reading considered together) is inconclusive. It is proposed that the paradox in reading results from the interrelation between basic skills and the attempt to increase girls' mathematics abilities both acting simultaneously while the paradox in mathematics attitudes might be explained by girls being less exposed to mathematics than boys. On the other hand, a more nuanced understanding of the gender equality paradox in personality is advanced, in which a gene-environment-cultural interplay accounts for the phenomenon. Challenges for future cross-national research are discussed.

Advancing women’s representation in top academic positions – what works?

ABSTRACT Which gender equality measures do Nordic universities use, and to what extent are the measures effective in increasing the share of women in top academic positions? Based on theories that distinguish between actor and structure-oriented measures, and between strategies of inclusion and transformation, we identified four types of measures: career enhancing measures offered for women, training and awareness-raising measures, organizational responsibility measures and preferential treatment measures. We investigated the use and efficacy of the four types of policy measures in 37 universities in Sweden, Norway and Finland, implemented between 1995 and 2018. The policy data was collected through on structured interviews with universities’ HR staff and equality officers. By combining these unique survey data and register data on universities’ teaching and research staff we assess the impact of institutional gender equality policy on the gender composition of academics in grade A positions. We find strong growth in the use of organizational responsibility and awareness-raising measures over time, and weaker use of career enhancing measures and preferential treatment. Overall, the institutional measures have a limited effect on the growth in the share of women in grade A positions. Nonetheless, we find that the implementation of structural measures is associated with the growth of women in grade A positions.

Gendered employment patterns: Women’s labour market outcomes across 24 countries

An accepted framework for ‘gendering’ the analysis of welfare regimes compares countries by degrees of ‘defamilialization’ or how far their family policies support or undermine women’s employment participation. This article develops an alternative framework that explicitly spotlights women’s labour market outcomes rather than policies. Using hierarchical clustering on principal components, it groups 24 industrialized countries by their simultaneous performance across multiple gendered employment outcomes spanning segregation and inequalities in employment participation, intensity, and pay, with further differences by class. The three core ‘worlds’ of welfare (social-democratic, corporatist, liberal) each displays a distinctive pattern of gendered employment outcomes. Only France diverges from expectations, as large gender pay gaps across the educational divide – likely due to fragmented wage-bargaining – place it with Anglophone countries. Nevertheless, the outcome-based clustering fails to support the idea of a homogeneous Mediterranean grouping or a singular Eastern European cluster. Furthermore, results underscore the complexity and idiosyncrasy of gender inequality: while certain groups of countries are ‘better’ overall performers, all have their flaws. Even the Nordics fall behind on some measures of segregation, despite narrow participatory and pay gaps for lower- and high-skilled groups. Accordingly, separately monitoring multiple measures of gender inequality, rather than relying on ‘headline’ indicators or gender equality indices, matters.

Gender equality in the workplace and market performance: a preliminary analysis from France

We exploit a regulatory change in France that requires companies to publish a measure of gender equality in the workplace (i.e., Equality Index), to investigate whether there is a relation between firms' Equality Index and their market performance. We find that firms with a higher Equality Index are associated with higher market performance. Our findings can strengthen the motivation of companies' managements to take care of gender equality in their firms, by highlighting the benefits in terms of market performance that may arise from this. Our results also support the EU and, in general, regulatory bodies around the world, in continuing the promotion and enforcement of gender equality measures in the workplace for all companies.

Spillovers from gender equality onto economic equality: Evidence from 162 nations

AbstractThis paper studies the influence of different aspects of gender equality or female empowerment on income inequality. A key question addressed is: Are there positive spillovers from gender equality to income equality? Using data drawn from 162 nations over the years 1985–2019, results show that nations with a long history of women's suffrage, greater representation of women in the government, lower fertility rates and better overall gender equality experienced lower income inequality, ceteris paribus. These results are largely supported in several robustness checks, including different model estimation strategies to address potential reverse‐causality issues, considering alternative measures of income inequality, and considerations of persistence and nonlinearities in the gender inequality measures. The spillovers from some dimensions of gender equality are found to be sensitive to existing income inequality. Policymakers ignoring the payoffs from gender empowerment on income distribution might be underinvesting in initiatives to empower women.

The Role of Public Policy in Promoting Gender Equality in Malta: A Diachronic Approach

This article analyzes the major policy and regulatory framework of gender equality policies enacted in Malta between 1921-2021. A diachronic approach was adopted. A historical analysis of the development of gender equality policies was carried out by analyzing official documents. The data was consolidated with the findings which emerged from the twelve in-depth interviews held with key institutional actors. They were involved in the design and implementation of gender equality policies, procedures, and measures. Since Malta does not have an umbrella policy on gender equality, this is an important public policy field. Gender equality laws and policies have evolved over the years, often in a piecemeal manner, due to pressure from international bodies. Efforts have been made to eliminate gender discrimination in the public sector and service with the aim of establishing a standard for the private sector. Malta’s gender equality laws and policies have brought about change in some areas, but others need to be further developed. The Gender Equality Index devised by the European Institute for Gender Equality (EIGE) shows that Malta has improved in some domains but not in others.

An Evaluation of Gender Mainstreaming Efforts in a Public University in Ghana: A Case Study of University of Education, Winneba (UEW)

This paper brings to light efforts of male institutional leaders in the University of Education, Winneba in promoting the gender equality agenda and effects of their efforts in bridging the gender gaps in staff and students’ levels. It sheds further light on involving men in the gender mainstreaming efforts. Both primary and secondary data on gender equality and equity measures were used in this study. The study found that male Vice-Chancellors have over the years been devoted to promoting gender equality agenda in the University. The effects of their efforts are largely seen in the increase in the number of females that have benefited from the institutional mentorship and scholarship programmes, which has impacted positively on addressing the gender gaps in the University. It is recommended that new strategies be adopted in promoting gender equality agenda. These strategies include revision in gender policies to involve men as agents of change in gender mainstreaming activities; gender training for male staff and students of all levels and categories for effective gender work, offering specific trainings and interactive discussions on gender issues for men as volunteers for gender mainstreaming. The study further suggests among other things, the need to engage the university community in entertaining activities like cycling for the equality agenda to be made more real to men and court their interest to promote men’s involvement in gender work.

Counting: How We Use Numbers to Decide What Matters

Counting: How We Use Numbers to Decide What Matters

Heroines who are rebuilding their country: State–society circumstances and coping strategies of female leaders in post-genocide Rwanda

The labor arrangement of industrial society makes “production and reproduction” a contradiction that is both separate and interdependent. One of the significant consequences is the re-establishment of the responsibilities and boundaries of production and reproduction between the modern state, market, family, and gender. After the genocide against the Tutsi in 1994, Rwanda has made world-renowned achievements in advancing gender equality, especially women's participation in politics. It is the “twofold full-time producers” model that continuously sustains this huge achievement, which means that female leaders not only bear a highly demanding responsibility for production, comparable to men, but also undertake significant labor in social reproduction. The public policy of Rwanda has assumed a dual role in this process: on the one hand, the state has promulgated a series of gender equality bills, policies, and measures from top to bottom that actively promote women's equal rights in various fields, especially their political participation. On the other hand, against the background of a severe labor shortage and insufficient public welfare facilities, the responsibility of private families for social reproduction has been maintained and strengthened, while the traditional family structure and community culture's share of responsibility for reproduction has been irreversibly weakened during the conflict and modernization process. While these female leaders rely on their individual strategies and informal social support systems to cope with the dual burden, they still face scrutiny and doubt from the community culture. The consensus on the destiny of the country's development and the sharing of historical responsibilities demonstrated by Rwanda's female leaders shares many similarities with the Chinese women's liberation movement, which also provides an important inspiration and reference point for rethinking the path of women's liberation characterized by economic independence and “the supremacy of production”.

Gender equality in the 21st century: Overcoming barriers to women's leadership in global health.

The purpose of this manuscript is to provide an overview of the significant role that women play in providing global health care, barriers encountered to achieving gender equality in global health leadership, and to propose key recommendations for advancing gender equality in global health decision-making through the integration of gender mainstreaming, gender-based analysis, and gender transformative leadership (GTL) approaches. Data were evaluated to determine the participation rate of women in global health care and social sector roles in comparison to men. Gender equality data from the United Nations, World Health Organization, Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development, International Labour Organization, and other resources were analyzed to assess the impact of the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic on gender equality with an emphasis on women in global health leadership positions, the health care and social sector, and gender equality measures for girls and women throughout the world. The literature was examined to identify persistent barriers to gender equality in global health leadership positions. Additionally, a review of the literature was conducted to identify key strategies and recommendations for achieving gender equality in global health decision-making; integrating gender mainstreaming; conducting gender-based analysis; and adopting GTL programs, incentives, and policies to advance gender equality in global health organizations. Women represent 70% of the health and social care sector global workforce but only 25% of senior global health leadership roles. Since 2018, there has been a lack of meaningful change in the gender equality policy arenas at global health organizations that has led to significant increases in women serving in global leadership decision-making senior positions. During the pandemic in 2020, there were nearly 100 open vacancies-one-quarter of CEO and board chair positions-at global health organizations, but none were filled by women. Women disproportionately provide caregiving and unpaid care work, and the pandemic has increased this burden with women spending 15 hoursa week more on domestic labor than men. A lack of uniform, state-sponsored paid parental leave and support for childcare, eldercare, and caregiving, which is overwhelmingly assumed by women, serve as major barriers to gender parity in global health leadership and the career advancement of women. The pandemic has adversely impacted women in global health care and social sector roles. During the pandemic, there has been a widening of the gender pay gap, a lack of gains for women in global health leadership positions, an increase in caregiving responsibilities for women, and more women and girls have been pushed back into extreme poverty than men and boys. Globally, there is still resistance to women serving in senior leadership roles, and social and cultural norms, gender stereotypes, and restrictions on women's rights are deeply intertwined with barriers that reinforce gender inequality in global health leadership. To ensure comprehensive human rights and that equitable workforce opportunities are available, the concept of gender equality must be expanded within the global health community to consistently include not only women and girls and men and boys, but also persons who identify as nonbinary and gender nonconforming. Efforts to eliminate remnants of systemic and structural gender discrimination must also incorporate gender mainstreaming, gender-based analysis, and gender transformative approaches to achieve gender equality throughout global health systems and organizations.

A partnership approach to the design and use of a quantitative measure: Co-producing and piloting the WASH gender equality measure in Cambodia and Nepal

ABSTRACT The connections between WASH and gender equality have been extensively explored and documented using qualitative approaches, but not yet through quantitative means in ways that can strengthen WASH programming. The Water, Sanitation and Hygiene Gender Equality Measure (WASH-GEM) is a novel quantitative multidimensional tool co-produced in partnership between researchers and practitioners. This article explores three dimensions of the WASH-GEM co-production and implementation: (i) the role of partnerships in co-production processes for bringing contextual and practitioner knowledge into measure development; (ii) selected results from the validation pilot in Cambodia and Nepal (n = 3,056) that demonstrate ways in which the measure can inform WASH programming through analysis at different levels and with different co-variants; and (iii) the collaborative process of translating research into programming. The study illustrates that strong partnership and co-production processes were foundational for the development of a conceptually rigorous quantitative measure that has practical relevance. The findings presented in this article have implications for future measure development and WASH programming that aims to influence gender equality in rural communities.