Reduce Gender Inequality Research Articles

Gender Stratification and Changing in Gender Expectations: A comparative analysis between coeducational schools and single-sex schools in Erbil

This study explores the impact of coeducational schools on reducing gender inequality by comparing students' perspectives in coeducational and single-sex schools with similar academic levels. Seventh-grade (aged 12,13) and twelfth-grade (aged 17,18) students from three basic and three preparatory schools participate. Qualitative data is gathered through eight focused group interviews with 80 students and analyzed using coding. Quantitative data is collected through questionnaires, including students' perspectives on gender issues and controllable variables related to their home background. SPSS program is used for analysis, employing cross-tabulation and correlation. The study supports the "enlightenment approach" as both types of schools show changes in gender expectations, with twelfth-grade students exhibiting more egalitarian views. Gender inequality in teacher treatment was observed in all selected schools. Preparatory coeducational schools showed better treatment towards girls, while twelfth-grade girls faced inequality in a preparatory single-sex school for girls. Similarly, a significant gender inequality was found in teacher treatment towards boy students in the preparatory school for boys. This indicates that the school somewhat reproduces inequality. In analyzing the questionnaire, gender, age, and school type were compared as independent variables with dependent variables related to students' perspectives. Results showed that girls generally hold more egalitarian perspectives than males, older students are more egalitarian than younger students, and students in coeducational schools are more egalitarian than those in single-sex schools. This suggests that coeducation is a step towards gender equality. Furthermore, a comparison between seventh-grade and twelfth-grade students' perspectives in each selected school revealed changes in gender expectations between these two stages, emphasizing the impact of education on enlightening gender equality. However, when comparing students' perspectives with their home background, the impact of the school becomes less apparent. Despite the influence of school or education on gender expectations, home socialization remains the primary factor in increasing or reducing gender inequality.

New Evidence about Skill-Biased Technological Change and Gender Wage Inequality

In recent decades, the wage gap between higher- and lower-skilled workers has steadily widened around the world, and this gap is widening. There are several approaches in the literature to understand the causes of this steady increase, with Skill-Biased Technological Change (SBTC) being the most used and the results more consistent. This paper aims to deepen the understanding of this wage gap among workers in Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) countries, using cluster analysis and then modeling through simultaneous equations for the period between 2007 and 2020. Albeit with varying intensity, we conclude that in all clusters, there is a strong influence of the wage gap of the less skilled on the widening of the wage gap of the more skilled, with this influence being even more intense in the case of women. The SBTC approach can also be detected in all clusters but with greater intensity in the case of countries that invest more in research and development (R&D). Education spending and gross domestic product (GDP) per capita also play a role in widening the wage gap as well as in reducing gender inequalities. We also conclude that each cluster has its specificities that justify the choice made and that a slow reduction in gender wage inequality is observed in all clusters.

GENDER INEQUALITIES IN THE LIGHT OF EU GENDER MAINSTREAMING ACTIVITIES

This article aims to analyze the scope of equal access to various spheres of socio-economic life among men and women in the 27 EU member states. The theoretical part of this paper is based on a literature review; the empirical part is based on the data collected from secondary data analysis. Secondary data were gathered mainly from related research articles and websites, and Global Gender Gap Reports for 2018–2022. The research shows that both gender equality and women’s rights are fundamental principles in the European Union, and many initiatives have been implemented to reduce gender inequalities. Nevertheless, it has been demonstrated that gender inequality is still present in many aspects of life in EU countries: in the labor market, education, health, and political empowerment.

Imbedding Gender Issues in English Materials for University Students

Gender inequality becomes one of the most challenging issues all over the world because it is one of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) targets and Education for All (EFA) goals to reduce gender inequality in society. Education has a pivotal role in reducing and solving social problems because education through the teaching and learning process and the materials available could shape students’ minds and perspectives. Consequently, selecting good values and vibes in the materials are needed. Most textbooks are concerned with skills and cutting-edge technology issues. One of the illustrations is English textbooks for computer science that focus on how to be a good programmer and game developer but the materials neglect the social values, contexts, and function. The aim of this study is to develop English materials gender-based content for Computer science students as well as to promote gender equality to students. The method of this study is Research and Development (R&D) proposed by Gall, Gall, & Borg. The instruments are classified into two aspects namely questionnaire and interview. It is expected that the materials developed could reduce gender inequality in the academic environment because, through textbooks or materials, teachers are able to change the students’ perspectives and behaviors. The research results show that the students believe that the materials based on gender content can encourage them to learn English and they are enthusiastic to learn the subject.

Essential Workers Balancing Life and Work during the COVID-19 Syndemic in Spain: A Qualitative and Gender-Based Study

Rationale. During the COVID-19 lockdown in Spain, healthcare workers have experienced productive work overload, as well as an increase in reproductive work, which has worsened their mental health. Little research has been done on nonhealthcare essential workers although they have been exposed to similar conditions. Objective. To explore the experiences of essential workers after the first year of the COVID-19 syndemic in Spain on work-life balance, considering different professions and reproductive work responsibilities. Methods. Exploratory qualitative study using a gender perspective. Eighteen semistructured interviews were conducted via telephone or videoconference between January and March 2021. Interviews included essential workers in healthcare, social work, food related, and other settings, eleven women and seven men. A thematic analysis was conducted. Results. The disposition of essential workers for reproductive work, task sharing, and work-life balance differed according to gender. Reproductive work was predominantly the responsibility of women; work-life balance was especially challenging for single-mother families and families with children. Being an essential worker, performing face-to-face productive work during lockdown seemed to allow a sense of “normality” and personal space. However, it appeared to lead to feelings of exhaustion due to unsustainable working conditions and pressure on reproductive work during the first year of the COVID-19 syndemic. A lack of social recognition was perceived, especially among social workers. Conclusion. This study raises awareness of the difficulties of combining productive work that has become essential with reproductive work in a context of extreme social isolation and little social and institutional support. It questions the role of women in reproductive work, brings visibility to professions such as social work, and highlights the need to improve their working conditions. It is urgent to implement policies to mitigate effects on mental health and its determinants in the short term and long term to reduce gender inequity.

The promise (and peril) in approaching gender parity: Preregistered survey experiments addressing gender inequality in negotiations

Despite repeated calls to reduce gender inequalities arising in negotiations, few solutions have emerged that effectively address the fact that women often ask—and even intend to ask—for less than men in negotiations. In this paper, we focus on intentions prior to a negotiation. We explore how a simple reminder of women’s inferior position in salary negotiations—showing either a stable or closing gender gap in salary requests—can help combat gender inequality by tapping into psychological motivations inherent to status competition. In two preregistered survey experiments of business school students and gig workers (n=4337), we show that any reminder of the gender gap in requested salaries leads women to intend to request more compared to the control groups in both samples. Showing a stable gap without female progress caused men in a business school, but not gig workers, to request less than men in a control condition. Yet, men in the same context request relatively more when shown a closing gap compared to the stable gap condition. Our work thus points both to the promise of simple interventions designed to reduce gender gaps in intended salary requests, as well as the perils arising from competitive dynamics as women actually approach parity.

Women's Participation in Tourist Village Empowerment

Community participation is an important part of the implementation of community empowerment, which is generally carried out in the village. Women's participation, as a form of reducing gender inequality, contributes to efforts to maintain and develop tourism villages. The research aims to analyze the practice of women's participation in Cikakak Tourism Village. The research method used is a mixed method with data collection techniques including distributing questionnaires, conducting Focus Group Discussions, conducting in-depth interviews, and observation. The research informants include women's participation actors, such as family welfare empowerment groups, women farmers groups, business groups, and the village head. The research employs a qualitative research approach with a case study methodology. The results of the study show that women's participation in Cikakak Tourism Village has been carried out voluntarily and democratically, involving them in the process of planning and decision-making for Tourism Village activities, with a tendency towards a representative system. The women have contributed in various forms, such as in-kind contributions, labor, expertise or skills, and monetary contributions, which are adjusted based on the individual's capabilities. The most common form of contribution made by women is in the form of labor.

Revising the MELD Score to Address Sex-Bias in Liver Transplant Prioritization for a German Cohort.

(1) Background: Prioritization of patients for liver transplantation in Germany relies on the MELD (model for end-stage liver disease) scoring system that does not consider the patient's sex. Many studies have shown that women are disadvantaged by the MELD score. Using a large patient cohort from a German liver transplant centre, we investigated options to reduce gender inequality in the patient prioritization for liver transplantation. (2) Methods: We calculated female-as-male MELD scores in our cohort by substituting the serum creatinine of a female patient with that of their male equivalent to test for the fairness of the scores. We investigated the effects of the female-as-male scores compared to the original MELD score of 1759 patients listed for liver transplantation. (3) Results: Serum creatinine sex correction (female-as-male) for MELD scores added up to 5.4 points in females, while the median changed by +1.6 points for females. We identified 72 females with an original MELD score < 20, for whom the adjusted female-as-male MELD score would be >20, thus giving them a better chance to receive a liver transplant. (4) Conclusions: Mathematical conversion of female to male creatinine concentrations identified disadvantages in liver transplantation prioritization for females and ascertained MELD 3.0 as having high potential to compensate for these inequalities.

ADDRESSING GENDER DISPARITIES IN EDUCATION: EMPOWERING GIRLS THROUGH EDUCATION IN PAKISTAN

This abstract aims to address gender disparities in education and explore the role of empowering girls through education in Pakistan. The study focuses on examining the impact of educational interventions on girls' empowerment and the potential for reducing gender inequalities in the Pakistani education system. The quantitative research methodology involved analysis techniques. A sample of 200 school teachers, 200 students, and 50 parents were selected from different regions of Pakistan to ensure representation. The surveys assess the perceptions, attitudes, and challenges related to girls' education, The collected data were analyzed using statistical methods, and content analysis. This research methodology provided a comprehensive understanding of the issues and potential solutions, contributing to the development of evidence-based policies and interventions to promote gender equality in education. A structured questionnaire was administered to assess the girls' educational experiences, aspirations, and perceptions of gender equality. The findings reveal the existence of significant gender disparities in education within the selected schools. Factors such as limited access to educational resources, societal norms, and discriminatory practices were identified as barriers hindering girls' educational advancement. However, the research highlights the transformative power of education in empowering girls and promoting gender equality. It was observed that educational interventions contributed to increased self-confidence, improved academic performance, and enhanced decision-making skills among the girls.&#x0D; The study concludes by emphasizing the need for comprehensive policy measures to address gender disparities in education. It recommends implementing targeted interventions, including providing safe and inclusive learning environments, teacher training on gender-sensitive pedagogy, and community engagement programs. Furthermore, the study underscores the importance of sensitizing parents, communities, and policymakers about the value of girls' education and the positive social impact it can have.

Poverty Reduction: Analysis of Factors Affecting Poverty in Lithuania

Abstract The purpose of this paper is to evaluate poverty reduction possibilities determining the effect of average wage and unemployment on poverty, identifying the factor that is a more important predictor of poverty in Lithuania. Based on scientific literature analysis, we identify the factors that determine the phenomenon under study. We perform a statistical analysis of the collected data in the period of 2008–2021 to identify trends and patterns in the factors under consideration. The ordinary least squares method allows to estimate the impact of the selected factors on poverty. The results show that unemployment has a statistically significant positive effect (based on the sign of the estimated parameter of the regression model) on poverty, while average wage has a statistically significant negative effect on poverty. Based on the obtained results, we present possible solutions to company managers on how they could contribute to reducing poverty in the country. We conclude that company managers could apply more sustainable development goals in their businesses, reduce gender inequality, increase wages, hire unskilled workers, and help them to improve. In this way, company managers could contribute to reducing poverty in the country.

Parental Leave Policy in European Countries: A Comparative Approach Using Cluster Analysis

Abstract Currently, parental leave policy is one of the key instruments of social policy in the family sphere in many European countries. Despite the common territorial context, parental leave design may vary greatly in different European countries. In this respect, the influence of differentiative parameters of the parental leave system on the social policy results in European countries is still overlooked. Our study aims to compare parental leave policies in European countries using cluster analysis and reveal the differentiation of the results of policies related to parental leave policy in the clusters of countries. We put forward the following research questions: (1) Are groups of European countries shaped according to the characteristics of parental leave policy similar to European geographical regions? Which cluster has the largest proportion of CEE countries? (2) How different are the results of policies associated with parental leave policy in these groups of countries? As an information source, we used the International Review of Leave Policies and Research 2020, which presents data on parental leave policy in 32 European countries. As indicators for cluster analysis, we used the number of maternity, paternity, and parental leave flexibility elements. The research identified three groups of European countries varying in the number of flexibility elements in the structure of each type of leave. We concluded that leave policies in these countries are not conditioned by their geographical location but may result from their social policies. We also observed that a parental leave policy may contribute to reducing gender inequality in the country. The scientific significance of the research lies in revealing similarities and differences between parental leave policies in the context of a wide circle of European countries and in expanding existing knowledge of the public values theory in public administration.

The impact of tourism development on social welfare in Africa: quantile regression analysis

ABSTRACT The outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic has severely affected the tourism sector which has resulted in unemployment, high rate of income inequality and poverty, and ultimately undermined social welfare improvement. Hence, to provide a better post-COVID-19 plan recovery, it’s important to promote tourism sector development which can promote inclusive growth by reducing gender inequality, income inequality and poverty. This study empirically examines the influences of tourism development on social welfare in 45 African countries during 1996–2020. The empirical evidence is based on quantile estimation techniques. The results reveal that tourism development (indicated by international tourism receipts and international tourist arrivals) appears to increase the human development index, meaning that tourism development can contribute to improving social welfare in the continent. Policy implications are discussed.

Does the Absence of Men from the Household Increase Girls’ Shares in EducationExpenditures? Evidence from Rural Pakistan

This article investigates the impact of men’s migration on expenditure by left-behind households on children’s education, focusing on the gendered distribution of this expenditure. Using longitudinal survey data of rural households in Pakistan, the effect of men’s migration on the share of households’ education expenditure spent on girls is estimated using the fixed-effects model (FEM). Results suggest that in households from which men migrate for periods longer than six months, the share of education expenditures spent on girls is up to 31 percent higher than that of the average household in the sample. There is no evidence of a significant impact on households’ total education expenditure due to this migration. Overall, in households where men are absent, the distribution of education expenditure tilts in favor of girls. A possible mechanism behind the increase in girls’ shares is the greater participation of women in household decisions in the absence of men. HIGHLIGHTS In Pakistan, rural households from which men have migrated have higher expenditure on girls’ schooling. Men’s outmigration plausibly expands women’s participation in household decisions. Women’s role in expenditure decisions may improve and increase investments in girls’ education. Higher participation of women in household decisions potentially reduces gender inequality.

Examining the Perspectives of Gender Development and Inequality: A Tale of Selected Asian Economies

The rising concern about gender inequality among the economies in South, South-East, and Eastern Asia motivates us to study the context of gender development in terms of bridging gender disparity. To show the impact, the data has been extracted from various authentic sources- Varieties of Democracy (V-Dem), World Bank Development Indicators database, Sustainable Development Index, The Observatory of Economic Complexity and Human Development Reports of the 24 South, South-East, and East Asian economies from period 2000–2020. This research was carried out empirically using various techniques such as the Ordinary Least Squared Method (OLS), Generalized Methods of Moments (GMM), and Generalised Quantile Regression. The findings of the research show a significant impact of FDI and Economic Complexity in the reduction of gender inequality. Along with this, access to justice and electoral democracy will be providing more representation to women by reducing the gender gaps. Several policy implications have been proposed following the results of the study.

Russia and European Countries: statistical assessment of differences in the level of gender differentiation

The article provides a comprehensive statistical assessment of the level of gender differentiation in Russia and European countries. A consolidated rating of the level of gender differentiation has been developed, calculated as the sum of a country's ranks in three indices: gender inequality (GII), gender social norms (GSNI) and Women, Business and the Law (WBL). The countries have been ranked based on this rating. An in-depth analysis of the constituent elements of each index was made. The positions of the Russian Federation were compared with those of the European countries, leading in the ranking. The main sources of information for the calculations were the statistical data of the United Nations, the World Bank, and the demographic statistics of Rosstat. It has been established that the Russian Federation should strengthen legal protection in the field of gender. Measures have been proposed to help reduce gender inequality. They have been tested on the basis of a quantitative assessment of the forecast level of the Women, Business and Law index for the Russian Federation.

Factors that Facilitate Women's Access to Management Positions: The Case of Peruvian Companies

Over the past few years, the presence of women as managers is important for corporate performance, several international organizations have raised their voices to seek the commitment of states around the world; women have begun to have greater recognition of their social and intellectual abilities to manage companies, but full gender equity within the corporate world is yet to be seen. Following goal number 5 of the Sustainable Development Goals for 2030 established by the UN, it’s important to improve the situation in countries such as Peru, where the presence of women in managerial positions is still very low so it’s necessary to have more women breaking the glass ceiling and climbing to top management positions (Salas et al., 2020). This research study aimed to describe the factors that facilitate women's access to managerial positions. About the methodology, it was a descriptive type of research, with a quantitative, non-experimental, and cross-sectional approach; the population is all the women who held managerial positions in companies in Lima and Callao during 2021, and the sample was 30 women, with a non-probabilistic sampling for convenience; the technique used was the survey and the instrument was the questionnaire. The results obtained showed that among the factors with the greatest impact were myths and stereotypes, the most required factor to facilitate the access of women in managerial positions was the change in social paradigms, the required impact was the reduction of gender inequality and according to the perspective of women managers the participation of women in managerial positions was proportional to a greater economic return and it’s expected that women managers can make way for other women in various areas of the organization. It was concluded that the factors that are most involved in the access of women to management positions are those linked to the culture and thinking of the population, so it requires a long-term plan and the commitment of women, organizations, the environment, the culture, and government entities to facilitate the access of women in management positions in Lima and Callao.

Analysis of Gender Inequality in the Labor Market and Its Adaptation to the Conditions of Kazakhstan

This paper examines to analyze the best world experiences for ensuring gender equality in remuneration and adaptation to the conditions of Kazakhstan. A literature review has shown that types of discrimination directly affect how women are represented in the labor market and explain why their career growth is slower than that of men. In the paper, it was decided to use a quantitative method by a detailed analysis of labor force surveys in countries such as Iceland, Finland, Norway, New Zealand, Sweden, Rwanda and Nicaragua for the period from 2010 to 2021. It draws upon the nation’s experience in its transition to a market-based economy and its impact on gender equality in the labor market. It further examines the challenges and opportunities that Kazakhstan has faced in its efforts to reduce gender inequality in the labor market, particularly with respect to wages, access to employment and labor regulations. The paper concludes by suggesting a set of interventions that Kazakhstan can pursue to reduce gender inequality in the labor market further and promote economic growth.

Faculty allyship: Differences by gender, race, and rank at a single U.S. University

AbstractWithin the growing literature about allyship in the workplace, few studies have specifically addressed faculty allyship for faculty colleagues. Previous studies on faculty allyship for inclusive academic environments address only men's contributions as allies. Using an expansive definition of faculty allyship and including any faculty members with membership in at least one dominant social group, we sought to better understand how faculty members perceive allyship, their concerns about allyship, and how those perceptions vary by gender, race, and rank. We examined the responses of faculty who participated in an allyship training program that was offered at a university in Ohio, USA as part of a National Science Foundation ADVANCE grant intended to reduce gender inequity among science, technology, engineering, and mathematics faculty. We framed this study by employing Hardiman et al.'s (2007) three‐dimensional matrix of oppression and used a mixed‐method research design. Participants' primary concerns about engaging in allyship related to their academic rank. We offer several implications for policies, practices, and future research on faculty allyship for faculty colleagues by considering positional power and rank as well as race and gender.

Targeting market segment needs with public-good crop breeding investments: A case study with potato and sweetpotato focused on poverty alleviation, nutrition and gender.

Crop breeding programs have often focused on the release of new varieties that target yield improvement to achieve food security and reduce poverty. While continued investments in this objective are justified, there is a need for breeding programs to be increasingly more demand-driven and responsive to the changing customer preferences and population dynamics. This paper analyses the responsiveness of global potato and sweetpotato breeding programs pursued by the International Potato Center (CIP) and its partners to three major development indicators: poverty, malnutrition and gender. The study followed a seed product market segmentation blueprint developed by the Excellence in Breeding platform (EiB) to identify, describe, and estimate the sizes of the market segments at subregional levels. We then estimated the potential poverty and nutrition impacts of investments in the respective market segments. Further, we employed the G+ tools involving multidisciplinary workshops to evaluate the gender-responsiveness of the breeding programs. Our analysis reveals that future investments in breeding programs will achieve greater impacts by developing varieties for market segments and pipelines that have more poor rural people, high stunting rates among children, anemia prevalence among women of reproductive age, and where there is high vitamin A deficiency. In addition, breeding strategies that reduce gender inequality and enhance appropriate change of gender roles (hence gender transformative) are also required.

Gender stereotypes in ecological research themes: An analysis of the last 20 years of the Argentinian ecology conferences

AbstractAlthough Argentina harbours a notable increase in the academic community, achieving the highest number of researchers per capita in Latin America, the gender gap is still evident. The objective was to identify and evaluate the evolution of the main research themes in Argentinian ecology during the last 20 years to address whether social gender stereotypes were reproduced in research theme selection. We analysed four books of abstracts from the Argentinian Ecology conferences of the last 20 years and identified gender of the first author and co‐authors. Natural Language Processing approach was used to analyse gender associations with the 16 319 words appearing in the 2208 titles of abstracts. The average number of female co‐authors was always larger in female‐led abstracts although the proportion of female co‐authors/total authors increased the most in male‐led abstracts. Research themes evolved from those considered cornerstones of ecology (e.g. population‐oriented studies) to contemporary themes defined by Management and policy studies. Gender differences were present and changed with time. Currently, men work on research themes related to decision‐making, while women focus on environmental processes therefore it is urgent to create more leadership spaces for women to reduce gender inequalities.