Four accomplishments in gender equality in the 21st century

Why education for young girls matters

Ensuring that young girls have equal access to education creates a massive positive impact on the overall success of nations.

Firstly, because an educated female population increases a country’s level of productivity as well as promotes economic growth. But often, girls are marginalised and are left out of school solely based on gender, especially in places where girls’ enrollment is not the cultural norm.

Around the world, the turn of the millennia sparked small, but significant change. Between 2000 and 2015, the number of girls for every 100 boys in primary education rose from 92 to 97 and from 91 to 97 in secondary education globally.

It’s a major indication of improvement, however this figure is not representative of certain areas that fall short in girl’s education, in particular sub-Saharan Africa and Afghanistan which have the highest levels of gender disparity from as early as primary school.

It’s worth noting that the benefits of educating girls extends well beyond just economic gain. It also has an impact on mortality rate, with children born to literate mothers having a 50 percent higher chance of surviving past the age of five.

On top of this, having an educated female population serves society well with facing the effects climate change.

A study on developing countries by the World Bank in 2010 found that countries with higher rates of female education were less likely to suffer high rates of death, injury, and displacement due to weather disasters.

Still, major barriers to providing girls with education include poverty and child labour, the obligation to care for relatives, water and sanitation, political or religious conflict and emergencies, child marriage, pregnancy, and disability.

Amplifying women’s sport

Despite a small handful of household names, women have long been neglected in the world of sport.

In recent years though, the spotlight has been turned to illuminate the talent of female athletes. One major milestone was the presence of female athletes 2020 Tokyo Olympics, which was made up of 49 percent female competitors.

It marked the most gender balanced Games in history, a huge feat considering that only 22 of 997 athletes were women in the first gender inclusive Olympics in 1900.

We also can’t forget that this summer, the Women’s Euro’s was the most marketed and attended female football competition in history. England’s Lionesses brought pride to the nation after it won the European Championship after its men’s team failed go do so in the year prior.

The win highlighted how the spirit of women’s football could be just as entertaining, valuable, and marketable. Even so, getting governments to provide young girls with equal access to football – and other sports – in school continues to be an uphill battle.

How economic opportunity affects equality

This year, the World Bank reported that over 2.4 billion women of working age are not afforded equal economic opportunity. In 178 countries, legal barriers prevent women the ability to full economic participation.

In places where economic opportunity is afforded on a more equal basis, the figures suggest that women harness entrepreneurship. For example, in 2021, 49 percent of new businesses in the US were started by women.

It’s true that entrepreneurship is growing around the world, but obstacles remain. Men continue to outnumber women 3:1 when it comes to business ownership.

The number of CEOs in Fortune 500 companies rose from 41 to 44 this year, however this only makes up 8.8 percent of all companies.

And despite evidence of a slowly growing female presence in higher levels of the workforce, sectors such as finance, engineering, and tech continue to be male-dominated.

Personal income and economic freedom not only protects women and gives individuals autonomy over their own lives, but it has been described as one of the most important pillars to upholding women’s equality.

The influence of women’s voices in politics

In 2020, the United States made history by swearing in its first female Vice President, Kamala Harris. And as of this year, there are a record 26 women serving as head of state in 24 countries.

However, women’s political leadership is not spread equally across the globe. In some regions, it is actually on the decline. The number of countries with no female ministers rose from nine to twelve, according to 2021 IPU data.

It is also quite sobering to know that if we continue at our current rate, gender equality in the highest positions of power won’t be achieved for another 130 years.

When women are excluded from positions of power, we lose out on securing policies that support education and health, political stability, and protection of the natural environment – all of which women are more likely to advocate for.

The UN Women Executive Director Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka said, ‘No country prospers without the engagement of women. We need women’s representation that reflects all women and girls in all their diversity and abilities, and across all cultural, social, economic and political situations.’

Though women and girls are claiming seats at the table more frequently in all of the above sections, it’s clear that the global fight for gender equality is far from over.

All wins so far, no matter how small, should continue to act as fuel for women and girls everywhere to know that what was once thought impossible can – and hopefully will – be achieved.