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Gina Krawiec
Cumberland Regional High School
Economic Gender Inequality
Background:
As globalization continues, worldwide gender disparities are becoming more
apparent. Women’s issues, especially economic gender inequality, are gaining
recognition. The third Millennium Development Goal is to promote gender equality and
empower women. Economic Gender Inequality is the disproportionate treatment of
women in comparison to men. While progress has been made, it is obvious that there is
still much to be done. Out of the 1.3 billion people living on less than one dollar a day,
70% are women. The United Nations Population Fund has concluded that “Gender
inequality holds back the growth of individuals, the development of countries and the
evolution of societies, to the disadvantage of both women and men.” Achieving
economic gender equality is not only an isolated goal, it is essential to the eradication of
poverty and the development of the global economy.
In the past two decades, Latin America has taken many steps to eliminate this
type of economic disparity. However, economic gender inequality is still the primary
issue facing Latin American women today. Women are forced into rigid gender roles.
At birth women are regarded as less valuable than men. They are expected to take the
matriarchal role, society telling them that they should be inferior both socially and
economically to men. In turn, women are given fewer opportunities than men. They
often are not able to reach higher levels of education. Women are expected to take care
of the family, while men are supposed to be the primary providers. Because of this,
families would rather invest in boys’ education. As a result, women are less educated
and have fewer job opportunities. Additionally, women may receive less education
because they become pregnant and are unable to continue their education. Overall,
women are unable to reach their full potential because they receive less education than
men.
Although women’s participation in the workforce is on the rise, women are
typically paid less than their male counterparts. Gender wage gaps hinder women from
achieving economic independence. Employers are less likely to hire women because
they are reluctant to give maternity leave. In developing countries, less than fifty percent
of the labor force is made up of women. Instead women are given the informal jobs as
caretakers and farmers. These jobs are unpaid, forcing them to be financially dependent
on their families and spouses. Furthermore, women are severely limited in the types of
jobs available to them. They are often confined to traditionally “female” jobs in the
service sector. These jobs tend to be low paying. Prestigious occupations are usually
deemed as masculine, discouraging women from seeking positions with higher wages.
Because the vast majority of government officials are men, it is difficult to find a voice
for women’s rights in Latin America. As of 2007, only 20% of political positions in
Latin America are held by women. All in all, women’s impeded economic state is due to
gender discrimination in the work force.
General UN Action:
For decades, the United Nations has advocated for gender equality throughout the
world. The first International Women’s Conference was held in Mexico City in 1975.
More than 100 nations, 22 governments, and 22 NGOs developed the World Plan of
Action. This provision outlined the status of women, and the obstacles they face to
achieve equal rights, opportunities, and responsibilities. Because this conference was met
with much international support, United Nation’s Development Fund for Women was
created. Another result of the Mexico Conference was the declaration of 1976 to 1986 as
the Decade for Women. During this decade, the United Nations sought to address the
needs of women. In 1985, UN member nations assembled in Nairobi, Kenya to access
the effectiveness of the Decade for Women. Although gender equality was not achieved
during this decade, the Nairobi conference was able to determine how best to advance the
status of women. At this conference Forward-Looking Strategies for the Advancement of
Women to the Year 2000 was developed. This document served as the basis for future
United Nations action, including the Beijing Platform for Action. The Beijing Platform
for Action was developed in 1995, carrying women’s rights into the 21st century. In
September of 2000, 189 member nations adopted the United Nations Millennium
Declaration, the primary focus of which was the Millennium Development Goals. The
third Millennium Development goal is to promote gender equality and empower women.
The implementation of this goal is mainly based on the standards set by the Convention
on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW). This
agreement outlines what constitutes discrimination, the corresponding rights of women,
and a plan of action to end gender inequality. Together, with the aid of the global
community, the United Nations hopes to resolve the issues facing women, and ensure
worldwide gender equality.
Israel Policy and Action:
Israel is committed to advancing the status of women. Israel’s Declaration of
Independence was one of the first state constitutions to guarantee social and political
equality to both men and women. In 1951, the Women’s Equal Rights Law was passed.
Since this time, Israel has made great strides to eliminate gender inequality. These efforts
include media campaigns to end discrimination, legislation to advance women’s position
in the workforce, and reforms to enforce a gender neutral education system. Israel has an
active feminist movement, with over 100 NGOs dedicated to assuring women’s rights.
However, Israel’s progress is limited by continuous warfare which threatens its very
existence. Unfortunately, this constant state of terror diverts resources away from steps
to secure the prosperity, and equality of all Israeli citizens. While there is not complete
economic gender equality in Israel, the government does provide for most of women’s
social and political needs. As a country familiar with the problem of gender inequality,
Israel hopes to assist other nations to advance the economic status and prosperity of
women. Education is the key part of Israel’s plan to eradicate economic gender
inequality. It is essential that girls be given more opportunities for postprimary
education. Countries should be encouraged to establish universal free education or
education at a very low cost. In order to persuade countries to take on this financially
costly endeavor, The UN could promise to give more aid for development in countries
that improve their education system. Additionally, there needs to be incentives for
impoverished families to send their children to school. One way to do this is to establish
a food for education program. In exchange for sending their children to school, families
will receive food aid. Another necessary change is the establishment of gender neutral
education systems. Gender neutral education can be better enforced if there were more
female teachers. These teachers have the added benefit of being a comfort to women, a
voice in schools to combat sexual harassment, and they are better equipped to teach girls
about reproductive health. While this helps the younger generation, adult women also
need assistance to better their lives. This can be done by changing laws to allow married
women to attend school and creating daycare facilities at vocational schools so women
are able to receive an education. Furthermore, Israel feels that the United Nations must
support local NGOs. By supporting NGOs that are dedicated to women’s causes, the
United Nations can strengthen the grassroots movement for gender equality. The United
Nations cannot force nations to change their laws or change their social views. Israel
believes that NGOs can best encourage governments to improve women’s status in the
labor markets, alleviate female poverty, and improve women’s health and education.
Israel hopes that a multilateral agreement can be reached. “If development is not
engendered, it is endangered.” (UNDP) Economic gender inequality prevents women
from reaching their full potential, and must be addressed.
Many families cannot afford to send their children to school.
Existing schools must be altered so that they provide women with a gender neutral
education. Also, there needs to be an increase in female teachers. Female teachers are a
comfort to women and are better equipped to teach them about reproductive health.
Additionally, families need incentives to send their daughters to school. One incentive
would be to establish a food for education program. Poor
Israel’s objective is to
Also held during the Decade for Women was the.
the global community has taken steps to eradicate gender inequality. Following this
conference the United Nations declared 1976 to 1986 as the Decade for Women.