Context: 

UNDP’s 2023 Gender Social Norms Index reveals persistent prejudice against women and stagnation in gender equality.

Image Source:UNDP

Key Findings: 

• Persistent Prejudice: According to the UNDP, nearly 90% of people still hold at least one bias against women, with minimal improvement over the past decade.
• Gender Biases in Leadership: Around half of the world’s population believes that men make better political leaders and two in five believe men make better business executives, highlighting persistent biases against women in positions of power.
  • On average, the share of heads of state or government who are women has remained around 10% worldwide since 1995, and women hold just over a quarter of parliament seats globally.
• Justification of Violence: 25% of people believe that it is justified for a man to beat his wife, indicating deeply entrenched harmful beliefs about gender roles.
• Economic Empowerment Gap: Despite progress in education, gender gaps in economic empowerment persist, with women facing a 39% average income gap globally. 
• Impact of Birth Control: The introduction and acceptance of birth control have significantly impacted women’s control over their bodies, family planning, and professional lives, highlighting the potential for social change in gender norms.
• Positive Developments: While progress has been limited, there is an increase in the share of people with no bias in any indicator in 27 out of 38 surveyed countries. 
  • The largest improvements were seen in Germany, Uruguay, New Zealand, Singapore, and Japan.
• Urgent Need for Change: Biased gender social norms not only impede women’s rights but also hinder overall human development. 
  • Addressing these norms is crucial for achieving gender equality and Sustainable Development Goals.

News Source: DTE