Gender equality

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A generic symbol for gender equality

Gender equality (also known as gender equity, gender egalitarianism, or sexual equality) is the goal of the equality of the genders or the sexes,[1] stemming from a belief in the injustice of myriad forms of gender inequality.

World bodies have defined gender equality as related to human rights, especially women's rights, and economic development.[2][3] UNICEF defines gender equality as "levelling the playing field for girls and women by ensuring that all children have equal opportunity to develop their talents."[4]

The United Nations Population Fund declared gender equality "first and foremost, a human right."[5] "Gender equity" is one of the goals of the United Nations Millennium Project, to end world poverty by 2015; the project claims, "Every single Goal is directly related to women's rights, and societies where women are not afforded equal rights as men can never achieve development in a sustainable manner."[3]

Thus, promoting gender equality is seen as an encouragement to greater economic prosperity.[2] For example, nations of the Arab world that deny equality of opportunity to women were warned in a 2008 United Nations-sponsored report that this disempowerment is a critical factor crippling these nations' return to the first rank of global leaders in commerce, learning and culture.[6]

A 2007 study of gender equality in Sweden that "[n]egative effects" to health in both sexes are suggested due to increased stress of the opportunities of the workplace, observed that "one-sided expansion by women into traditionally male roles, spheres and activities will not lead to positive health effects unless men also significantly alter their behaviour".[7][8]

See also

General issues

Specific issues

Laws

Organizations and ministries

Other related topics

References

  1. ^ United Nations. Report of the Economic and Social Council for 1997. A/52/3.18 September 1997, at 28: "Mainstreaming a gender perspective is the process of assessing the implications for women and men of any planned action, including legislation, policies or programmes, in all areas and at all levels. It is a strategy for making women's as well as men's concerns and experiences an integral dimension of the design, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of policies and programmes in all political, economic and societal spheres so that women and men benefit equally and inequality is not perpetuated. The ultimate goal is to achieve gender equality."
  2. ^ a b World Bank (September, 2006). "Gender Equality as Smart Economics: A World Bank Group Gender Action Plan (Fiscal years 2007–10)" (PDF). {{cite journal}}: Check date values in: |year= (help); Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  3. ^ a b United Nations Millennium Campaign (2008). "Goal #3 Gender Equity". United Nations Millennium Campaign. Retrieved 2008-06-01.
  4. ^ UNICEF (May 12, 2008). "Gender equality". UNICEF. Retrieved 2008-06-01.
  5. ^ UNFPA (February 2006). "Gender Equality: An End in Itself and a Cornerstone of Development". United Nations Population Fund. Retrieved 2008-06-01.
  6. ^ Gender equality in Arab world critical for progress and prosperity, UN report warns, E-joussour (21 October 2008)
  7. ^ Backhans, Mona C., Michael Lundberga and Anna Månsdottera, Does increased gender equality lead to a convergence of health outcomes for men and women? A study of Swedish municipalities Swedish National Institute of Public Health
  8. ^ Why feminism 'could be bad for your health' Daily Mail Online, 25 March 2007

Dennis O'Brien (May 30, 2008). "Gender gap clues" ([dead link]). Baltimore Sun.

External links