From equal rights to economic empowerment

Women’s activism over the years has led to the enactment of legislation and policies to get rid of the differentiation and discrimination against women. It should be mentioned too that over the past few years there has been a clear shift in attitudes towards the participation of women in the workplace, outside of housekeeping and in society in general, but it is a widely accepted view that much more needs to be done to bridge the gender gap.

In one of the latest international reports on Guyana, the World Economic Forum – Global Gender Gap Index, gives this country a ranking of 38 out of 134 countries assessed with respect to how well the resources and opportunities are divided amongst the male and female populations, regardless of the overall levels of these resources. The annual report measures the size of the gender inequality gap in four broad areas – economic participation and opportunity, educational attainment, health and survival, and political empowerment; meaning outcomes on representation in decision-making structures.

The rankings are designed to create greater awareness among a global audience of the challenges posed by gender gaps and the opportunities created by reducing them. The methodology and quantitative analysis behind the rankings are intended to serve as a basis for designing effective measures for reducing gender gaps in the respective countries.

The Caribbean region was well represented among the top 50, but it should be mentioned that the Report shows that with the exception of Jamaica, the other countries in the top 50 slipped from better positions, including Guyana which slipped three places (from 35 in 2009 to 38 in 2010). Trinidad secured the 21st spot, dropping from 19th place in 2009; along with The Bahamas, from 28th to 36th place; Barbados is number 31, moving from 21; Jamaica remained at 44. While the country’s progress is commendable, since 2006, Jamaica has slipped down the ranking from 25th place.

But why does the gender gap still exist, considering all the resources and efforts that are being pumped into various women’s empowerment programmes. The fact remains that this gap will not be closed easily, as there is need for much more work to be done in most of the countries assessed, especially as it relates to women’s participation in the economy and other income generating ventures.

The Report has found that although more women are in employment than ever before, major corporations are still not capitalizing on their talents. There is also a problem with equality in pay. Perhaps there is need for more research to find out why women are still not equally represented in major companies and, when they are, why they are not being paid equally even though they have the similar skills and do the same job.

The Report’s co-author Ricardo Hausmann, Director of the Centre for International Development at Harvard University, says countries must understand that marriage and motherhood are not at odds with women’s advancement in the workplace. He said: “We have found that gaps are closing between women and men’s health and education, in fact, current data show that in the 134 countries covered, 96% of health gaps and 93% of education gaps have been closed. And, yet only 60% of economic participation gaps have been closed.” He adds that progress will be achieved when countries seek to reap returns on the investment in health and education of girls and women by finding ways to make marriage and motherhood compatible with the economic participation of women.

While much has been accomplished over the years with respect to women’s development, there is still need for major international conventions and national policies to be implemented more rigidly at the national level. The support of women’s rights is not only the right thing to do but the smart thing to do, since women make up half the world’s population and can, and do contribute significantly to the economy.