The global gender gap refers to the disparities between men and women across four key areas, health, education, economy, and politics.[1] Even though the United States has been pushing to equalize these categories across genders, the global gender gap in the United States is still prevalent. 

The United States is still shockingly low, ranking at number 45 on the World Economic Forum’s report. This is lower than other developed nations. The United States scored 0.722, compared to Iceland’s 0.874 (first), the Philippian’s 0.786 (seventh), and Germany’s 0.766 (thirteenth). As a developed country and perceived world leader, the U.S. is lacking in gender equality, receiving a 0.722 rating. Scores were given on a scale of 1 and 0, with 1 being total equality and 0 being total inequality.

The Scandinavian and Northern European countries rank highly and are well represented in the top scores. This comes as no surprise since they are also leaders in education, child phycology, social and economic equality.

The Scandinavian countries (including Iceland) receive high rankings due to their equal opportunities for women and men. High levels of educational opportunities exist for both men and women. Females participate highly in the workforce, have opportunities to fulfill leadership and the wage gap between the sexes is non-existent. Paternal leave is required and maternal leave is generous, with many benefits and re-entry policies. Women are also active in the political systems of these countries.[2]

In comparison, American women do not enjoy these opportunities. Women make only eighty percent of what men make in the workplace.[3] Furthermore, the United States is one of the only countries, and the only developed country, that does not offer paid maternal leave.

Women are also underrepresented in politics and business. Women CEOs make up only 4% of Fortune 500 companies.[4] While the gender equality of the United States has been getting better, the country has not done enough to close the gender gap. Paid maternal leave is a must, as well as closing the wage gap. Better representing women in business and politics would also help the United States to climb in rank. Perhaps adopting some of the Nordic countries policies would help close the gender gap for good in the United States, moving it out of the vicinity of Eastern European and Middle Eastern countries that still treat women as inferior to men.

[1] The Global Gender Gap (World Economic Forum, 2016) weforum.org

[2] Zahidi, Saadia, What Makes the Nordic Countries Gender Equality Winners (Huffington Post, Jan. 23, 2014) huffingtonpost.com

[3] Miller, Kevin, The Simple Truth about the Gender Pay Gap (AAU, Spring 2017)

[4] Zarya, Valentina, The Percentage of Female CEOs in the Fortune 500 Drops to 4% (Fortune, June 6, 2016) fortune.com

Bibliography:

• The Global Gender Gap (World Economic Forum, 2016) weforum.org
• Saadia Zahidi, What Makes the Nordic Countries Gender Equality Winners (Huffington Post, Jan. 23, 2014) huffingtonpost.com
• Kevin Miller, The Simple Truth about the Gender Pay Gap (AAU, Spring 2017)
• Valentina Zarya, The Percentage of Female CEOs in the Fortune 500 Drops to 4% (Fortune, June 6, 2016) fortune.com