Social Injustice Issue – Gender Equality

Background:

Gender equality refers to the equal rights of women and men. It works to overcome stereotypes so that both sexes are able to equally contribute to and benefit from economic, social, cultural and political developments within their society. When women and men have equality, economies grow faster and there is less corruption. When women are healthy and educated, their families, communities and nations benefit.

Men and women are physically different but it is the social, economic, political and legal interpretation of these differences that lead to inequality between them.

 Why there is inequality:

Women and men are physically different but it is the social, economic, political and legal differences that lead to inequality between them.

Whos trying to stop it:

Many international agreements have been made to try and stop gender inequality, such as the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women, the World Conference on Human Rights and the Millennium Development Goals, have all highlighted the need for countries to take action against gender inequality.

There are still many inequalities:

-Two thirds of people in the world who can’t read are female.

-Almost seventy percent of the world's poorest people are female.

-Women represent a growing proportion of people living with HIV/AIDS.

-In only 16 countries in the world the women’s representation in national parliaments above 25 percent.

-It is estimated that one-quarter to one half of all women have suffered physical abuse.