Gender gap
I am currently doing some research on tapping into female talent in Latin America. The document I’ve found most helpful and interesting is The Global Gender Gap Report 2008 from the World Economic Forum. Each year over 100 countries — both developed and developing — throughout the world are ranked by gender-based gaps in access to resources and opportunities. The report looks at issues including:
- Economic participation and opportunity
- Education attainment
- Political empowerment
- Health and survival
The 172-page report makes for interesting, and in some cases disturbing, reading. The United States ranks a surprising 27 with an index of 0.718 (out of 1). We are behind countries such as Sri Lanka, Lesotho, Mozambique and Cuba. That’s the bad news. The good news is we’ve improved over 2007. Norway is number one with an index of 0.824 while Yemen is last at 0.466.
The U.S. is particularly strong in Educational Attainment (we’re number one!), but we’re 56 on the list for Political Empowerment, 12 in Economic Prosperity and Opportunity and 37 in Health and Survival. Other interesting facts in the report:
- 99.3% of births in the U.S. are attended by skilled health staff while in Yemen it is a frighteningly low 26.8%.
- Infant mortality per 1,000 live births is seven here at home and three in Norway. In Yemen, 75 babies die in infancy.
- Maternal mortality per 100,000 live births is 11 in the U.S. and seven in Norway. In Yemen, 430 women out of 100,000 die in childbirth.
- The number of adolescent mothers aged 15 to 19 (per 1,000) is an astonishing and disturbing 42.66 in the U.S., while in Norway it is 8.61. In Yemen, 72.55 out of 1,000 women who give birth are between 15 and 19.
Most of this makes me glad I’m a woman in the United States. But the report also points out that we’ve got a long way to go to reach true gender parity.
