Is the world any closer to closing the gender gap?
The World Economic Forum (WEF) is out with its 6th annual Global Gender Gap report. The report measures how equitably countries are distributing their resources between women and men — regardless of their level of resources.
“By and large, the trends are positive,” one of the authors of the report Saadia Zahidi, who is the senior director at WEF, told correspondent Reuters Michelle Nichols. “85% of the 135 countries listed have made progress.”
Over the last six years, the gaps in health and education between men and women have been closed by 96% and 93%, respectively. However, the gaps in economic participation and political empowerment are much greater — 59% and 18%, respectively, over the last six years.
“While women are as healthy and educated as men, they’re clearly not being channeled into the economy or decision making structures,” Zahidi said.
Iceland, Norway, Finland, Sweden and Ireland are ranked as the top five countries while Saudi Arabia, Mali, Pakistan, Chad and Yemen are at the very bottom.
Why so many Nordic countries at the top? Zahidi says they have a long history of equality between women and men and, additionally, have removed the barriers to economic participation of women by making it possible to combine family and work. But gender equality doesn’t have to be a luxury good. In fact, if poor countries make it a part of their development they can actually grow faster, says Zahidi.
The gender gap in personal finance
It’s not surprising that men and women handle their personal finances differently. Yet, data collected by the employee benefits company Financial Finesse shows that men trump women when it comes to managing their wallets.
Out of the 3,500 U.S. workers polled, 90 percent of men said they pay their bills on time each month compared to only 74 percent of women. Also, 71 percent of men said they have a handle on their cash flow so they spend less than they earn each month, while only 53 percent of women could claim the same.
Manisha Thakor, a Houston-based finance expert for women, explains that women tend to be less educated in personal finance.
“Men talk socially about money and business,” said Thakor. “Women are talking about nurturing subjects.”
Also, women are paid less than men, making such things as paying bills and credit card balances harder, she said.
Who handles finances better in your household?
Did the polling take place at an old timers men’s-only club? (Insert cough from cigar smoke)
I am better informed on the principles of finance and economics compared to my girlfriend, but she is much better at saving and managing money. I, however, have taken classes in finance and economics for my masters in Public Administration whereas she earned her masters in Speech Pathology, that is the only reason I am better informed.
If you want to look at it from an evolutionary perspective (To Peter H.), then women should be better at managing the resources that men bring home. We will just go back to patrolling the perimeter not sitting around dividing the resources between the group.
I hope not! We are different sexes FYI! Yes, muslim countries need to change dramatically regarding basic womens rights! Jesus was the greatest hero for womens rights in all of history FYI-it’s why women enjoy such a quality of life in Christian countries!