Gender equality

Gender equality refers to the state of equal access to resources and opportunities regardless of gender. This includes economic participation and the ability to engage in decision-making. It also involves valuing different behaviors, aspirations, and needs equally.

According to UNICEF, this does not mean that men and women must be the same. It means they should enjoy the same rights, resources, and protections. The International Labour Organization (ILO) also defines it as equal treatment in all spheres of life. This concept is a major global priority.

Achieving this goal involves several distinct practices and frameworks. Gender equality is the ultimate goal, while gender equity and gender neutrality are the practices used to reach it. Gender parity is a tool used to measure the balance between genders in a specific situation. There is also a distinction between formal equality and substantive equality. Formal equality focuses on having equal opportunities based on law. Substantive equality focuses on achieving equal outcomes for different genders.

History shows that advocates have fought for these rights for centuries. In 1405, Christine de Pizan wrote *The Book of the City of Ladies*. She argued that the oppression of women was based on irrational prejudice. Later, an evangelical group known as the Shakers practiced gender equality in America. In 1788, Joseph Meacham and Lucy Wright restructured Shaker society to balance the rights of the sexes. They established leadership teams where every male elder had a female counterpart. This system of gender-balanced leadership was maintained for more than 200 years.

In the late 19th century, the suffrage movement became a major force in Western cultures. This movement sought to allow women to vote and hold elected office. It also led to changes in property rights for married women. In the 20th century, the United Nations began creating international agreements to protect women. In 1979, the General Assembly adopted the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW). This is often described as an international bill of rights for women. Other important documents include the 1995 Beijing Declaration and the 2000 UN Security Council Resolution 1325.

Global efforts to reach equality face many significant challenges. Many women still face higher rates of poverty and illiteracy than men. They often have less access to property ownership, credit, and employment. This is frequently tied to old stereotypes that label women only as homemakers. Achieving equality also requires eliminating harmful practices like sex trafficking and domestic violence. It also requires addressing the gender wage gap. Organizations like the UNFPA work to highlight these systemic issues.

Social attitudes toward gender have changed significantly in many parts of the world. A 2015 Pew Research Center survey included 38 different countries. In 37 of those countries, majorities said gender equality is at least "somewhat important." A global median of 65% of people believe it is "very important" for women to have the same rights as men. Today, many occupations are open to both men and women. Men are increasingly working in roles like nursing or childcare.

Despite this progress, gender equality remains a complex and varied issue. In some religious societies, views like Complementarianism suggest men and women have different roles. In China, a preference for male children has created a shortfall of women in the population. In Japan, the existence of a Gender Equality Bureau shows progress, yet equality levels remain low compared to other industrialized nations. Because gender policy covers so many different areas, it is difficult to categorize countries simply. Progress in one area of life does not always mean progress in all areas.