Greater gender equality - a moral and economic imperative(Speech by A. Gurría, OECD Secretary-General)
Greater gender equality would lead to stronger and fairer economic growth. Speaking at an OECD event to mark International Women’s Day, Mr Gurría said achieving gender equality was a moral imperative as well as an economic necessity.
It’s just a human(Post from the OECD Insights blog)
In March 1911, just after the first International Women’s Day, a fire at the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory in New York killed over 140 workers, mainly girls and young women. The fire helped change US legislation on working conditions, yet similar tragedies are still happening today in many parts of the world. In a series of articles, the OECD Insights blog looks at what has changed over the past 100 years, and why gender still matters.
OECD Forum 2011 : Narrowing the Gender Gap(24 - 25 May 2011)
Generally, more women complete higher education than men in OECD countries and have longer life
expectancy. But men earn more and hold positions of power.
OECD staff attending the organisation's International Women's Day event.
Photo: OECD/Andrew Wheeler
Women’s entrepreneurship: an asset for economy and society(Speech by Aart de Geus, OECD Deputy Secretary-general, pdf, 28KB)
In spite of the fact that women’s entrepreneurship is developing around the world, it remains an under-utilised source of economic growth. The ratio of female to male entrepreneurs varies across countries but women entrepreneurs are generally outnumbered by men.
Unpaid work(Post from the OECD factblog)
From housework and homemaking to gardening and local activities, both women and men do so-called “unpaid work” on top of their paid jobs. But women do more unpaid work than men in every country.
Gender’s development dimension(OECD Observer article)
Could action on gender help jumpstart efforts to make the Millennium Development Goals deadline by 2015?
Web pages, articles, books and other resources
Click here for more countries and underlying data
Facts and views on gender by OECD experts and guests (OECD Observer articles)
What does gender equality have to do with economic growth?
Mancession?Male jobs were hit harder than female jobs during the crisis (OECD Observer article)
Girls outperform boys in reading skills in every participating countryThroughout much of the 20th century, concern about gender differences in education focused on girls’ underachievement. But in the OECD PISA 2009 reading assessment, girls outperform boys in every participating country by an average of 39 PISA score points – equivalent to more than half a proficiency level or one year of schooling.
The Atlas of Gender and Development: How Social Norms Affect Gender Equality in non-OECD Countries Gender discrimination still spans the world. This book focuses on 124 developing countries to see how fundamental social institutions, including family codes, the right to freedom of movement and dress, and access to land, property and credit, determine women’s progress–or lack thereof–in society.
Gender and Sustainable Development: Maximising the Economic, Social and Environmental Role of WomenSustainable development depends on maintaining long-term economic, social, and environmental capital. In failing to make the best use of their female populations, most countries are underinvesting in the human capital needed to assure sustainabilitly. This market and systems failure is discussed in this publication in terms of gender constraints, which are based on the socially-constructed and historically developed roles of men and women.
OECD Gender web page