The European Gender Equality Index is a comprehensive tool used to measure and track progress toward gender equality across the European Union (EU). It provides an overall score for each EU member state, which reflects the state of gender equality in six key domains: work, money, knowledge, time, power, and health. The goal of the Index is to provide a comprehensive and objective picture of gender equality in the EU and to support member states in their efforts to promote gender equality.
The work domain of the Index covers issues such as employment rates, the gender pay gap, and the gender distribution of leadership positions. For example, if a country has a high employment rate for women and a low gender pay gap, it will score well in this domain.
The money domain of the Index looks at financial independence and poverty rates for women and men. For example, if a country has a low poverty rate for women and a high rate of women in top-earning jobs, it will score well in this domain.
The knowledge domain of the Index measures educational attainment and the gender distribution of fields of study. For example, if a country has high levels of educational attainment for both women and men, and a balanced distribution of women and men in different fields of study, it will score well in this domain.
The time domain of the Index looks at the distribution of paid and unpaid work between women and men, including working hours and care responsibilities. For example, if a country has policies in place to support a better balance of paid and unpaid work, it will score well in this domain.
The power domain of the Index measures political representation and decision-making power. For example, if a country has a high proportion of women in political leadership positions and a high rate of women in decision-making positions in the private sector, it will score well in this domain.
Finally, the health domain of the Index covers health outcomes and access to health services for women and men. For example, if a country has a low gender gap in life expectancy and a high level of access to health services for both women and men, it will score well in this domain.
The overall score for each country reflects the state of gender equality in these six domains, and the EU average score in the latest Index was 65.2. The highest-scoring country was Sweden with a score of 77.6, while the lowest-scoring country was Bulgaria with a score of 51.1.
It is important to note that the European Gender Equality Index is not just about ranking countries, but about providing information and recommendations for action to support the promotion of gender equality. The Index provides a basis for comparisons between countries, enabling the EU and its member states to see how they are performing in comparison to each other and to see which countries are leading the way in gender equality.
In conclusion, the European Gender Equality Index is a valuable tool for promoting and monitoring gender equality in the EU. It provides a comprehensive picture of the state of gender equality, highlights areas where progress is being made, and identifies areas where further action is needed. By using the Index as a basis for action, the EU and its member states can work together to promote gender equality and ensure that women and men have equal opportunities in all domains of life.
Advice to empower women in STEM fields can be found in the European Gender Equality Index, which highlights the importance of balanced representation in fields of study and decision-making positions. To support women in STEM, it is important to address the gender pay gap and provide equal access to education and training opportunities. Encouraging women to pursue careers in STEM and promoting work-life balance can also support women in these fields.
For the lesson activities, learners may need access to online resources for research, such as databases and academic journals, as well as video conferencing tools for virtual panel discussions and workshops.