Gender equality has come a long way since International Women’s Day was first celebrated in Europe in 8 March 1911, but a new OECD database shows deeply rooted social norms and traditions still harming women’s economic opportunities in many countries around the world.
Practices that discriminate against women, from forced marriages and female genital mutilation to restrictions on inheritance and ownership rights, stand in the way of gender equality and economic development. More funding for development will be effective only if the causes of discrimination are dealt with. New classrooms, for example, will make no difference for gender equality if girls are simply not allowed to enter them.
To help governments choose policies that will be effective in assisting economic growth, the OECD Development Centre has created a Gender, Institutions and Development Database (GID). Compiled from various sources, the data base gives comparative data for 162 countries, from Afghanistan to Zimbabwe, on the socio-economic status of women. By identifying cultural and traditional practices that discriminate against women, it highlights the need for institutional and legal reforms.
See full Press Release.
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