Gender equality – why are we even talking about It?

Imagine working for the whole year, yet effectively working for free for the last month and a half. For women in the EU, who earn on average 13% less than their male counterparts, this gender pay gap represents their reality. Gender equality?

For women with children, the employment gap stands at a staggering 26%, nearly double the 14% seen in the general population. This isn’t just about career opportunities lost. It’s about the unpaid labour women bear, restricting their economic independence. Gender equality?

Cooking, cleaning, and caring for family members, essential tasks that never appear on a paycheque, continue to fall disproportionately on women. This imbalance not only curtails personal freedom and leisure but also affects women’s ability to fully participate in public and economic life. Gender equality?

The invisible ceiling: even when women climb the corporate ladder, they often find themselves confined to lower-paying roles with limited influence. Too many women remain trapped, their ambitions curbed by unseen barriers. Gender equality?

In the latest EU parliamentary elections, only 39 % of the elected representatives were women, while national parliaments hover around a dismal 33 % female representation. Gender equality?

Cooking, cleaning, and caring for family members, essential tasks that never appear on a paycheque, continue to fall disproportionately on women. This imbalance not only curtails personal freedom and leisure but also affects women’s ability to fully participate in public and economic life. Gender equality?

The challenges of gender inequality extend beyond the workplace. Global crises, from geopolitical conflicts to the soaring cost of living, are disproportionately impacting women’s mental and physical health. Moreover, crises tend to trigger spikes in violence against women, further eroding their well-being and security. Gender equality?

Sexual violence against women remains widespread, severe and underreported. Gender equality?

With these stark realities, it’s no surprise that gender equality remains a pressing issue in the EU. Today, we’re talking about it with added emphasis because the European Union’s latest Gender Equality Index forces us to confront an uncomfortable truth: despite decades of fighting and progress, gender equality remains an illusion in many domains.

We can see just how illusory gender equality is from the uncomfortable story told by the Index’s numbers. Despite some small wins, for example, a modest jump in the ‘power’ domain, progress towards gender equality is painfully slow and uneven. Whilst it’s very welcome that more women than men are now graduating from university, too many women remain trapped by traditional roles, limited by biases, and vulnerable to violence both at work and home. How much longer must women wait for real equality?

Gender equality isn’t just a matter of fairness—it’s a fundamental pillar of our society’s economic, social, and moral well-being. Gender imbalance, for example, costs the EU an estimated 370 billion euros annually. Beyond the financial toll, gendered study patterns continue to reinforce outdated stereotypes about the roles of men and women, weakening the very fabric of our society. And where’s the morality in the physical and psychological abuse of women that remains a stain on the EU’s standing in the world? Equality in name means nothing without equality in reality.

Gender equality isn’t just a matter of fairness—it’s a fundamental pillar of our society’s economic, social, and moral well-being. Gender imbalance, for example, costs the EU an estimated 370 billion euros annually.

This year‘s International Women‘s Day theme “Accelerate Action,” is more than a rallying cry: it’s a demand. The time for asking why we’re talking about gender equality is over. The real question is: what are we doing to make it happen? Fortunately, we’re not starting from scratch. The EU Gender Equality Index 2024 isn’t just a report—it’s a mandate for real, urgent change.

Gender equality is not just about warm words. Each of us has a role to play. Whether you’re a policymaker, a business leader, an educator, or simply an informed citizen, our voices and actions can help or hinder the goal of gender equality. We can all challenge our own biases. We can all support organisations fighting for women’s rights. We can all remember that in fighting for gender equality we’re fighting for a more just, prosperous, and humane society for everyone.

It’s time to transform awareness into action, replace complacency with commitment, and ensure that every woman has the chance to fulfil her potential. Let’s accelerate action and finally turn the promise of equality into a reality for all.