Global Impact: ‘300 years to achieve gender equality’: UN chief issues warning as International Women’s Day highlights ongoing struggles
- Global Impact is a weekly curated newsletter featuring a news topic originating in China with a significant macro impact for our newsreaders around the world
- In this edition, we look back at Women’s History Month, while the Post’s Women of Our Time conference took place a day before International Women’s Day on March 8
Antonio Guterres said women’s rights are being “abused, threatened and violated” and previous progress is starting to vanish as “the patriarchy is fighting back”.
01:55
Indonesian women call for protection of domestic workers’ rights on International Women’s Day
The event focused on empowering the future generation of female leaders. Through a number of panels, the conference looked at women in technology, the changing gender balance in the finance industry, digital career possibilities for young women, female entrepreneurship, upskilling and reskilling, and more.
This year, the UN focused on innovation and technology for gender equality, noting that the “persistent gender gap in digital access keeps women from unlocking technology’s full potential” and the divide has led to massive costs to gross domestic product.
03:55
Superhero ‘twin mums’ open free school for underprivileged children in Indonesia
“Women today make up under a third of the workforce in science, technology, engineering, and maths. And when women are under-represented in developing new technologies, discrimination may be baked in from the start,” Guterres said.
The digitally dependent economy in the Asia-Pacific, Europe and North America accounts for between 17 and 35 per cent of gross domestic product. However, there has long been a gender gap in the tech sector. A Boston Consulting Group study put the percentage of women working in the sector globally at 28 per cent. The problem starts early with a paucity of female science graduates, then a leaky pipeline from education to employment, and an underrepresentation of women at the senior level.
In March, the United States launched a number of global initiatives that focus on the economic empowerment of women and seek to address the global gender digital disparity. The White House said the digital gender gap was undermining the ability of women to fully participate in the 21st century economy.
02:29
Dozens call for end to violence against women and girls in rally ahead of International Women’s Day
In 2022, around 260 million more men around the world were using the internet than women. Most of the three billion people that aren’t connected to the internet are women and girls in developing countries. The UN chief said in the least developed countries, just 19 per cent of women are online and globally just one-third of students in science, technology, engineering and mathematics are girls and women.
Sima Bahous, executive director of UN Women, said “the digital divide has become the new face of gender inequality” and the challenge is “to fix the institutions and harmful gender stereotypes surrounding technology and innovation that fail women and girls”.
60-Second Catch-Up
Deep dives
China issues first guidance on combating sexual harassment in workplace
-
Reference text is a step forward, experts say, but details are lacking in some areas
-
Leading #MeToo movement figure says it does not address problem of imbalance of power
The guidance, issued by the Supreme People’s Court and five government agencies including the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security, could be used as a reference when establishing a system or drafting employment contracts, according to a joint directive released on March 8 – International Women’s Day.
Experts said the issuing of the first such guidance was a step forward, but there were concerns about effective execution.
Women ‘miserably’ under-represented in Asia-Pacific businesses, survey finds
-
Just 848, or 5.7 per cent, of 15,000 private businesses surveyed across multiple sectors were founded or led by women
-
Those female-led companies, however, excelled at fundraising, the study found
The study found that companies led by female executives outperformed when it comes to fundraising.
Just 848, or 5.7 per cent, of 15,000 private businesses surveyed in sectors such as technology, consumer and healthcare were founded, led or managed by women at the end of 2021.
China’s youngest millennials told they’re too old for jobs, and elder Gen Z workers are next
-
Pervasive ageism is no secret in China, where it remains legal, but the outcry is approaching a deafening crescendo as the situation appears to be worsening
-
With many companies still struggling to survive in China’s post-pandemic climate, even 27-year-olds may be seen as risky hires, and those over 30 need not apply
“The average age of the team should be less than 30 years old,” states the notice seeking to fill a vacant human resources position.
Will the rest of Asia follow Hong Kong’s lead on transgender rights?
-
Mainland China, Singapore, South Korea and Japan all require trans people to undergo reassignment surgery to have their gender identity recognised
-
So did Hong Kong, until a recent ruling that advocates hope will influence regional debate on trans people’s rights – including in Thailand
Women lawyers in Hong Kong tired of men who patronise, tell them what to wear
-
Survey shows women lawyers face more gender discrimination than men, with microaggressions that hurt
-
Many say they’re advised to focus on ‘the softer side’ of law and leave the hard fields to men
Unsolicited comments about her clothes, patronising remarks about her work and being talked down to were just some ways men upset the lawyer, in her 20s, who has been practising for more than two years.
Men in the office providing “friendly advice” warned her that her career would be derailed if she ever decided to have a baby and went on maternity leave.
Why must top women executives choose between work and family?
-
Top Hong Kong executive Lily Cheng talks about gender inequality persisting in pay, career expectations and work-life balance
-
She cites legacy stereotypes, personal preference and cultural acceptance as hurdles to achieving equality between the sexes in the workplace
In recent months, a slew of women in power have resigned: New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, First Minister of Scotland Nicola Sturgeon and YouTube CEO Susan Wojcicki. All three have cited to some extent the wish to spend time with their family and concentrate on their personal lives.
Taking these reasons at face value, one is left with the question, why are women still forced to choose between the two? Why aren’t more men retreating from positions of power for family? What more work needs to be done for gender equality in the workplace?
Global Impact is a fortnightly curated newsletter featuring a news topic originating in China with a significant macro impact for our newsreaders around the world.
