Achieving full gender equality will take up to 300 years, a new UN report has revealed. The data shows that the current rate of progress in achieving Gender Equality has been undermined by global challenges such as Covid-19, climate change, and attacks on women’s sexual and reproductive health rights.
And even though gender equality has largely been campaigned for the world over, there are various reasons why it will take us a while.
Family Roles
Gender equality is not a push for gender competition, but a push for empowerment. However, the core duty of a woman in the family cannot be ignored. This has often come up as a reason why gender equality is not fully achievable.
Globally, women were found to have lost about $800 billion in income to the pandemic. This is largely due to them shouldering about 512 billion hours in unpaid labour when schools and preschools closed. Further, their participation in labour markets is projected to be lower in 2022 (50.8 percent) than it was pre-pandemic (51.8 percent in 2019).
Giving birth, nurturing, and bringing up offspring is a natural duty that cannot be changed, Governments can only help in easing pressure at work and in the economic sphere. This also means that women have to work extra hours to match up with their male counterparts hence the strain on gender equality.
Legal Grounds
Loopholes brought about by laws and legislation currently play a big role in gender inequality. It is anticipated that sealing these loopholes might take over 100 years. Also, in economic participation, it would take 140 years for women to be represented equally in positions of power and leadership in the workplace.
“If current trends continue, in sub-Saharan Africa, more women and girls will live in extreme poverty by 2030 than today. By the end of this year, around 383 million women and girls will live in extreme poverty compared to 368 million men and boys. Many more will have insufficient income to meet basic needs such as food, clothing, and adequate shelter in most parts of the world,” the statement released by UN Women reads.
Timeline
Kenya, and United Nations Member states, adopted the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development in 2015. However, UN Women executive director Sima Bahous says the commitment to achieving gender equality within that frame now seems far-fetched.
“This is a tipping point for women’s rights and gender equality as we approach the halfway mark to 2030. It is critical that we rally now to invest in women and girls to reclaim and accelerate progress. The data show undeniable regressions in their lives made worse by the global crises – in incomes, safety, education, and health. The longer we take to reverse this trend, the more it will cost us all.’’ Ms Bahous said
The UN Women, therefore, ask member states to embark on the course to implement gender equality in order to achieve the initial plan.
