The inequality of gender equality indices

The inequality of gender equality indices

The World Economic Forum meeting is on this week. Isn’t it interesting that WEF’s gender equality index for education attainment is 1 in OECD countries [1] where far more women than men now graduate from college, and in many of which girls far outpace boys in school? In the US for instance, 50% more women have tertiary degrees than men(Marano, 2015 [2]), and 17-year old boys have, on average, the reading skill of 13-year old girls (Sommers, 2014). Even in Brazil, that is also the case (Ministry of Education, Brazil, 2015 [3]). Why is then that the index does not exceed 1? Because it is arbitrarily capped at 1 (p. 6). Apparently, gender gaps only exist when it disadvantages women, not men.

It’s the same old fallacy of feminism:

“seeking to establish equal opportunities… for women” – ay? 0.o

How can equality hold for only one side?? Emma Watson explained that quite clearly in her speech at the UN (Watson, 2014 [5]). Or did she?

“Feminism is equality between the sexes.
Men don’t have the benefits of equality either.
So… HeForShe, peeps.” (tongue-in-cheek)

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[1] World Economic Forum, “The Global Gender Gap Report”, 2015.

[2] Hara Estroff Marano, “The Mating Game Is Changing —And You Won’t Believe How”, Psychology Today, 26.10.2015.

[3] Ministry of Education, Brazil, “Mulheres são maioria no ingresso e na conclusão de cursos superiores”, Portal Brasil, 8.03.2015.

[4] Mike Buchanan, “Male suicide scandal: UK men are paying for a system that drives thousands of them to death”, International Business Times, 24.03.2015.

[5] Emma Watson, Speech, UN, 20.09.2014.

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