Gender Measurements United Nations has come up with two ways to

measure the gender inequality in each nation Gender-Related Development Index (GDI)

compares the level of development of women with that of both sexes

Gender Empowerment Measure (GEM) compares the ability of women and men to participate in economic and political decision making

Gender Related Development Index

Compares same indicators as HDI Economic, Social, & Demographic indicators Adjusted to reflect differences in accomplishments of

men verses women

Penalizes a country for having a large disparity between the well-being of men and women. Example: Iran Education and Saudi Arabia Income

GDI Cont… Scored out of 1.0.

No country has achieved that. Norway had a .941 in 2001 Lowest GDIs are in sub-Saharan Africa

Record 2 observations about the GDI Map

Economic indicators of GDI

Estimate the average income for males and females

Every country males are higher

In MDCs a gap of $12,000 or more is common

In LDCs dollar gap is small but percentage is high. (low income for both)

Record 2 observations about the Female

Income Map

Social Indicators: Education

Education and Literacy are main points

Large education gap in LDCs, especially in secondary schools. LDCs boys are more likely to be enrolled MDCs girls are more likely to be enrolled

Sub-Saharan Africa/Middle East: fewer than 1/3 of girls attend school

Record 2 observations about the school enrollment Map

Social Indicators: Literacy

MDCs: Literacy universal between men and women

Latin America: Literacy not universal but similar between men and women

Sub-Saharan Africa/Southwest Asia: Female literacy is very low in comparison to males. Both a cause and an obstacle to development

Record 2 observations about the literacy maps

Demographic Indicators of GDI

MDCs: gender gap is greater than in LDCs MDCs women live substantially longer than men. LDCs women live a little longer than men

Female life expectancy in LDCs is due to the health risks of child bearing

Record 2 observations about the Life

Expectancy map

Gender Empowerment Measure (GEM)

REPEAT: Measures the ability of women to participate in the economic and political process of a country.

Combines two economic indicators Income Professional/technical jobs

Combines two political factors Administrative jobs Elected officials

GEM Cont… Scored out of 1.0

No country has achieved that. Lowest GEMs are LDCs

Sub-Saharan Africa and Asia Highest GEMs are MDCs

North America, Northern Europe, Oceania

Every country has a lower GEM than GDI Meaning… women possess great share of a country’s

resources than they do power over allocation of resources.

Record 2 observations about the GEM Map

Economic Indicators of GEM

Percentage of women holding professional and technical jobs.

Regarded as jobs offering women the greatest opportunities for advancement to positions of influence.

Cultural barriers may restrict the ability of women to obtain or secure promotions

Record 2 observations about the Professional/Technical workers

Map

Political Indicators of GEM

FIRST: Percentage of administrative and managerial jobs held by women

Measures the ability of women to influence decisions

Record 2 observations about the Management

Map

Political Indicator of GEM Cont… SECOND: Participation in politics

More women vote than men around the world

No country has a congress or parliament with more women North Europe women comprise 33% of national

parliament United States women comprise 15% of National

government

Record 2 observations about the Parliament

Map

Comparing GEM and GDI Every country has a lower GEM than GDI

A high GDI compared to the GEM means that women control a greater share of the power in a country.