Challenges and Progress Towards Gender Equality in the Modern World

First of all, it is important to say that gender equality refers to the equal treatment of men and women in all social spheres, in fact people of all genders must be free to pursue whatever career, lifestyle choices, opportunities and responsabilities they want without discrimination. It is a fundamental right enshrined in the Declaration of Human Rights and it is one of the objectives at the top of the European Union list.

Current Progress and Challenges

We have to admit that there has been progress over the last decades because more and more girls are going to school, fewer girls are forced into early marriage, more women are serving in parliament and having leadership positions, and laws are being reformed to advance gender equality. Although all over the world there has been great progress in the field of gender equality and the fight against discrimination, there are still a lot of forms of social inequality that have not been defeated yet, because in some countries, such as Asia and India, women continue to be underrepresented at all levels of political leadership, and there are also a lot of young women that experience physical or sexual violence. In fact, in these countries women are considered totally inferior to the male gender. They don't have the opportunity to exercise important professions, to earn more than men, to travel and to dress as they wish, in fact they are obliged to submit to the orders of men.

Impact of the Pandemic on Women

In addition to this, it is relevant to take in consideration that the pandemic is having a negative impact on women, this because the effects of the pandemic are canceling out the limited progress that has been made on gender equality and women's rights. In fact, the coronavirus outbreak is exacerbating existing inequalities for women in almost all areas of life (health, economy, security and social protection). For example, the pandemic has led to a steep increase in violence against women. With lockdown restrictions, many women are trapped at home with their abusers, which certainly leads to an increase in the number of women victims of domestic violence, that has intensified since the outbreak of the pandemic. In this way, limited gains in gender equality and women's rights made over the decades are in danger of being rolled back due to the pandemic. Moreover, due to the pandemic, there has also been a worrying fall in employment that affects mainly women. Most women are in fact employed in sectors that are experiencing the crisis most of all, such as the domestic sector, often with contracts that offer little security and stability, such as part-time works. So, the health emergency is amplifying gender inequalities. Women, who are characterized by lower employment, lower wages, and are more rarely employed in relevant positions considered "safe", are today the first to suffer the effects of the crisis, and the first to be affected by a high risk of unemployment.

Importance of Gender Equality

So women must have equal rights and opportunities and be able to live free from violence and discrimination. The equality of women is in fact one of the sustainable development goals. Eradicating gender-based violence is a priority, as this is one of the most widespread human rights violations in the world today. In fact, there are many women who have suffered sexual violence by partners.

As well as the early marriage that steals the childhood of many girls. Ending all the discrimination against women is not only a basic human right, but also a necessary foundation for a peaceful, prosperous and sustainable world. In fact, achieving gender equality is crucial in order to guarantee a better future and to have a significant positive impact on the world. For example, it's proven that empowering women helps economic growth and development. Studies show that when women are given equal education (and as a result, equal job opportunities) compared to men, the businesses they join thrive. When women can participate in the economy in the same way as men, the economy increases. Girls and women represent the world's poorest populations. By giving women the same opportunities as men, it would raise up entire families from poverty and reduce the world's poverty rate.

Education and Political Participation

A lack of education is one of the most significant results of gender inequality. If girls' education was given the same priority as boys', more girls would be in school. This would set them up for better job opportunities and income in the future. More women would participate in politics;

a lot of political systems are still biased in favor of men. If gender equality was realized, the world would see a lot more women engaged in the political process.

Awareness and Laws for Change

How can we make gender equality a reality? Actually the world is a long way from achieving gender equality. Probably, the first step toward any progress is awareness. If a society isn't able to acknowledge gender inequality, changes will be nearly impossible. To make gender equality a reality, people need to be aware of the benefits of change. Moreover, many believe that the most significant obstacle to gender equality is unequal access to education. So, a good education for women needs to be a priority. In conclusion, there are many laws and systems in place that fuel gender inequality. In order to break those systems down, laws that discriminate need to be repealed and new laws must be put in place.