Alarming: Report Shows 9 Out Of 10 People Are Biased Against Women

There is no progress in data tracking biases against women over a decade and gender equality progress has gone into reverse, which is alarming!

The latest report on Gender Socials Norms Index (GSNI) by United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), has some shocking statistics. Nine out of 10 people of all genders have a bias against women, the data was collected between 2017 and 2022. It shows hardly any progress was made as results largely remained unchanged from the previous GSNI 2020 report. The data was collected between 2005 to 2014. Even after a decade, despite rights and campaigns like #MeToo and laws for women, nothing has changed much. Let's find out what more this report has to say.

UN Report on biases against women:

UN agency has updated its report for Gender Social Norms Index (GSNI) highlighting astonishing facts on Gender Disparities.

• Over 25% of people think a man beating his wife is justified and there are over 15 countries where there are no laws against Domestic Violence. The man beating his wife is legal under "the purpose of correction" in countries such as Nigeria, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and more. 
• The report highlights less number of women in government, as the percentage of women in the roles of Heads of State, or Heads of Government has remained as low as 10%. 69% of the population believe men make better political leaders. Countries like China, Italy, Germany, Slovakia, Sao Tome, Venezuela, and many more have concerningly low rates of women's representation in governments while countries like Vatican City, Saudi Arabia, and many others still don't allow women to even vote.
• While women have taken over education from men and there are over 59 countries where women are more educated than men, yet average gender income gap remains 39 % favourable to men. 46% of the population believes men have more rights to jobs and over 43% believe men make better business leaders and one of a third women are in managerial positions in businesses.
• While 28% of people believe university education is more important to men, while countries like Afghanistan prohibit women to take education, Saudi Arabia has recently allowed its women to take education from a domestic tutor that can be a father, brother, spouse, or son. 

UN also highlighted the overall decline in human development after the rising pandemic of COVID-19. It also suggested that movements against gender equality are detrimental to society overall. 

UN report over changing gender biases:

• UN believes governments have a crucial role to play in controlling gender social norms. Policymakers of governments are suggested to invest more time in bringing up policies that will help in deleting gender disparities and challenging harmful social norms. 
• UN suggests a good place to start for all governments is to recognize the unpaid value of workers.
• Human development can truly be brought only by bringing gender equality and expanding investment, insurance, and innovation.
• Best way to address social norms is by increasing the rate of education and literacy and educating the population against them.
• Fighting hate speeches and brainwashing by criminalising them.

Pedro Conceicao, UNDP's Human Development Officer also said in a statement that social norms impairing women's rights are not only detrimental to society but also dampening expansion of human development deeply.

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