Latest news with #GlobalGenderGapReport
Time Out
2 days ago
- Business
- Time Out
We're (finally) making moves: Australia just achieved its best gender equality ranking in history
Australia still has a long road ahead when it comes to gender equality – but we're all about celebrating the small wins. This year, we've climbed from 24th to 13th place in the World Economic Forum's Global Gender Gap Report. It's our highest-ever ranking out of 148 countries, and proof that we're heading in the right direction. Now in its 19th edition, the 2025 Global Gender Gap Index tracks countries against four key benchmarks: economic participation and opportunity, educational attainment, health and survival, and political empowerment. Australia's 13th-place ranking marks our best performance since the report launched in 2006, and is a huge leap from our record-low 50th place in 2021. Australia's rise in the rankings was largely driven by improvements in political empowerment, where we placed 19th overall – including 30th for the percentage of women in parliament and eighth for women in ministerial roles. We also came 32nd in economic participation and opportunity, with standout results in labour-force participation (21st) and the proportion of professional and technical workers (joint first), where the gender gap was just 9.78 per cent. When it comes to education, Australia scored top marks – ranking joint first in literacy, primary education and university enrolment. However, our overall ranking of 79th in this category was dragged down by lower enrolment rates in secondary education. We also have progress to make in the health and survival category, with Australia slipping from 88th to 96th, driven by women facing a lower healthy life expectancy. Minister for Women Katy Gallagher said, 'Whether it is investing in women's wages and economic opportunities, investing in sexual and reproductive healthcare, or investing in policies to address women's safety and tackling gender-based violence, our government is backing up words with action…However, we know there is always more work to do, and this report will help to inform our work on gender equality over the next three years.' While not reflected in this year's report, the May election saw the first majority-women cabinet in Australian history and the highest proportion of women in government, including 56 per cent of Labor reps. Iceland retained its top spot on the Global Gender Gap Index for the 16th year running, followed by Finland, Norway, the United Kingdom and New Zealand. And while the global gender gap has narrowed to 68.8 per cent, the report estimates it will still take around 123 years to reach full equality. These are the 15 best countries for gender equality Iceland Finland Norway United Kingdom New Zealand Sweden Republic of Moldova Namibia Germany Ireland Estonia Spain Australia Denmark Barbados Stay in the loop: sign up for our free Time Out Australia newsletter for more news, travel inspo and activity ideas, straight to your inbox. 🏝️ Fun fact: Australia has 8,222 islands — and you probably never knew they existed ✈️ Australia has one of the most powerful passports in the entire world for 2025 🥳
Kyodo News
14-07-2025
- Science
- Kyodo News
FEATURE: Trailblazing Japanese astronauts inspire kids to reach for stars
KAMAKURA, Japan - When Chiaki Mukai and Naoko Yamazaki, the only Japanese women to have traveled to space, first aspired to become astronauts, their goal seemed like an improbable dream. At the time, no Japanese had been to space. But the two were determined to blaze a trail for a younger generation, driven by an affection for space and a desire to see Earth from orbit. The National Space Development Agency of Japan, predecessor of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, selected the first group of Japanese astronauts including Mukai in 1985, and those pioneers inspired Yamazaki. Now, the two women are encouraging children to find their passion and take a bold step forward at a time when advanced technologies like artificial intelligence are rapidly changing the job market. "Once you find your passion, you need to believe in yourself and keep taking on challenges," Mukai, who became the first female Asian astronaut to go to space when she rode the Space Shuttle in 1994 and 1998, said at an exchange event open to the public at a girls' school near Tokyo. "Even if you don't have confidence, just try it. Confidence will eventually follow as you overcome failures," added Yamazaki. She and Soichi Noguchi became the first two Japanese astronauts in orbit together during a mission to the International Space Station in 2010. Kitakamakura Girls' School in Kanagawa Prefecture invited Mukai, 73, and Yamazaki, 54, to speak in June, to encourage children, especially young women, to expand their horizons while taking leadership roles in society, including the field of space exploration. Women have historically remained underrepresented in prominent space work and comprised only about 11 percent of the total astronauts worldwide, according to a recent report by the U.N. Office for Outer Space Affairs. Gender inequality is a long-standing issue in education and careers, in particular in the fields of science, technology, engineering and mathematics, the report points out. Women face significant barriers in Japan. The World Economic Forum's 2025 Global Gender Gap Report ranks Japan 118th out of 148 countries, unchanged from 2024 and the lowest rank in the Group of Seven countries. The two pioneering women emphasized that being an astronaut is a gender-neutral occupation, and women are physically and mentally as capable as men in carrying out space missions. "I think it is just an individual trait like age, nationality and cultural background," Yamazaki said in an interview before the event, underscoring the fact that she had undergone training missions with men before going to space. An aerospace engineer, Yamazaki used the ISS's robotic arm to transfer cargo from the Space Shuttle Discovery to the ISS in 2010. She spoke about the diverse expertise of astronauts and the career paths they take. Mukai, a doctor who conducted various life science and space medicine experiments during her missions, said her medical background helped her assess how the human body adapts to new environments. She thinks this will help determine the kinds of technology needed for sending humans back to the Moon and eventually to Mars. Several hundred children attended the event, many peppering Mukai and Yamazaki with questions. Karin Hata, a 13-year-old girl from Yokohama, said, "The most memorable lesson I learned was the importance of challenging myself." "I was delighted to see so many children raise their hands," said Ichiro Fujisaki, chancellor of the school and former Japanese ambassador to the United States. When Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba and U.S. President Donald Trump met in February, they agreed to "continue their strong partnership in civil space and on aeronautics, science, and human exploration," including lunar surface exploration on future Artemis missions. Amid a renewed space race between the United States and China, Washington wants to beat Beijing in getting to the Moon and sending the first human to Mars. Two Japanese astronauts are expected to land on the Moon under the U.S.-led Artemis program, which would be the first crewed Moon mission since Apollo 17 in 1972, but NASA also faces the challenge of a $6 billion budget cut proposed by the Trump administration, which aims to streamline lower priority and unaffordable missions.
Express Tribune
12-07-2025
- Politics
- Express Tribune
No country for women
The writer is a Lecturer in English at the Higher Education Department, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Email him at namdar057@ Listen to article Here we go again! Another year, another depressing number. According to the 2025 Global Gender Gap Report, Pakistan now ranks dead last: 148 out of 148 countries. Yes, rock bottom — not even crawling forward like a country that learns from its mistakes. Last year we were 145 and before that we scraped a 'high' of 57.7% gender parity. This year it's slipped to 56.7%, a freefall with no bottom in sight. And no, that decimal point doesn't make it any less of a national embarrassment. Peel back the report and it only gets more damning. Out of four key areas measured, Pakistan has flunked across the board. We've crashed to 147th - a dismal 22.8% — in economic participation and opportunity. Even when educated and allowed to work, women are pushed into pigeonholes — teaching, medicine or nursing — while the rest are dumped into unpaid farming, housework, dead-end jobs or pushed out of paid work altogether. These figures don't just speak to employment; they scream about a society that's made a sport out of keeping women from earning, learning, healing and leading. In education, the picture isn't much brighter: we languish at 137. And that supposed 1.5% improvement in educational parity is just a statistical sleight of hand. Male enrolment tanked, so the gap only looks smaller on paper. Girls didn't race ahead; boys just fell behind, like raising your average score only because the whole class bombed. We've deservedly earned that 131 in health and survival. Here, a woman dies every 20 minutes from preventable pregnancy complications. Seeing a female doctor in far too many villages is a miracle. Girls grow up underfed, undiagnosed and buried in chores before they even hit puberty. Toss in the daily dose of violence — the beatings, the abuse, the neglect — and what health are we talking about? And, 118 in political empowerment limps along, held up only by reserved seats. Take those away and you'd be hard-pressed to find women in parliament at all. Only 12 women made it to the National Assembly through direct election, almost all riding on dynastic privilege. Is this representation or just inheritance by another name!? Of the 31 federal ministers, just one is a woman. But sure, let's keep paying lip service to 'empowering women'. Behind all the grand, chest-thumping speeches and hollow empowerment promises lies a harsher truth: women in Pakistan live under constant threat. They live with fear and insecurity stitched into their routine, navigating life like a minefield. There's occupational segregation and harassment at work, honour killings and domestic abuse at home, cyberbullying online, tokenism in politics, legal neglect in courts and social backlash everywhere in between. Sure, we could nitpick the report. Why isn't Afghanistan ranked? How are countries like Yemen and Sudan, both ravaged by conflict, ahead of us? Fair questions. But even if we claw our way up three or four spots, what exactly would we be celebrating? Is 145th or 144th place any better than 148th? Let's stop mistaking a few elite women for proof of real progress. They're the exception, not the evidence. It's like pointing to a VIP lounge and calling it public transport. Let's stop clapping for symbolic wins while most Pakistani women are crushed by a system that refuses to protect and often actively punishes them. Until we stop shrugging at honour killings, until we start prosecuting rapists without blaming victims, until we make sure women can go to school, to work, to the doctor, to court, to parliament — safely, equally and with dignity — we're not a society in progress. We're just a headline: updated annually, ignored daily. Until that changes, all talk of gender parity is just unwalkable talk.
The Hindu
11-07-2025
- Business
- The Hindu
View India's Gender Gap Report ranking as a warning
India is now a global economic power, a digital innovator, and home to the world's largest youth population. But the World Economic Forum's Global Gender Gap Report (2025) is a sobering reminder that when it comes to gender equality, India remains far behind. Structural issues India ranks 131 out of 148 countries, with particularly low scores in economic participation and health and survival — the pillars essential for meaningful gender parity. These are not just social indicators. They are signs of a structural failure holding back national progress. Despite progress in educational attainment, India continues to struggle in ensuring women's health and autonomy. The report shows that India's sex ratio at birth remains among the most skewed in the world, reflecting a persistent son preference. The healthy life expectancy for women is now lower than men's. Such outcomes point to chronic neglect in reproductive health, preventive care and nutrition, especially for women from lower-income and rural backgrounds. Increased Budget allocations for health, especially at the primary care level, are a necessity to improve women's well-being and their access to basic services, such as education and health care. Without good health, economic inclusion becomes impossible. Nearly 57% of Indian women in the 15 to 49 age group are anaemic — as reported by National Family Health Survey (NFHS)-5 — which reduces their ability to learn, work, or carry pregnancies safely. Such a widespread and correctable issue is emblematic of the broader failure to treat women's health as a national development priority. India ranks 143rd on the Economic Participation and Opportunity subindex. Women continue to earn less than a third of what men do, and female labour force participation remains stubbornly low. The McKinsey Global Institute, in 2015, had projected that closing gender gaps could add $770 billion to India's GDP by 2025. Yet, in 2025, India appears to have lost out on the opportunity. At the current pace of progress, it may take over a century to close the global economic gender gap — and India lags behind even that trajectory. A sidelining This is not just about employment numbers. Women remain busy in informal and subsistence work and are grossly under-represented in decision-making spaces — from boardrooms to budget committees. The result is a policy ecosystem that repeatedly sidelines women's lived realities. The burden of unpaid care work continues to be a major drag on women's time and agency. Indian women perform nearly seven times more unpaid domestic work than men, as highlighted by the Time Use Survey. Yet, this critical labour remains invisible in national accounting and underfunded in public policy. Investing in care infrastructure such as childcare centres, elder care services and maternity benefits would not only ease this burden but also enable millions of women to enter or re-enter the workforce. The vacuum in these services reflects both a gender and an economic blind spot. Central and State governments must begin to account for unpaid care work in their economic and social policy frameworks through time-use surveys, gender budgeting, and direct investment in care infrastructure. India can look to countries such as Uruguay and South Korea, which have begun integrating care economies into their development plans, with positive results. Supporting senior citizens India is at a demographic turning point. While it continues to draw benefits from a young population, its percentage of senior citizens is expected to nearly double by 2050, reaching close to 20% of the population. This demographic shift will predominantly comprise very old women, especially widows, who often experience high dependency. At the same time, fertility rates have already fallen below replacement level, as noted in the NFHS-5. This means that the working-age population will shrink and the care needs of the elderly will rise. The only way to sustain economic growth in this context is to ensure women — half the population — are healthy, supported, and economically active. Gender equality is no longer just a rights issue. It is a demographic and economic necessity. If women continue to exit or be excluded from the workforce, the dependency ratio will rise even faster, placing greater strain on fewer workers and undermining fiscal stability. Reversing this trend demands integrated policies that connect health, labour and social protection. India does not lack frameworks or ambition — the slogans are there. What is required is real investment: in public health systems that prioritise women's needs; in care services that redistribute unpaid work, and in policies that see women not as beneficiaries, but as builders of the economy. The Global Gender Gap Report is not just a ranking. It is a warning: unless India treats gender equality as central to its economic and demographic future, it risks squandering the gains it has worked so hard to achieve. Poonam Muttreja is the Executive Director at Population Foundation of India. Martand Kaushik is Senior Specialist—Media and Communications at Population Foundation of India
Indian Express
11-07-2025
- General
- Indian Express
Mains answer practice — GS 1 : Questions on gender gap and threats of glacier melt (Week 110)
UPSC Essentials brings to you its initiative for the practice of Mains answer writing. It covers essential topics of static and dynamic parts of the UPSC Civil Services syllabus covered under various GS papers. This answer-writing practice is designed to help you as a value addition to your UPSC CSE Mains. Attempt today's answer writing on questions related to topics of GS-1 to check your progress. 🚨 Click Here to read the UPSC Essentials magazine for June 2025. Share your views and suggestions in the comment box or at Discuss how socio-economic, cultural, and structural gender gaps are shaping reproductive choices and contributing to India's fertility decline. Discuss the dual threats of glacier melt and erratic monsoon patterns to Himalayan river systems. Introduction — The introduction of the answer is essential and should be restricted to 3-5 lines. Remember, a one-liner is not a standard introduction. — It may consist of basic information by giving some definitions from the trusted source and authentic facts. Body — It is the central part of the answer and one should understand the demand of the question to provide rich content. — The answer must be preferably written as a mix of points and short paragraphs rather than using long paragraphs or just points. — Using facts from authentic government sources makes your answer more comprehensive. Analysis is important based on the demand of the question, but do not over analyse. — Underlining keywords gives you an edge over other candidates and enhances presentation of the answer. — Using flowcharts/tree-diagram in the answers saves much time and boosts your score. However, it should be used logically and only where it is required. Way forward/ conclusion — The ending of the answer should be on a positive note and it should have a forward-looking approach. However, if you feel that an important problem must be highlighted, you may add it in your conclusion. Try not to repeat any point from body or introduction. — You may use the findings of reports or surveys conducted at national and international levels, quotes etc. in your answers. Self Evaluation — It is the most important part of our Mains answer writing practice. UPSC Essentials will provide some guiding points or ideas as a thought process that will help you to evaluate your answers. QUESTION 1: Discuss how socio-economic, cultural, and structural gender gaps are shaping reproductive choices and contributing to India's fertility decline. Note: This is not a model answer. It only provides you with thought process which you may incorporate into the answers. Introduction — The Global Gender Gap Report relies on the groundwork laid by previous programs such as the United Nations Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM), established in 1984, and the 1995 Beijing World Conference on Women, which have helped promote gender equality. — Gender equality was reinforced as a global goal in 2015 when it was listed as Sustainable Development Goal 5 in the United Nations Agenda for Sustainable Development, which is set to be realised by 2030. — The Global Gender Gap Report is significant because policymakers use it to monitor progress towards reducing gender inequality. If one looks at India's performance in the most recent report, the parity score is 64.1%, one of the lowest in South Asia. In the third parameter, health and survival, India has improved its scores for sex ratio at birth and healthy life expectancy. Body: You may incorporate some of the following points in your answer: — There are concerns over the declining fertility rate. India's Total Fertility Rate (TFR) – the average number of children per woman – has dropped to 2.0, according to the United Nations Population Fund's (UNFPA) State of World Population Report 2025. — A TFR of 2 is considered the replacement level as two kids will replace their parents. But since some kids die, the replacement level is considered as 2.1. Hence, India's TFR has fallen below the replacement level of 2.1. — The dropping fertility rate is also linked to India's ranking in the Global Gender Gap Index, demonstrating how external factors influence reproductive freedom and choice. Economic, social, cultural, and political variables all influence couples' choices to have fewer or no children. Fertility is thus a socially manufactured outcome rather than a question of individual choice. — In a survey by the UNFPA and YouGov conducted in 14 countries, including India, 20 per cent of respondents were of the view that they may be unable to have the number of children they want. One in five cited future concerns like climate change, war and pandemics as reasons behind having fewer children. — Furthermore, there are significant geographical variations in fertility rates throughout India. According to the NFHS-5, just five states—Bihar (2.98), Uttar Pradesh (2.35), Jharkhand (2.26), Meghalaya (2.91), and Manipur (2.17)—continue to exceed the replacement rate of 2.1. In comparison, southern and western states such as Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, Karnataka, and Gujarat have fertility rates below replacement norms, ranging from 1.6 to 1.9. TFR has also decreased in both urban (1.6) and rural (2.2) areas. — High fertility rates are frequently related with increased demand on public infrastructure and lower levels of women's education and agency, whereas low fertility rates raise worries about improved economic and social stability. Although the fall in fertility is sometimes viewed as a result of women's choices, the reality is more complicated. The state and society have a vital role in generating enabling conditions for parenthood, particularly motherhood. It includes guaranteeing equal access to healthcare and defending reproductive rights. — According to the NFHS 2019-21, Andhra Pradesh reported a TFR of 1.47 in urban areas and 1.78 in rural areas, both significantly lower than the replacement level of 2.1. However, simply recommending that couples have more children is insufficient. Concrete guarantees that provide economic and social stability would help make motherhood a viable option. — Domestic obligations and parenthood must go beyond gendered norms to address the dropping fertility rate. It is not a 'women's issue,' but one that must be addressed at both the societal and policy levels. After all, caste, religion, and patriarchy all have a strong influence on fertility choices in India. Conclusion: — The dropping birth rate must be viewed in the light of larger socioeconomic and institutional challenges. According to the UNFPA and YouGov poll, men and women's desires for motherhood are changing. Furthermore, in India, women make few reproductive decisions on their own. Social pressure, particularly a preference for male children, influences women's reproductive decisions. (Source: What gender gap lens reveals about declining fertility rate) Points to Ponder Read about Global Gender Gap Report Read about fertility rate Related Previous Year Questions What is regional disparity? How does it differ from diversity? How serious is the issue of regional disparity in India? (2024) Explain why suicide among young women is increasing in Indian society. (2023) QUESTION 2: Discuss the dual threats of glacier melt and erratic monsoon patterns to Himalayan river systems. Note: This is not a model answer. It only provides you with thought process which you may incorporate into the answers. Introduction: — The floods causing havoc in Himachal Pradesh demonstrate the catastrophic potential of climate change-induced weather patterns. Early in the monsoon, torrential rains caused a series of cloudbursts in Mandi, Kullu, and Chamba districts, resulting in landslides, road closures, and fatalities. — The entire economic loss in the region surpasses Rs 700 crore, and the environmental impact is equally serious. Heavy rainfall eroded soil, deposited sediment, and damaged agricultural lands, exacerbating the local community's predicament. Body: You may incorporate some of the following points in your answer: — India's Himalayan provinces, including Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, and parts of Nepal and Bhutan, have seen an increase in extreme weather occurrences during the previous decade. — This upward tendency is not accidental. Scientists relate it to global climate change, which has a fundamental impact on regional weather systems. The implications are significant. More severe storms, unpredictable rainfall, rapid glacier melting, and increased flooding. — One of the primary consequences of global warming is increased atmospheric moisture. As the Earth's average temperature rises due to increased greenhouse gas concentrations, the atmosphere can contain around 7% more water vapour every degree Celsius increase. This extra moisture means that when conditions are ideal, rainfall becomes heavier and more severe. — In the Himalayas, this means more frequent and intense cloudbursts, which are rapid, localised heavy rains that can dump hundreds of millimetres of water in hours. These events frequently cause flash floods, damaging downstream villages with little notice. — Himalayan glaciers are melting at unprecedented rates, with some shedding up to 30 metres of ice thickness per year. This melting immediately affects river flow levels, particularly during the summer months, raising the risk of floods during severe monsoons. — The proximity of these glaciers, combined with heavy rainfall, increased the volume of water in rivers such as the Beas, Yamuna, and Ganges, which can overflow, eroding banks and flooding communities. Conclusion: — The Himalayan region is especially vulnerable due to its complicated topography. Mountain slopes quickly funnel rainwater into valleys, and unstable slopes make the terrain prone to landslides, exacerbating flood risks. — The repeated relocation and damage put a burden on government resources and pose a challenge to disaster response systems. Many rural villages lack basic infrastructure and early warning systems, leaving them particularly susceptible. — Incorporating local geology and hydrology into planning can greatly reduce vulnerability, ensuring that infrastructure remains operational even during extreme occurrences. Furthermore, adopting sustainable land-use techniques like afforestation and slope stabilisation can help avoid soil erosion and landslides, which are common after severe rains. (Source: Himachal floods: How can Himalayan region safeguard its people, heritage, ecosystems from climate change?) Points to Ponder Read about melting of glaciers Interlinking of rivers Related Previous Year Questions What is the phenomenon of 'Cloudbursts'? Explain. (2024) The groundwater potential of the Gangetic valley is on a serious decline. How may it affect the food security of India? (2024) UPSC Essentials: Mains answer practice — GS 3 (Week 110) UPSC Essentials: Mains answer practice — GS 3 (Week 109) UPSC Essentials: Mains answer practice — GS 2 (Week 110) UPSC Essentials: Mains answer practice — GS 2 (Week 109) UPSC Essentials: Mains answer practice — GS 1 (Week 108) UPSC Essentials: Mains answer practice — GS 1 (Week 109) Subscribe to our UPSC newsletter and stay updated with the news cues from the past week. Stay updated with the latest UPSC articles by joining our Telegram channel – IndianExpress UPSC Hub, and follow us on Instagram and X.
