The key to closing the gender gap? Putting more women in charge - WEF

While women worldwide are closing the gap in critical areas such as health and education, significant gender inequality persists in the workforce and in politics. Given current rates of change, this year’s Global Gender Gap Reportestimates it will be another 217 years before we achieve gender parity.

As part of its workforce gap analysis, the World Economic Forum turned to LinkedIn to better understand the trends in gender equality across the workforce. Thanks to our unique insight into real-time workforce trends, LinkedIn can provide more depth, nuance, and timeliness than the sort of data historically gathered by governments or NGOs. Our data provides insight into the role women leaders play in driving overall economic equity and participation.

Gender Gap, Women in Economy, Women in the Workplace, Gender EqualityBrigitte BellanNovember 6, 2017World Economic Forum, WEF, Gender Parity Gap

Here's why gender equality is taking so long - World Economic Forum

The World Economic Forum estimates gender parity globally may now be over 170 years away. Previously they estimated an 80-year time, then it was 120 years. It keeps slowing down. The Forum's Annual Gender Gap Report shows slow progress and minimal change in many countries worldwide. What is causing this glacial pace of change, something the airline industry calls a “creeping delay”?

There are many headwinds that can lengthen the time required for desired systemic change, but there is one I’d like to address here, head on, and it’s this: unconscious bias.

In general, there is a lack of awareness about who others are and what their capabilities and inherent qualities may be. In corporations, this often manifests as a culture that is unfriendly or unhelpful to women.

Bias, Gender Gap, Gender EqualityBrigitte BellanOctober 7, 2017World Economic Forum