Gender Inequality Causes: How to Advocate for Gender Equality

Gender inequality is any legal, social, or cultural disparity between men and women that creates unequal opportunities for young girls and women. This form of inequality is a worldwide phenomenon that impacts women’s personal and professional lives.

Gender inequality limits women’s independence, decision-making, and ability to advance within society. Some forms of gender inequality include unequal access to education, child marriage, discrimination in the workplace, and lower rates of female representation in politics.

A multitude of factors contribute to unequal treatment between men and women. Common causes of gender disparities include:

1. 1. Division of labor: Job segregation is a historical trend that has impacted gender discrimination. Traditionally, gender roles assume women work in the domestic sphere as caregivers, while men financially provide for their families. These gender roles resulted in assumptions men were better fit for specialized positions, contributing to the gender pay gap. Women are also more likely to assume part-time work hours, which often do not provide the same career advancement opportunities as full-time positions.
2. 2. Lack of body rights: Limited access to birth control reduces women’s bodily rights. Unplanned pregnancies often place women in a financially dependent situation, which inhibits their freedom and places them in a childcare position.
3. 3. Sexism: Gender stereotypes and problematic social norms contribute to inequalities between men and women. Female sexualization perpetuates gender norms that depict women as objects of the male gaze.
4. 4. Sexual violence: Sexual harassment and violence is another main cause of gender inequality. Women experience higher rates of domestic abuse and sexual assault than men. Cultural rites also enable some forms of sexual violence against young girls, such as the tradition of female genital mutilation.

Gender inequality has both societal and psychological effects. Discrimination on the basis of gender limits women’s presence in the labor force, increasing the global gender gap. From a psychological standpoint, the objectification of females has a negative impact on the mental health of young girls. Sexualized images and stereotypes of women limit self-esteem and can contribute to depression and anxiety.

Gender inequality has also led to women’s rights movements across the globe. As young girls and women continue to advocate for equal rights, including education opportunities, bodily rights, and equal pay, gender differences have the potential to decrease.

By advocating for equal opportunities and creating empowerment initiatives, organizations can support young women and promote their overall well-being. Here are steps you can take to combat gender inequality.

• Create equal education opportunities. Forced child marriages, religious barriers, and gender violence in schools contribute to young girls’ lack of education. To combat gender inequality, providing women with the same access to education as men is essential. By studying and gaining a formal education, young women can confidently enter the labor market and develop financial independence.
• Increase political representation. On a global scale, the number of women in political power is less than that of men. Female representation in positions of authority provides women the opportunity to better advocate for their needs. It’s also important for young girls to see women in higher positions as role models.
• Fight sexual violence. Around the world, women face higher rates of domestic abuse and sexual harassment from intimate partners, family members, and colleagues. It’s also often difficult for women to seek justice after this human rights violation. By working to end child marriage and stop sexual harassment, we can better protect women from different forms of violence.
• Provide women with contraception. Access to contraception and menstrual hygiene products is also necessary for combating gender inequality. Providing young girls with these healthcare facilities supports their reproductive health. It also prevents them from having to miss school due to a period or pregnancy.
• Monitor gender statistics. Collecting and tracking gender parity metrics helps inform policy and reform decisions to address gender differences. Some data sets to consider include the gender wage gap, the number of women in political power, and female representation across different sectors in the labor market. These statistics assist international organizations, such as the United Nations and UN Women, to create effective social protection programs that support young girls.
• Treat everyone with respect. Gender inequality also affects nonbinary and transgender individuals. To fully combat gender bias and disparities, it’s necessary to adopt an intersectional approach and address issues surrounding gender identity.

Feminism is an intersectional movement with a focus on issues that touch every part of our lives, including reproductive rights, workplace culture, and caregiving. Gain access to exclusive videos on feminism with the MasterClass Annual Membership and get a crash course from leaders adrienne maree brown, Gloria Steinem, Amanda Nguyen, and Tina Tchen.