GENDER EQUALITY INDEX 2023

By Felea Anda-Gabriela

Introduction

The Gender Equality Index is an instrument designed with the purpose of evaluating gender equality progress across the European Union (EU). The 2023 edition of the Index assesses performance within six main domains: work, financial income, knowledge, time, power, and health, along with two additional domains focused on connecting inequalities and violence.

General Improvements

Within the work domain, which evaluates gender disparities in labor market participation and the quality of employment, there have been slight advancements despite ongoing gender inequalities and segregation. Furthermore, educational attainment and participation, namely the knowledge domain, show modest increases as a consequence of higher educational participation and attainment among women. The power domain looks at gender representation in decision-making roles across political, economic, and social spheres. Significant progress has been made within this category, marked by increased female representation in political and economic leadership roles.

Regression and stagnation

Regretfully, the report points out certain regression areas. One such instance is the money domain, which has begun to regress, mostly as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic's effects on the economy. Due in part to unpaid care responsibilities and gendered labor market segregation, women's earnings continue to lag behind men's. The time domain persists in mirroring gender differences in unpaid care labor, as women are disproportionately responsible for household and caregiving duties, which restricts their access to paid jobs and leisure time. 

Gender-based violence is another important issue that needs to be addressed. To this date, the victims are mostly women: out of every 4 victims, around 3 are women. A particular type of violence is domestic violence, that predominantly occurs in the context of intimate relationships or child-parent relationships. Regarding the gender of the aggressors, the crime is mostly perpetrated by men: out of every five people reported, around four are men.

Current status of Romania                                                                       

Romania ranks among the lowest-performing nations in a number of categories. The nation suffers from severe gender segregation, especially in lower-paying industries, and low female labor market participation. There is a clear financial gap between men and women; women earn much less and are more likely to be impoverished. A lower score in the power domain can be attributed to the underrepresentation of women in positions of decision-making. Education disparities between genders continue, with women underrepresented in STEM fields relative to men.

References

1. European Institute for Gender Equality. (2023). Gender Equality Index 2023. https://eige.europa.eu/gender-equality-index/2023