Ch 11: Achieving equality

• Addressing the wage gap
• Increasing representation of women in leadership positions
• Providing affordable, accessible health and childcare
• Addressing domestic and sexual violence
• Promoting education and awareness
• Future of gender equality
• Chapter application:  How UN Women promotes gender equality

• Explain the causes and consequences of the gender wage gap and evaluate strategies to address it.
• Analyze barriers to women’s representation in leadership roles and propose effective interventions to increase inclusion.
• Assess the importance of affordable and accessible health care and childcare in promoting gender equality and workforce participation.
• Identify the social and systemic factors contributing to domestic and sexual violence and evaluate approaches to prevention and support.
• Discuss the role of education and public awareness campaigns in advancing gender equality.
• Evaluate current trends and potential future developments in gender equality efforts globally and locally.
• Reflect on individual and collective actions that can contribute to sustainable gender equity.

Why does the gender wage gap still exist? Why are women underrepresented in leadership roles across sectors? Why do issues like domestic violence and childcare continue to be framed primarily as “women’s problems”? These are not just questions of personal experience or behavior.  They are questions about systems and structures. They ask us to look beyond individual acts of bias and consider how inequality is built into the fabric of our institutions, economies, and cultural norms.

Gender inequality remains one of the most persistent and widespread forms of injustice around the world. Despite decades of activism, policy change, and increased awareness, major disparities in pay, power, representation, and safety still exist.  In fact, gender inequality is often misunderstood as a matter of individual prejudice:  a boss who pays women less than men, a colleague who makes sexist jokes, or a teacher who unconsciously favors boys in math. While these examples are real and harmful, they are symptoms of broader systems.

Take the gender wage gap, for example. As of 2025, women globally earn approximately 77 cents for every dollar earned by men. In some countries and among marginalized groups, the gap is even wider. But this disparity is not simply about unequal pay for the same work. It reflects a complex mix of occupational segregation (where women are overrepresented in lower-paid industries such as education, caregiving, or service work), the undervaluing of “women’s work,” penalties for motherhood or caregiving, and a lack of workplace policies that accommodate different life paths.

These patterns extend beyond wages. The same structural forces that shape economic inequality also limit access to leadership roles, perpetuate underinvestment in healthcare and childcare, and influence how seriously society takes gender-based violence. They reveal how gender roles and expectations are built into laws, policies, and institutional norms.

Understanding gender inequality requires us to think not just about gender in isolation, but about how it intersects with other social identities, including race, class, sexual orientation, disability, and immigration status.  For example, a white woman in a corporate job may face challenges breaking into executive leadership due to gendered expectations and workplace cultures. A Black single mother working in a low-wage job, however, may also contend with systemic racism, limited access to affordable childcare, and disproportionate barriers in the healthcare system. Both women experience gender inequality, but in fundamentally different ways.

Role of policy

While policy plays a key role in advancing gender equality, cultural change is just as important. Education, media, and public awareness campaigns can shape how people think about gender roles, relationships, and responsibilities. From school curricula that teach consent and emotional literacy, to media campaigns like #MeToo or Girls Who Code, public messaging has the power to shift norms and empower marginalized voices.

These efforts matter because they help create environments where inequality is visible and therefore addressable. When individuals understand how gender norms affect their opportunities and behaviors, they are better equipped to challenge those norms in their communities, workplaces, and relationships.  Importantly, gender equality is not a destination.  Instead, it is an ongoing process that requires individual awareness, institutional accountability, and collective action. While large-scale change happens through policy and movement-building, each of us has a role to play.  Achieving gender equality means looking beyond surface-level solutions and asking hard questions about how our society is structured, such as who it serves, who it excludes, and how we can redesign it to be more just. 

Purpose:  The goal of this activity is to have students collaboratively develop a practical action plan addressing one key area of gender equality.

Materials Needed:

• Flip charts or whiteboards
• Markers or sticky notes

Steps:

1. Divide the class into small groups (4-5 students).
2. Assign each group one of the topics: wage gap, leadership representation, health and childcare, domestic/sexual violence, or education and awareness.
3. Group Discussion (15 minutes):
   • Identify key challenges related to their topic.
   • Brainstorm possible solutions or interventions.
   • Consider stakeholders involved and potential barriers.
4. Action Plan Development (15 minutes):
   • Groups create a brief action plan outlining steps to address the issue.
   • Include goals, strategies, and measurable outcomes.
5. Presentations (10 minutes):
   • Each group shares their action plan with the class.
   • Class provides feedback and suggestions.
6. Wrap-Up:
   • Reflect on the variety of approaches and the importance of multi-faceted efforts in achieving gender equality.

Addressing the Wage Gap

• What are the main factors contributing to the gender wage gap?
• Which policies or workplace practices do you think are most effective in closing this gap?

Increasing Women in Leadership

• What barriers prevent women from reaching leadership positions?
• How can organizations create more inclusive leadership pipelines?

Affordable Health and Childcare

• How does access to affordable healthcare and childcare impact gender equality in the workforce?
• What models or programs have you seen that effectively address these needs?

Domestic and Sexual Violence

• What social or cultural factors contribute to the prevalence of domestic and sexual violence?
• How can communities and institutions better support survivors and prevent violence?

Promoting Education and Awareness

• How can education and awareness campaigns change societal attitudes about gender roles?
• What role should schools, media, and governments play in these efforts?

Future of Gender Equality

• What emerging trends or challenges do you foresee in the pursuit of gender equality?
• How can individuals contribute to advancing gender equity in their own communities?

Assignment Overview:

In this 4–5 page essay, you will examine current efforts to advance gender equality both globally and in your local or national context. You will assess the effectiveness of these efforts, identify emerging trends or challenges, and consider what future developments may shape the movement for gender justice. This assignment encourages you to connect theory with real-world policy, activism, and social change.

Assignment Prompt:

Part I: Current Trends in Gender Equality Efforts (2–2.5 pages)

• Identify and describe two to three recent initiatives, policies, or movements that aim to advance gender equality. You may choose one from a global context (e.g., UN initiatives, international feminist movements) and one from a local or national context (e.g., laws, advocacy campaigns, education programs).
• Evaluate the effectiveness of these efforts: What progress has been made? What challenges remain?
• Consider who is included or excluded from these initiatives (e.g., women, LGBTQ+ people, people of color, disabled communities).
• Use evidence such as statistics, reports, or case studies to support your evaluation.

Part II: Future Directions and Critical Reflections (2–2.5 pages)

• Reflect on emerging trends in gender equality (e.g., digital activism, intersectional approaches, gender-inclusive policymaking, backlash movements).
• Discuss potential future developments: What are the most promising strategies or technologies? What threats or barriers might arise?
• Consider how intersectionality and cultural context will continue to shape gender equality efforts moving forward.

Expectations:

• Use at least two academic sources and one credible source such as a report from a government, NGO, or international organization.
• Provide specific examples of real-world initiatives and developments.
• Clearly define any key terms you use, such as gender equality, intersectionality, or policy reform.
• Develop a strong, focused argument that ties your local and global analysis together.