15 must-read gender stories of the week

Welcome to your weekly digest of stories about how the gender gap plays out around the world – in business, health, education and politics.

“Because it’s 2015”. Canada jumps to third in world rankings of governmental gender equality. (Toronto Star)

All-women Russian crew finishes test on space flight confinement. (Business Insider)

Afghani woman, Sakeena Yacoobi, honoured for supporting underground education for girls in face of aliban ban. (Australian Broadcasting Company)

Maryam Mirzakhani, the first woman to win mathematics’ highest honour. (The Guardian)

Gender inequality: it’s worse than you think. (World Economic Forum)

Working parents sharing the load. Men and women see it differently. (Pew Research Center)

Women on top: are quotas the way? (World Economic Forum)

Lack of gender diversity hurts performance. Why? (Working Knowledge)

Having it all: a myth for women and men. (World Economic Forum)

Every step up the corporate ladder increases the pay gap for women. (Harvard Business Review)

We Are the Solution: African women organise for land and seed sovereignty. (Toward Freedom)

How India ranks on gender parity — and why. (Indian Express)

Closing the confidence gender gap. (World Economic Forum)

The number of working-aged women employed in Japan exceeds number in US or Europe. (Wall Street Journal)

Is the United States of America ready for a woman in the White House? Not if she paints it pink. (Jimmy Kimmel Live, via The Daily Beast)

Statistic of the Week:

+20.1%

The potential change in GDP per capita of Middle East and North African countries if the employment ratio for women and youth increases to global average.

International Labour Organisation

Quote of the Week

“Examples and data cannot be used to ignore lingering challenges, but we can mobilize around them—to carve out a permanent and prominent role for Arab women in our schools, economies, and societies.”

Soraya Salti
Senior Vice-President, Middle East and North Africa, INJAZ Al
Schwab Foundation Social Entrepreneur of the Year, 2006
Young Global Leader, World Economic Forum

Image: Canada’s new Prime Minister Justin Trudeau (Front row 5th L) poses with his cabinet after their swearing-in ceremony at Rideau Hall in Ottawa November 4, 2015. REUTERS/Chris Wattie