14 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.

Black women vow to be a powerful US voting force again this year. (Washington Post)

More attractive women get higher grades: The ‘economics of pretty’. (Vox)

A man’s world? Not to this aircraft manufacturer, disaster cleanup specialist or landscaper. (CNN)

‘Be the nerd.’ Mark Zuckerberg’s advice to girls. (World Economic Forum)

When teamwork doesn’t work for women. (New York Times)

4 startups helping companies implement parental leave. (Tech Republic)

Why did only 2% of new fathers in Japan take paternity leave last year? (World Economic Forum)

Microsoft expands Hong Kong camp to encourage more young women to work in IT. (South China Morning Post)

The number of US businesses owned by women is growing – but there’s a catch. (World Economic Forum)

Local heroes: Unsung women of Africa. (BBC)

5 countries with the strictest dress codes. (World Economic Forum)

The bikini approach to women’s health and why women with brain tumours are dismissed as attention seekers. (The Guardian)

What can the Arabic version of Sesame Street teach us about gender equality? (World Economic Forum)

Is Sweden’s ‘daddy quota’ closing the gender gap? (World Economic Forum)

Statistic of the week:

10 years: The time it will take for women to be represented equally on company boards, if a woman fills every single future board vacancy in S&P 1500 companies.

40 years: The time it will take for women to be represented equally on boards, if equal numbers of women and men fill board vacancies in S&P 1500 companies.

Facts & Figures: When will women get equality on corporate boards? (New York Times)

Quote of the week:

“Now, when I talk like this – and I do often – Republicans say I’m playing the gender card. Well, if fighting for equal pay, paid leave, and Planned Parenthood is playing the gender card -- deal me in.”

Hilary Clinton, Candidate, 2016 Democratic Party presidential primaries for the 2016 United States presidential election as quoted in The Huffington Post.

Author: Saadia Zahidi is a Senior Director, Head of Gender Parity and Human Capital and Constituents at the World Economic Forum