Guest opinion: U.S. ranking on gender gap index troubling

Recently, the Geneva-based World Economic Forum released its annual Global Gender Gap Index. The index seeks to measure the relative gaps between women and men within a country across four key areas: economic, political, education and health; and then to rank 142 nations in terms of their relative gender gap. In other words, the index ranks countries on the extent of their gender gaps, not their development level. For example, rich countries have more educational and health opportunities for all members of society. The index seeks to determine the relative gap in access to these available resources between women and men within a country, regardless of whether the country is relatively richer or poorer.

A review of the data in this year’s report suggests some troubling trends for the United States. First, the U.S. ranks 20th out of 142 nations in terms of overall gender equality. Among those raking ahead of the U.S. are Nicaragua (6th), Rwanda (7th), Latvia (15th), Burundi (17th) and South Africa (18th). This is hardly a relative ranking to brag about!

Second, it should be noted that the overall rank of 20th out of 142 represents essentially no change over time, as the U.S. has had rankings between 17th and 23rd each of the past five years. In other words, the gap is not closing in our society!

Third, the U.S. ranked 65th out of 142 countries in “wage equality for similar work.” While the overall income of working women in the U.S. is higher than in many countries, the wage gap for women as compared to men for the similar work is worse than in 64 countries!

Fourth, the U.S. ranked 62nd out of 142 in “health and survival” (down from 33rd the two prior years). In other words, the gap between the health and survival of the women as compared to men in our country is worse than in 61 other countries, and has dropped significantly from the past two years’ rankings. Is this troubling to you? It is to me.

Fifth, the U.S. ranked 39th out of 142 in “educational attainment” (down from first each of the last five years). In other words, the gap between the educational attainment of women as compared to men in our country is worse than in 38 other countries, and has widened in the recent past.

Finally, the U.S. ranked 54th out of 142 in “political empowerment,” a measure of the degree to which women are elected/appointed to political offices.

This report raises serious concerns. As a society, we continue to have significant gender inequality in the areas of similar wages for similar work, health care and education. Gender inequality in our country is greater than in many developing countries. And, at best, we are maintaining our level of gender inequality; in some areas the inequality is widening. These areas of gender inequality are complex and reflect structural, systemic injustice. Are you troubled by these trends? I am!

As a man who has a wife, daughters, a sister and a mother, and many female friends, I am very troubled. And, as a pastor of a local faith community, I am very disturbed by these inequalities and injustices in our society. We must do better to improve the plight of women in our society! We can do better! We must do better!