The gender gap is a measure of the inequality between men and women. The World Economic Forum has released its Global Gender Gap Index for 2009. The Index assesses countries on how well they are dividing their resources and opportunities among their male and female populations, regardless of the overall levels of these resources and opportunities. Iceland, Finland, and Norway lead on levels of equality.
And where is the U.S.?
Number 31 is no prize.
A close look at the data shows that the U.S. has a relatively poor ranking because it is well behind other countries in the percentage of women who hold political positions. This is a measure of inequality, not welfare. Thus, the data doesn’t show that women are better off in Sri Lanka or Mongolia.
But there is nothing to be proud of in these data.
