The European Institute for Gender Equality (EIGE) unveiled on Monday 24 October its Gender Equality Index for 2022 (see EUROPE 12823/16). While the data analysed relates to the first year of the pandemic, EIGE sounds the alarm that gender inequalities are gaining ground in times of crisis and that vulnerable groups are most at risk.
Slow or even declining progress
The EIGE laments that progress continues “at a snail’s pace”. Indeed, with an index of 68.6 (out of 100), the EU has increased by only 0.6 points compared to last year and by 5.5 points since 2010.
Worse, “this year’s score has taken a turn with decreases in several areas for the first time since 2010”, warns Carlien Scheele, EIGE Director. This is particularly true of the rate of participation in education and the labour market. Indeed, women spent more time on “unpaid care activities”, such as childcare or housework. Thus, one third of the respondents felt that they had left the labour market because of these activities. Their incomes were also affected by reduced working hours or the need to take unpaid leave. Furthermore, EIGE notes that vulnerable groups have been more affected by the crisis. For example, young women with low levels of education or with an immigrant background have been particularly affected by job losses.
Other areas, such as access to health care, also show a decline. The progress of the overall European index is mainly driven by progress in the area of power, EIGE points out. The Institute welcomes the increased participation of women in economic and political decision-making, “linked to the introduction of legislated quotas in a handful of EU Member States” and stresses the importance of improving the gender balance on corporate boards (see EUROPE 13044/24).
An uneven situation within the EU
Not all European countries are equal when it comes to gender issues. Among the most equal countries are Sweden, Denmark and the Netherlands, although for the first two countries “progress has stalled”. Indeed, the most significant progress has been observed in Lithuania, Belgium, Croatia and the Netherlands. In contrast, Greece, Hungary and Romania have the lowest scores.
Despite the crises, EU countries “must be sensitive to gender equality in their budgetary and policy measures”, says Helena Dalli, European Commissioner for Equality. “It is crucial we see progress on our legislative proposals, to improve gender balance on corporate boards, to have pay transparency, and to put an end to violence against women and domestic violence”.
Read the report: https://aeur.eu/f/3rk (Original version in French by Hélène Seynaeve)