EDITORIAL – A depressing state of gender equality

Not a single country has achieved gender equality, according to the United Nations.
Despite the growing awareness of gender equality around the world and the thriving women empowerment movement, the world is still a vastly unequal place, and the UN says much work needs to be done.
In light of the celebration of International Women’s Day on March 8, that’s a depressing statistic.
Activists around the world will celebrate International Women’s Day, recognizing the successes of women around the world. However, our attention should be directed to this eye-opening fact.
Here’s some startling facts: According to the UN, a girl born today will have to wait 50 years before she’s projected to have an equal chance at running a government. She’ll have to wait 70 years before the pay gap evens out, and she’ll have to wait 81 years before she might have the same chance as a man of being the CEO of a company.
There is also the disturbing fact of the existing gender gap and violence against women that is considered by UN as a “global phenomenon” caused by male domination in the world. In a recent statement, the UN said women’s bodies “are viewed not as something to respect, but as something that men have the right to control and to abuse.”
That’s too sad.
Legendary American actress Bette Davis gave a very sad description of women: “When a man gives his opinion, he’s a man. When a woman gives her opinion, she’s a bitch.”
With this reality in consideration, the UN is set to review a massive platform to achieve gender equality around the world that was developed in 1995. Things have gotten slightly better in the past two decades, but there are still far too few female lawmakers and heads of state. The UN hopes that by enlisting men to step up, everyone can get an advantage for the future – and make equality a truly global effort.
UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon once said at an International Women’s Day event: “Let us work together to secure a sustainable future where women and girls, boys and men are equally empowered.”