U.S. Lags Behind in World Bank Study on Gender Equality
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U.S. Lags Behind in World Bank Study on Gender Equality


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The World Bank recently released a new study on gender equality, called: Women, Business and the Law 2019.

 

The study says that six countries now treat men and women equally under the law, including Belgium, Denmark, France, Latvia, Luxembourg and Sweden. The United States’ score placed it outside the global top 50—in a tie for 62nd place with the Bahamas, Kenya and Malawi.

 

The World Bank study showed that the U.S. performed well in some categories, including running a business and managing assets.

 

However, Dr. Terri Boyer, Director of the McNulty Institute for Women’s Leadership at Villanova University, says the places the U.S. did the poorest was under having children. The U.S. is one of only 3 countries in the world that doesn’t offer paid leave as part of its laws. The U.S. also performed poorly in categories having to do with the experiences for women in workplace after they have children, Boyer noted. Additionally, the U.S. did not perform well for pay equity and pensions.

 

“Although we may have some social and cultural assets that allow women to succeed in certain ways, we are not legally where our peers are in terms of the laws we have in place,” said Dr. Boyer. “On the other hand, while we have some laws in place, our socio-culture factors may continue to hold back. For example, although we have strong laws against harassment, the #MeToo movement has shown that doesn’t mean our culture has caught up.”

 

Dr. Boyer feels the World Bank study may help create more global conversations around the topic of gender equity and the law.

 

To speak with Dr. Boyer e-mail mediaexperts@villanova.edu or call 610-519-5152.

 

 


Connect with:
  • Teresa Boyer, EdD
    Teresa Boyer, EdD Founding Director, Anne Welsh McNulty Institute for Women's Leadership; Associate Professor, Education and Counseling

    Teresa Boyer, EdD, is an innovative leader in economic and social equity for women

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