Seeing the Second Sex

"The global gender gap in educational attainment, workforce participation, and political representation has narrowed in recent years. According to the United Nations Development Fund for Women, the share of female legislators in national assemblies increased by 8 percent around the globe between 1998 and 2008, compared with a mere 1 percent increase over the previous two decades. About 200 million women have joined the workforce worldwide over the last decade, and gender equality has been reached in primary schooling in much of the world. Still, people around the world say gender inequalities persist in their countries and that more changes are needed to ensure that women have the same rights as men." (Harvard International Review) An overview of the Pew Research Center's findings from a 22-nation survey on gender equality throughout the globe is provided.