Keywords: gender gap, working women, women, discrimination, glass ceiling, leadership
Although women have nearly the same access to education and healthcare as men, they are still far less represented in leadership and decision-making roles in the workplace, The New York Times reports. According to the World Economic Forum's 2008 Global Gender Gap report, women's gains in education, literacy and healthcare have not resulted in similar gains in top political and corporate jobs around the world.
According to the report, women have most parity with men in Norway, Finland and Sweden. The United States ranks only 27th on the list. Middle Eastern and North African countries rated lowest overall, with Saudi Arabia, Chad and Yemen at the bottom of the list. The report argues that the wide gender gap in these countries puts them at an economic disadvantage.
"A nation's competitiveness depends significantly on whether and how it educates and utilizes its female talent," Saadia Zahidi of the World Economic Forum told the Times. "To maximize its competitiveness and development potential, each country should strive for gender equality."
Click here to read the full story in The New York Times.
