Reports
Women and the Working Environment
- Europe Team
- 23 March 2023
The present report explores the role of women in the working environment, focusing on academia and research, the role of women in leading positions, gender pay-gaps, and on maternity rights. Women play a role in the world economy and in the geopolitical system primarily as undervalued labourers — domestic workers, diplomats’ and politicians’ wives, and agricultural workers. It is important to underline that women represent half of the world population, and it is a lost opportunity to not fully
draw upon the talents and capacities of half of humanity.
The present report is divided into four different sections. The first section explores the gender gap in academia and research, emphasising how, despite the increased presence of women in the academia over the years, women still face significant levels of discrimination. The section continues exploring the gap between men and women in higher positions in academia, initiatives by the European Union (EU) to eliminate this disparity, and the discrimination that women face in higher education institutions.
Next, the report proceeds with the second section, where the realities of gender pay gaps are discussed alongside the factors contributing to the gender pay gap in Europe, its impact on women, and the actions taken to address this issue. Research shows that the gender pay gap is influenced by a number of factors, including occupational segregation, discrimination, and women’s disproportionate responsibility for caregiving. In fact, this “duty” is very important when it comes to maternity rights, which is the focus of the third section. While some countries in Europe regulate parental leave without distinguishing entitlements allocated to mothers or fathers, most states offer different regimes based on the parent’s , with paternity leave schemes only having been introduced in recent years, sometimes still considered as a taboo. This is resulting in the choice of part-time —and therefore lower-paying— jobs for women. Finally, the fourth section sheds light on media discrimination against women and the
impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on women’s opportunities to advance in their professional careers. In its final part, this unit discusses key events and initiatives adopted on the European stage aimed at boosting women’s access to leadership roles and their empowerment.
draw upon the talents and capacities of half of humanity.
The present report is divided into four different sections. The first section explores the gender gap in academia and research, emphasising how, despite the increased presence of women in the academia over the years, women still face significant levels of discrimination. The section continues exploring the gap between men and women in higher positions in academia, initiatives by the European Union (EU) to eliminate this disparity, and the discrimination that women face in higher education institutions.
Next, the report proceeds with the second section, where the realities of gender pay gaps are discussed alongside the factors contributing to the gender pay gap in Europe, its impact on women, and the actions taken to address this issue. Research shows that the gender pay gap is influenced by a number of factors, including occupational segregation, discrimination, and women’s disproportionate responsibility for caregiving. In fact, this “duty” is very important when it comes to maternity rights, which is the focus of the third section. While some countries in Europe regulate parental leave without distinguishing entitlements allocated to mothers or fathers, most states offer different regimes based on the parent’s , with paternity leave schemes only having been introduced in recent years, sometimes still considered as a taboo. This is resulting in the choice of part-time —and therefore lower-paying— jobs for women. Finally, the fourth section sheds light on media discrimination against women and the
impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on women’s opportunities to advance in their professional careers. In its final part, this unit discusses key events and initiatives adopted on the European stage aimed at boosting women’s access to leadership roles and their empowerment.
✨ AI summary
The present report explores the role of women in the working environment, focusing on academia and research, the role of women in leading positions, gender pay-gaps, and on maternity rights. Women play a role in the world economy and in the geopolitical system primarily as undervalued labourers — domestic workers, diplomats’ and politicians’ wives, and agricultural workers. It is important to underline that women represent half of the world population, and it is a lost opportunity to not fully
draw upon the talents and capacities of half of humanity.
The present report is divided into four different sections. The first section explores the gender gap in academia and research, emphasising how, despite the increased presence of women in the academia over the years, women still face significant levels of discrimination. The section continues exploring the gap between men and women in higher positions in academia, initiatives by the European Union (EU) to eliminate this disparity, and the discrimination that women face in higher education institutions.
Next, the report proceeds with the second section, where the realities of gender pay gaps are discussed alongside the factors contributing to the gender pay gap in Europe, its impact on women, and the actions taken to address this issue. Research shows that the gender pay gap is influenced by a number of factors, including occupational segregation, discrimination, and women’s disproportionate responsibility for caregiving. In fact, this “duty” is very important when it comes to maternity rights, which is the focus of the third section. While some countries in Europe regulate parental leave without distinguishing entitlements allocated to mothers or fathers, most states offer different regimes based on the parent’s , with paternity leave schemes only having been introduced in recent years, sometimes still considered as a taboo. This is resulting in the choice of part-time —and therefore lower-paying— jobs for women. Finally, the fourth section sheds light on media discrimination against women and the
impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on women’s opportunities to advance in their professional careers. In its final part, this unit discusses key events and initiatives adopted on the European stage aimed at boosting women’s access to leadership roles and their empowerment.
draw upon the talents and capacities of half of humanity.
The present report is divided into four different sections. The first section explores the gender gap in academia and research, emphasising how, despite the increased presence of women in the academia over the years, women still face significant levels of discrimination. The section continues exploring the gap between men and women in higher positions in academia, initiatives by the European Union (EU) to eliminate this disparity, and the discrimination that women face in higher education institutions.
Next, the report proceeds with the second section, where the realities of gender pay gaps are discussed alongside the factors contributing to the gender pay gap in Europe, its impact on women, and the actions taken to address this issue. Research shows that the gender pay gap is influenced by a number of factors, including occupational segregation, discrimination, and women’s disproportionate responsibility for caregiving. In fact, this “duty” is very important when it comes to maternity rights, which is the focus of the third section. While some countries in Europe regulate parental leave without distinguishing entitlements allocated to mothers or fathers, most states offer different regimes based on the parent’s , with paternity leave schemes only having been introduced in recent years, sometimes still considered as a taboo. This is resulting in the choice of part-time —and therefore lower-paying— jobs for women. Finally, the fourth section sheds light on media discrimination against women and the
impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on women’s opportunities to advance in their professional careers. In its final part, this unit discusses key events and initiatives adopted on the European stage aimed at boosting women’s access to leadership roles and their empowerment.
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