So, how are we doing on women's equality?

A look at the state of Women's Equality in North America and the world

Every year on August 26, we see Women’s Equality Day denoted on our calendars (at least if you have the "United States holidays" selected on your calendar settings). If you’re like most, you’ve probably thought, That’s great, a day to affirm that women are equal, then continued with your day. But what is Women’s Equality Day, what does it really stand for, and what does it mean for women today?

Here's a brief round-up of the state of women’s equality in North America and globally, as well as what can be done to keep us moving in the right direction.

Women’s Equality Day: A hard-fought victory

Women’s Equality Day commemorates the adoption of the 19th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution in 1920, which granted women the right to vote. This was the culmination of a decades-long struggle by activists and suffragettes, including figures like Susan B. Anthony and Elizabeth Cady Stanton.

Women's Equality Day became a United States holiday in 1971, the result of a resolution introduced by Congresswoman Bella Abzug and passed by the U.S. Congress, with President Richard Nixon issuing a proclamation. The day was created to commemorate the anniversary of the 19th Amendment and to reflect on the progress made and the challenges that remain in achieving full gender equality.

A quick note on semantics: Disentangling equality and equity

Over the past couple of years, the catchphrase Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) has taken the world by storm. As an unintended result, many of these unique terms have become a single utterance: diversity-equity-inclusion, with related words like equality thrown into the mix as well. Since they sound similar and are often used interchangeably, it’s important to first understand the difference between two of the most confused terms: equality and equity.

Consider a classroom where every student is given the same textbook. Equality is ensuring every student receives the same textbook. Equity is providing additional resources, like tutoring or digital versions, to students who might struggle with reading or have learning disabilities, ensuring everyone has a fair chance to succeed.

In essence, equality is about sameness, while equity is about fairness.

The state of women’s equality: US, Canada, and globally

Indicators such as labor force participation, educational attainment, wage gaps, and representation in leadership positions are crucial for standardizing the measurement of women's equality and tracking progress across regions. These metrics enable comparisons and help identify areas for improvement.

Here, we explore the state of women’s equality in the United States and Canada, as well as on a global scale, recognizing that global indicators reflect a diverse range of circumstances and contexts.

United States

In the United States, several key indicators highlight the state of women's equality:

Workforce Participation: Women make up nearly half of the labor force and constitute 51% of the college-educated workforce, having surpassed men in this category since 2019. However, they hold only 35% of the highest-paying jobs, an improvement from 13% in 1980 (Pew Research Center, 2023).
Wage Gap: The gender pay gap remains a significant issue, with women earning about 82 cents for every dollar earned by men, a figure that has stagnated over the past two decades (Pew Research Center, 2023).
Leadership: Women occupy 28% of federal legislative positions and only 11% of CEO roles in Fortune 500 companies. In governance, women are underrepresented, although President Biden's Cabinet is near gender parity (Pew Research Center, 2023).

Canada

In Canada, women's equality is measured through similar indicators:

Workforce Participation: Women have a labor force participation rate of 61.3%, compared to 69.8% for men. They represent 41.9% of senior management positions, reflecting a significant presence but still lagging behind men (Statistics Canada, 2023).
Wage Gap: Canadian women earn about 87 cents for every dollar earned by men, indicating a persistent wage gap (Statistics Canada, 2023).
Education and Leadership: Women in Canada have high educational attainment, with a majority holding post-secondary degrees. However, their representation in top corporate leadership roles is limited, with only 15% of CEO positions held by women (Statistics Canada, 2023).

Global

Globally, women's equality varies widely across different regions:

Global Gender Gap Index: The 2023 Global Gender Gap Report reveals that the gender gap is 68.4% closed worldwide. Educational attainment has the highest parity score, with 96% of the gap closed, while political empowerment significantly lags at 22.1% (World Economic Forum, 2023).
Workforce Participation: Only 61.4% of prime working-age women participate in the labor force globally, compared to 90% of men. The global wage gap shows women earning just 51 cents for every dollar earned by men (UN Women, 2023).
Leadership: Women hold 42.9% of senior and managerial roles worldwide (UN Women, 2023).
Violence: Additionally, intimate partner violence remains a critical issue, with no country close to eradicating it (UN Women, 2023).

While progress has been made in areas such as education and labor force participation, especially in advanced economies like the US and Canada, significant gaps remain in wages, leadership roles, and overall economic participation. Globally, the pace of achieving gender equality is slower.

Action for equality

As a global organization, The WIT Network is in a unique position to build community beyond borders and to leverage relationships to spur the pace of equality locally and beyond. If you are from the US or Canada, consider which areas of women’s equality light a fire within you and how you can contribute to progress. If you live or work elsewhere, consider digging into your region’s women’s equality data. Simple awareness often empowers us to make small changes with big impact.

Here are five ways you can put some power behind the drive to equality.

Challenge your understanding of equality: When you think of equality, are you looking for equity? Remember, equity is about sameness and equity is about fairness. They both play important roles in building a more just society, but confounding the two can lead to frustration. Equality is about a fair opportunity to develop your skill sets, work hard in pursuit of your goal, earn the support and guidance of others, and achieve the things you are called to do in life. Embracing this empowering definition of equality and letting go of the comparative view is truly liberating.
Reflect on the meaning of Women's Equality Day: For those in the US, take a moment to understand the significance of Women’s Equality Day beyond just a calendar notation. Reflect on the history and the ongoing struggle for gender equality.
Advocate for policy changes: Support policies that promote gender equity in the workplace, especially equal pay initiatives.
Support Women in Leadership: Take stock of the leadership ratio in your organization or team, as well as other organizations in which you participate. How can you encourage and mentor women to take on leadership roles in your community and workplace? Recognize and celebrate the achievements of women leaders to inspire others.
Engage in dialogue: Have open conversations about gender equality with friends, family, and colleagues. Discuss the importance of both equality and equity, and how each plays a role in achieving true gender parity. Relatedly, point out gender stereotypes in everyday life and encourage equal participation in all areas, from household duties to professional opportunities to hobbies.

This August 26, wherever you are in the world, pause to acknowledge the strides made towards gender equality, and recognize the work still needed. Use Women’s Equality Day as a reminder to continue striving for a society where everyone has equal opportunities.

By taking these actions, we can honor the legacy of Women's Equality Day and contribute to a more equitable and just future for all women.