New Zealand gets top marks in gender gap survey

No country in the world has managed to close the gender gap, but some are closer then others. New Zealand has come fifth in the latest Global Gender Gap Index, compiled every year by the World Economic Forum. The country scored high for gender equality, following only Northern European countries Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden.

With 78.8%, New Zealand managed to maintain the same position it had previously achieved in the 2007 and 2008 indexes. Neighbouring Australia also maintained its previous position, scoring the 20th place in the ranking, with 72.8%.

"Girls and women make up one half of the world's population, and without their engagement, empowerment and contribution, we cannot hope to achieve a rapid economic recovery nor effectively tackle global challenges such as climate change, food security and conflict," said the World Economic Forum’s founder and chief executive.

The index analyses the gender gap in terms of economic participation and opportunity, educational attainment, political empowerment, and health and survival.

Bad news for the UK

A UK survey has recently revealed that women in the UK are paid less than half as much as men in some parts of the country. In national terms, women earn an average of 21% per hour less than men. In West Somerset, the figure reaches an astounding 53% difference. Data from the Fawcett Society also shows that in Windsor and Maidenhead, women receive 49% less than men, while in South Northamptonshire, the gap reaches 43%.

In some areas of the country, however, the gender gap works in an unusual way, granting women higher salaries: female staff in East Renfrewshire, for example, are paid 33% more per hour than their male co-workers.

In face of these numbers, the Fawcett Society is calling on the government to introduce mandatory pay audits with immediate effect.