“Rooted” sexist prejudice, no improvement in ten years, deplores the UN

The record is relentless. There has been no progress over the past decade in reducing gender bias, “rooted” in societies despite campaigns for women’s rights like MeToo, regrets the UN Monday, June 12. In both men and women, “Social norms based on gender prejudices are widespread in the world: nearly 90% of the population has at least one prejudice” gender, among seven reviewed by the United Nations Development Program (UNDP).

The stereotypes “are deeply embedded and influence men and women to similar degrees”, continues the report. Using data from the World Values ​​Survey, an international project on changing values ​​and beliefs around the world in 80 countries covering 85% of the world’s population, UNDP has updated its Social Gender Norms Index (GSNI). Nearly half of the world’s population (49%) still believe that men make better political leaders than women, and only 27% believe it is essential for democracy that women have the same rights as men.

A quarter of the population also find it justifiable for a man to beat his wife, and 28% believe that university is more important for men. Prejudices that constitute “obstacles” for women and lead to “violations” of their rights. “Without tackling these social gender norms, we will not achieve gender equality or the Sustainable Development Goals,” warns the report.