How to attract female engineers and other gender stories of the week

Welcome to your weekly digest of stories about how the gender gap plays out around the world — in business, health, education and politics.

What do we want? More jobs for women, better pay, and less housework, says UN Women. (World Economic Forum)

We need female chief executives, not just non-execs. There is no such thing as a ‘female’ career. (Financial Times)

Pope calls out scandalous pay gap. But he must support reproductive rights if he wants equality. (The Guardian)

A simple solution to the gender pay gap. Cut men’s wages. (Globe and Mail)

But the gender pay gap has closed. As long as you’re CEO of one of the largest US companies. (USA Today)

A woman should lead the UN. Campaigners target secretive process to select Ban Ki-moon’s successor. (Washington Post)

Why women are more at risk than men in Nepal. Violence and access to scarce resources make life worse for women after crises. (Quartz)

Working women will save Japan. But they could cause a further decline in fertility rates. (Quartz)

The woman shaking up the gaming industry… from Pakistan. “An industry doesn’t reach its full potential by stifling its already limited talent pool.” (PRI)

Websites in India put some choice into arranged marriages. Technology whittles away ancient tradition. (New York Times)

India defends marital rape. But lawyers question constitutionality of legal exception. (Scroll.in)

No women allowed at women’s health event. Campaigners call conference ‘surreal’. (Haaretz)

South Africa claims progress in tackling crime against women. But murder rates are up. (World Economic Forum)

Why female farmers in Africa are half as productive as men. Childcare is part of the problem. (World Economic Forum)

The key to attracting female engineers. Make the work more meaningful for society. (New York Times)

How to boost girls’ confidence in IT. Take boys out of the class. (World Economic Forum)

To pray, or not to pray. Coming out as Muslim in the fashionworld. (Racked)

Forbidden from riding bikes. Fearless Afghan girls are skateboarding around Kabul. (Quartz)

It’s a girl! Britain’s new royal baby will change the line of succession. (Telegraph)

Author: Saadia Zahidi is a Senior Director, Head of Gender Parity and Human Capital and Constituents at the World Economic Forum.

Image: People go home after work by train at Tokyo station. REUTERS/Lee Jae-Won