13 must-read 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

Eight secretaries-general over 70 years, and all male. UN member states call for transparency and balance. (The Business Insider)

“I am now moving on.” Ellen Pao, former Reddit CEO drops her gender discrimination lawsuit. In her own words. (<re/code>)

For 18 years she was the only woman at a 4000-employee company. Now this CEO helps Saudi women break the gender barrier. (Fortune)

Gender ratios in higher education. What are the numbers hiding? (World Economic Forum)

The most critical global goal. Without gender equality we will not achieve the world we hope for. (Huffington Post)

Combat teams in the US Marines: male-only or mixed-gender? The test results are in. (Quartz)

What can academia learn about fairer funding from the social sciences? (Nature)

The UK graduate workforce is still challenged to achieve diversity. What to do about it? (Business Reporter)

Gender-based violence: it’s a health issue. (Huffington Post)

Why I put my wife’s career first. Women executives need a spouse to cover the home front. (The Atlantic)

Women speak out on climate change. Are they heard? At the front lines of climate change adaptation, women are in the background of the conversation (World Economic Forum)

A dangerous place to be poor, black and a woman. The majority of the South African population who live under the poverty line is black and female. (The Conversation)

100 countries bar women from certain jobs because they are women. It keeps countries poorer. (The Hindu)

Statistic of the Week

800 women die every day from pregnancy-related causes. 99% of them are in developing countries. World Health Organisation

Quote of the Week

“Gender equality is about solving majority not minority rights. It is about socio-economic inclusion. … It is not free or cheap [but] it has a high rate of return.”
Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka
United Nations Under-Secretary-General and Executive Director, UN Women

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

Image: Kate Kelly of Ordain Women talks to supporters before a vigil as members of the leadership of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints consider her excommunication from the church in Salt Lake City, Utah, June 22, 2014. REUTERS/Jim Urquhart