15 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.

Saudi Arabia elects first female politicians. (FT.com)

Analysis: The value of women voting in Saudi Arabia. (Aljazeera)

Why Saudi Arabia’s female politicians are a vote for progress. (World Economic Forum)

Women in Saudi Arabia can’t drive themselves to vote. Uber steps in. (Reuters)

The amazing women of COP21. Backstage at the Paris climate talks. (Vogue)

Damning report on violence against women. (Independent Online South Africa)

Women in London’s financial sector expect lower bonuses than men. (Reuters)

It pays to be a woman in banking – but not nearly as much as a man. (World Economic Forum)

Let’s not wait a century: 3 ways to close the gender gap now. (World Economic Forum)

An LGBT activist becomes one of China’s first Rhodes Scholars. (WSJ.com)

The CEO gender gap, in 3 depressing charts. (Vox News)

Supporting India’s women-led start-ups. (BBC)

3 Women of Muslim backgrounds receive US Human Rights Prize. (Voice of America)

Why this boy started helping his sister with chores: #15Girls. (NPR.org)

7 overlooked facts about women’s suffrage. (World Economic Forum)

Statistic of the week:

Women vote for the first time in historic Saudi Arabian elections:

130,000 registered to vote.
900 stood for election.
20 elected to office.

Saudi Gazette

Quote of the week:

“Now women have a voice. (…) I cried. This is something that we only used to see on television taking place in other countries.”

Awatef Marzooq
First-time voter, Saudi Arabia
Saudi Gazette

Image: Saudi Arabia’s contingent takes part in the athletes parade during the opening ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games at the Olympic Stadium July 27, 2012. REUTERS/Suzanne Plunkett