19 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.

South Africa’s liberation defeated racism but not sexism. Men and women must unite to realise the egalitarian society envisaged in the nation’s constitution. (World Economic Forum)

How Senegal is promoting family planning. “This is not a story of Senegal alone, it’s a story of all Africa.” (World Economic Forum)

Zambia’s thriving sex industry. “I would not want my daughter to go through this kind of life.” (Times of Zambia)

Afghan Taliban softens stance on women’s rights. Activists say the Taliban pledged support for women’s education at peace talks in Qatar. (Tribune Express)

When you educate a girl everything changes. Evidence from sub-Saharan African suggests the exclusion of girls is often the result of poverty not culture. (World Economic Forum)

Saudi women flock to the internet. The driving ban has forced them to find new avenues to work and thousands have launched businesses on Instagram. (NPR)

Manhattan’s “wife bonuses”. Some New York women are being rewarded by their husbands for good housekeeping. (New York Times)

Stop punishing the family man. Workplace culture is often tough on new fathers and female bosses can be as unsympathetic as men. (Harvard Business Review)

More hands to rock the cradle. Both parents should be paid to spend time at home with their babies. (Economist)

Britain needs childcare reform to close City gender gap. “If we’re going to nurture female talent, childcare is the elephant in the room.” (Financial Times)

Fast Company’s most creative people in business. A host of women join the ranks. (Fast Company)

This woman helped build a new Indian stock exchange. Now she runs it. (Bloomberg)

Delhi is among India’s best cities for startups. But not for female entrepreneurs. (Quartz)

The young women from rural India refusing to marry unsuitable men. Women are making themselves heard. (Scroll.in)

India tackles sexism in the police force. Cops’ attitudes towards women should be considered in promotions, says government. (Indian Express)

China’s feminist awakening. The arrest of the “Feminist Five” has prompted more public interest in feminism. (New York Times)

Brazilian anti-harassment app wins international hackathon. Users can review restaurants based on how they treat women. (SciDevNet)

Afghan rapper escaped teen marriage by singing about it. “It means so much that my family went against our tradition.” (PRI)

There was real gender equality in prehistoric times. Study suggests hunter-gatherer tribes were egalitarian and that agriculture is to blame for sexism. (Guardian)

Statistic of the Week

Daughters of working mothers complete more years of education, are more likely to be employed and earn higher incomes, while sons of working mothers spend more time on childcare and housework. A new study of 50,000 adults in 25 countries, adds to growing evidence of advantages for children of working mothers.

Quote of the Week

“We are already witnessing a global shift toward leadership values and abilities traditionally considered feminine, especially collaboration and empathy. So as more women join and lead the conversation, not just in media but in every industry, the better off we’ll all be, women and men alike.”
Arianna Huffington, president and editor-in-chief, Huffington Post Media Group

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

Image: Flower girls wait next to the bride’s carriage before a wedding ceremony on Paqueta island in Rio de Janeiro, September 14, 2013. REUTERS/Pilar Olivares