Equity, Diversity and Inclusion

Women in science and other top gender stories of the week

Saadia Zahidi
Managing Director, World Economic Forum

‘Despite being a woman’. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi draws flak for a botched attempt at praising his Bangladeshi counterpart. (BDNews24)

Modi should learn from Bangladesh.  Its eastern neighbour beats India in almost all measures of gender parity. (Scroll.in)

Tips on how to ‘have it all’. Start by cutting down on TV. (World Economic Forum)

200 million fewer women than men are online. How to turn that around. (Worldwide Web Foundation)

The gender gap in heart disease. Women are more likely than men to visit a doctor prior to a heart attack, men are more likely to be diagnosed as at-risk. (Sydney Morning Herald)

‘Queen Bee’ syndrome is a myth. It’s not high-flying women who prevent others who want to take off,  it’s men’s determination to retain control. (Sunday Times)

Stemming the loss of female computer scientists. The proportion of women getting American computer science degrees has dived 40% in 20 years. (World Economic Forum)

The trouble with Tim Hunt’s ‘trouble with girls’. The Nobel laureate’s remark could compound the lack of women in science. (Public Radio International)

No country for young women. China’s divorce laws favour husbands and are shutting women out of land and housing markets. (The Economist)  [Paywall]

Closing the gender gap in Afghanistan. Moves to advance women’s rights must not be seen as a “Western agenda”. (World Economic Forum)

The girl who escaped the Taliban and became a football star. The Afghan refugee now plays for Denmark. (Vice)

The unequal fortunes of Brazil’s football stars. One makes $15 million a year; the other can’t find a team to sign her. (The Atlantic)

Africa’s female footballers have a tougher game. The main difficulty is a shortage of funds. (Deutsche Welle)

Zambian women are driving agriculture. They produce up to 80% of the food consumed locally. (Times of Zambia)

10 ways Syrian women are building peace and democracy. This is what bravery looks like. (Inclusive Security)

Meet the Malala of Syria. Muzoon Almellehan is convincing parents to let their girls stay in school. (Daily Beast)

Record number of women elected to Turkish parliament. A total of 96 women won seats, but the proportion of female deputies is still just 17%. (Guardian)

What makes a woman? Transgender people, such as Caitlyn Jenner, are reviving reductive stereotypes. (New York Times)

Statistic of the Week

Women around the world provide $3 trillion worth of healthcare annually – in both paid and unpaid roles – according to a report in The Lancet.

Quote of the Week

“Have I become a feminist? Well, if being a feminist is about fighting so that a woman is treated like a man then yes, I suppose I have.”

Andy Murray, tennis star, on the sexism endured by his female coach, Amélie Mauresmo

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

Image: A woman walks past graffiti depicting Brazilian soccer legend Pele (L) and FIFA Women’s World Player of the Year 2013 nominee Marta, ahead of the 2014 World Cup, on Taturana street at Vicente de Carvalho neighborhood in Rio de Janeiro May 27, 2014. REUTERS/Sergio Moraes

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