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.

How can we close the gender gap faster? Eighty years is too long for half the world’s talent to go untapped. (World Economic Forum)

Google’s sexist algorithms. The company displays more prestigious job listings to men than women. (Washington Post)

Tesla on how technology will empower women. The inventor predicted women’s “gradual usurpation of leadership”. (Brain Pickings)

Diversity drive aims to combat box-ticking. Recruitment is just part of the process. (Financial Times)

The largest emerging market in the world. Women would create millions of jobs if the companies they founded grew at the same pace as men’s. (Capital FM)

The auto industry’s play for the female driver. A small number of carmakers may finally be getting it right. (Racked)

India’s airlines fly the flag for equality. Almost 12% of its pilots are women, compared with just 3% worldwide. (Times of India)

Tweets won’t save India’s baby girls. #SelfieWithDaughter shows the disconnect between Twitter speak and real action. (Bloomberg)

Sri Lanka wants more female candidates in August election. The government has told all parties that 30% of nominees should be women. (Business Standard)

How well do the BRICs do on gender equality? South Africa has made the most progress, ranking 18^th in the world. (World Economic Forum)

UAE says women will play key role in country’s development. Its ruler has promised a supportive environment for women to “fulfill their roles”. (Arabian Business)

Lawyers fight for Moroccan women in tight dresses. Campaign grows in support of pair accused of gross indecency. (Times of Oman)

Where are the women in Uganda’s boardrooms? “There are more women who are qualified to sit on boards. They are just not being picked.” (Monitor)

Nigerian women and the challenges of start-up capital. Most prefer to seek family support. (Daily Trust)

British army appoints first female general. Her role as the army’s top legal adviser is significant in light of sexism complaints. (Guardian)

Why desperate women pushed Greece towards the exit door. Greek women voted overwhelmingly to reject the bailout package. (Telegraph)

Athletic brands are failing to harness the power of female athletes. Only Nike seems to understand their value. (Quartz)

Pro tennis players on motherhood. “My priorities definitely changed. I wasn’t so focused on myself, and I think that really helped me.” (New York Times)

“Curious Monsters” on American currency. When the US Treasury selects a woman for the new $10 bill, it will be promoting a new model of femininity. (The Atlantic)

Statistic of the Week

Fifty-five per cent of teenage boys who identify as gamers say games should have more women as protagonists, and 57% feel women were treated as sex objects too often in games, according to a survey of middle and high school students in the US.

Quote of the Week

“I realized that you really have to learn to accept who you are and love who you are. I’m really happy with my body type, and I’m really proud of it. Obviously it works out for me. I talk about it all the time, how it was uncomfortable for someone like me to be in my body.”
Serena Williams, who won Wimbledon last week

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

Image: Facebook employees work in the design studio at the company’s headquarters in Menlo Park, California March 2, 2012. REUTERS/Robert Galbraith