12 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

Women and the Global Goals: more than 80 heads of state recommit to women’s empowerment. (The Guardian)

China vows to protect women’s rights. (New York Times)

Power: maybe women just aren’t that into it? Power ranks differently on women’s agendas, says new HBS study. (Working Knowledge)

There’s a price on global gender inequality: It’s $28 trillion. (Quartz)

Which countries are best – and worst – for female entrepreneurs? (World Economic Forum)

It’s time to involve Afghan women in peace talks with the Taliban. (Reuters)

Women at the top of India’s tech industry. (Techshu blog)

Learning from women means hearing their voices, listening to their stories. (The Conversation)

Introducing Australia’s first-ever female defence minister. (Reuters)

Why valuing caregiving is key to closing the gender gap. (World Economic Forum)

Women and mining in the Democratic Republic of Congo. (World Economic Forum)

Share the chores and reap the rewards. India’s economy has a lot to gain if men do more housework. (Wall Street Journal)

Statistic of the Week

A country’s GDP increases by an average of 3% when 10% more girls go to school. USAID: Why invest in women?

Quote of the Week

“We must support decisively the right to equal pay for equal work. Why should it be taken for granted that women must earn less than men?”
Pope Francis

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

Image: A tourist walks inside Attalos Arcade in the ancient agora (market) in Athens September 3, 2013. REUTERS/John Kolesidis