13 must-read gender stories of the week

Welcome to the weekly digest of stories about how the gender gap plays out around the world – in business, health, education and politics.

Women write better code than men. But only if they hide their gender.

Male and female brains: same or different?

Where in the world for a working woman?

Smart women political scientists: they know their stuff. (The Washington Post)

There’s an “effective equality in gender”, according to Mexico’s president. The stats suggest otherwise. (Mexico News Daily)

Education is up, but women’s economic participation in India is down. Why? (DNA India)

There’s a big gender imbalance in invasive medical procedures for reproductive health. (Slate)

Time off for period pain? Asia leads the way in an area too often neglected by medics and researchers. (CNN and Quartz)

Black female start-up founders raise less funding than white male founders whose start-ups fail. (Quartz)

Women-led mosque opens in Denmark. (The Guardian)

Life as a woman in a refugee camp. “We don't know who to trust.” (Al Jazeera)

The “Jane test” for sexism in movie scripts. (Wired)

Barbie gets a makeover. Say hello to “Hijarbie”. (Quartz)

Statistics of the week:

In the United States there are almost 9.1 million women-owned enterprises, employing nearly 7.9 million workers and generating over $1.4 trillion in revenues.

The 2014 State of Women-Owned Business Report
Womenable, Commissioned and funded by American Express

Quote of the week:

“Raising daughters more like our sons is a good thing. But how about raising our sons more like our daughters?”

Gloria Steinem
Women and Power Conference, September 2004