Definition of Gender Diversity
What is Gender Diversity?
Gender diversity is a term extensively used in today's workforce. It refers to hiring men and women at the same rate, having equal ratios of men and women. But does hiring equal numbers of men and women mean they are both treated fairly? Not necessarily.
According to the ILO 2020 research and statistics, it is estimated that women, on average, are paid 20% less than men across the globe. The range varies depending on the country, from 45% to hardly any difference at all1. This variance in payment across genders is the Payment Gap, which is considered an essential factor that measures gender diversity and equality. Therefore, here comes another basic term—Gender Equality.
What is Gender Equality?
According to the definition of the Australian government, gender equality in the workplace is to achieve equal opportunities and outcomes for both men and women, and it does not necessarily mean results are precisely the same for all. Gender equality is about equal opportunities, pay, rewards, and resources, regardless of gender2.
Why Gender Equality Matters?
Advocating gender equality is critical to all life's aspects such as health, education, environment, protection, and well-being3. Therefore, we can easily say that gender equality is essential for Social sustainability. For years sustainability has been seen as environmental sustainability. Thus, it has been neglected as a separate dimension. While environmental sustainability is essential, social sustainability is of equal importance. It does make a lot of sense to help the two genders living on the planet to live in peace and get equal rights as we help sustain and better the environment in which they live4.
How does Gender Equality Contribute to Social Sustainability?
Women represent half the population. You cannot neglect half the population or provide it with no or poor chances then expect economic, environmental, or social sustainability. We cannot ignore that there has been good progress in reducing the number of genitally mutated females. There is also a better representation of women in leadership—however, a world where all females worldwide enjoy their full rights equally.
Not having enough access to education leads to a lack of skills. In a world seeking economic growth and expansion, depending on half the population only deprives the world as a whole of vital economic growth possibilities. The full participation of women in labor forces would add percentage points to most national growth rates— double digits in many cases5.
How does lack of diversity or inequality look like?
- To reject a candidate based on their gender identity
- To give a lower payment for a particular position only because of gender identity
- To hire women for specific jobs only
- To evaluate an employee's behavior while asking them to conform to traditional societal norms. For example, giving women in leadership positions feedback that they are sensitive or emotional. In contrast, to praise men for showing leadership while they are acting aggressively
- To deny an employee their right to a promotion, training, or reward only based on their gender
- To attack or bully an employee based on their gender identity
1International Labor Organization, Understanding the gender pay gap, 2020. Accessed 20 July 2021, https://www.ilo.org/wcmsp5/groups/public/---ed_dialogue/--act_emp/documents/publication/wcms_735949.pdf
2Australian Government, Workplace gender equality. Accessed 20 July 2021, https://www.wgea.gov.au/about/workplace-gender-equality
3United Nations, GENDER EQUALITY: WHY IT MATTERS, August 5, 2016. Accessed 20 July 2021, https://www.un.org/sustainabledevelopment/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/5_Why-It-Matters-2020.pdf
4YourCommonwealth.org, “Sustainability requires gender equality”, May 18, 2018. Accessed 20 July 2021, < https://www.yourcommonwealth.org/editors-pick/sustainability-requires-gender-equality/>
5United Nations, GENDER EQUALITY: WHY IT MATTERS, August 5, 2016. Accessed 20 July 2021, < https://www.un.org/sustainabledevelopment/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/5_Why-It-Matters-2020.pdf>
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