Empowering Girls Through Economic Opportunities: Bridging the Gender Gap in Youth Employment
A blog by Cianna Bickett, Young Expert at Girls Human Rights Hub
Introduction
The gender gap in youth employment is a significant issue that affects girls and women on a global scale. In many countries, girls are denied access to economic opportunities, education and healthcare which results in increased inequality. Despite this, economic opportunities can be used to empower girls and in turn, help bridge the gender pay gap. In this article, we will explore the ways that investing in girls' education and training, addressing the gender pay gap, and challenging stereotypes through empowerment can help bridge the gender gap in economic opportunities.
Investing in Girls' Education and Training
Investing in girls' education and training is critical for empowering them economically. By focusing on improving education, girls are more likely to possess the knowledge and skills required to obtain employment opportunities.[1] Every extra year of primary school education raises girls' future earnings by 10-20% and makes them less vulnerable to violence.[2] Training programs can assist girls in acquiring skills that they enjoy and help them join fields that are not typically female-dominated. NGOs and Governments need to work together to create scholarships, awareness, and inclusive educational policies to make education more accessible and promote gender equality.[3] Therefore, investing in girls' education and training not only enhances their economic power but also fosters empowerment creating a more inclusive society.
Closing the Gender Gap in Economic Opportunities
Empowering girls and women through economic opportunities is essential in closing the gender gap in youth employment. By encouraging education and skills training as well as improving accessibility to job opportunities and promoting youth employment, girls can become financially independent.[4] Empowering girls is not merely moral but also of economic interest as encouraging economic empowerment and youth employment is also fundamental in creating a more equitable world. Despite this, one of the major challenges in closing the gender gap in youth employment is the prominence of the gender wage gap. As of 2021, the gender pay gap in the European Union saw women earn 13% less than men per hour, on average.[5] Empowering girls through economic opportunities would require them to have equal access to jobs and be paid equally to men. Companies globally have an essential role in bridging the gap by ensuring transparent pay and the promotion of gender diversity in leadership roles.[6]
Challenging Tradition: How Economic Empowerment Can Become Social Empowerment
Economic empowerment in this context refers to the ability of girls and women to equally participate in markets to earn an income.[7] Within “traditional” societal norms, girls have been limited to household roles which impacts their ability to pursue education and further their careers.[8] When girls are empowered economically, they can become leaders within their communities. Economic empowerment is fundamental in challenging traditional gender norms by encouraging girls to become advocates of their rights.[9] In turn, this allows girls and women to independently seek employment, and invest in their education and health, benefiting not just themselves but also their families.[10] By promoting economic empowerment, society can move toward a future where gender equality is more prominent and toxic and outdated stereotypes are abolished.
Conclusion and Recommendations
In conclusion, empowering girls through economic opportunities is critical in not only addressing the gender gap in youth employment but also encouraging social and economic progression. By investing in girls' education, providing skills training, and challenging stereotypical gender norms, we can create a more equitable future. It is crucial to prioritise improved accessibility to education and the implementation of more inclusive policies, which, in turn, will enable girls to pursue careers in more diverse fields.[11] Despite this, there is still a lot to be done regarding bridging the gender pay gap. Governments and companies have a fundamental role in ensuring equal access to employment opportunities by ensuring transparent pay and promoting gender diversity throughout workplaces. By acknowledging these challenges and working together collectively, we can help to bridge the gender gap in economic opportunities, fostering a world where every girl has the chance to thrive, creating a more just and inclusive society for all.
Works Cited
Bery, Suman, et al. “Empowering Women Is Smart Economics -- Finance & Development, March 2012.” International Monetary Fund, 2012, https://www.imf.org/external/pubs/ft/fandd/2012/03/revenga.htm.
European Commission. “The gender pay gap situation in the EU.” 2022, https://commission.europa.eu/strategy-and-policy/policies/justice-and-fundamental-rights/gender-equality/equal-pay/gender-pay-gap-situation-eu_en.
International Monetary Fund. “Economic Gains from Gender Inclusion: Even Greater than You Thought.” 28 November 2018, https://www.imf.org/en/Blogs/Articles/2018/11/28/blog-economic-gains-from-gender-inclusion-even-greater-than-you-thought.
UNESCO. “#HerEducationOurFuture#BreakTheBiasChallenging gender bias and stereotypes in and through education.” 2022, https://unesdoc.unesco.org/ark:/48223/pf0000380827.
UNICEF. “Girls' education.” 2022, https://www.unicef.org/education/girls-education.
UNICEF. “Investing in the Pathways to Employment.” UNICEF, 2020, https://www.unicef.org/media/72971/file/Investing-in-pathways-to-employment-for-adolescent-girls-and-young-women-2020.pdf.
United Nations Development Programme. “Women's Economic Empowerment.” 2022, https://www.undp.org/sites/g/files/zskgke326/files/2022-07/Establishment%20of%20WEE%20UNITS%20REPORT%20UNDP%207%20June.pdf.
Unterhalter, E. “Empowering women and girls through education.” European Parliament, 2015, https://www.europarl.europa.eu/RegData/etudes/STUD/2015/510022/IPOL_STU(2015)510022_EN.pdf.
UN Women. “Facts and Figures: Economic Empowerment.” 2018, https://www.unwomen.org/en/what-we-do/economic-empowerment/facts-and-figures.
UN Women. “Facts & Figures.” 2012, https://www.unwomen.org/en/news/in-focus/commission-on-the-status-of-women-2012/facts-and-figures.
[1] UNICEF. “Investing in the Pathways to Employment.” UNICEF, 2020, https://www.unicef.org/media/72971/file/Investing-in-pathways-to-employment-for-adolescent-girls-and-young-women-2020.pdf.
[2]UN Women. “Facts & Figures.” 2012, https://www.unwomen.org/en/news/in-focus/commission-on-the-status-of-women-2012/facts-and-figures.
[3] UNICEF. “Girls' education.” 2022, https://www.unicef.org/education/girls-education.
[4] Bery, Suman, et al. “Empowering Women Is Smart Economics -- Finance & Development, March 2012.” International Monetary Fund, 2012, https://www.imf.org/external/pubs/ft/fandd/2012/03/revenga.htm.
[5] European Commission. “The gender pay gap situation in the EU.” 2022, https://commission.europa.eu/strategy-and-policy/policies/justice-and-fundamental-rights/gender-equality/equal-pay/gender-pay-gap-situation-eu_en.
[6] International Monetary Fund. “Economic Gains from Gender Inclusion: Even Greater than You Thought.” 28 November 2018, https://www.imf.org/en/Blogs/Articles/2018/11/28/blog-economic-gains-from-gender-inclusion-even-greater-than-you-thought.
[7] UN Women. “Facts and Figures: Economic Empowerment.” 2018, https://www.unwomen.org/en/what-we-do/economic-empowerment/facts-and-figures.
[8] UNESCO. “#HerEducationOurFuture#BreakTheBiasChallenging gender bias and stereotypes in and through education.” 2022, https://unesdoc.unesco.org/ark:/48223/pf0000380827.
[9] United Nations Development Programme. “Women's Economic Empowerment.” 2022, https://www.undp.org/sites/g/files/zskgke326/files/2022-07/Establishment%20of%20WEE%20UNITS%20REPORT%20UNDP%207%20June.pdf.
[10] UN Women. “Facts and Figures: Economic Empowerment.” 2018, https://www.unwomen.org/en/what-we-do/economic-empowerment/facts-and-figures.
[11] Unterhalter, E. “Empowering women and girls through education.” European Parliament, 2015, https://www.europarl.europa.eu/RegData/etudes/STUD/2015/510022/IPOL_STU(2015)510022_EN.pdf.