As commentators continue to rage over the sexism debate, an international survey has found that Australian women are the world’s most economically advanced.
Topping a list of 128 countries, women in Australia won out in access to education, market participation and anti-discrimination policies.
Following Australia were three Scandinavian countries — Norway, Sweden and Finland, with neighbouring New Zealand coming in fourth.
At the other end of the list, women from Yemen, Pakistan, Sudan and Chad were found to have the least economic sway.
Taking into account education, equal pay, non-discrimination policies, and access to credit and childcare, the study by international research firm Booz & Company found common challenges among those that struggled.
“One challenge is the care economy,” Booz & Company partner Deanne Aguirre said.
“Around the world, women are the primary caregivers for children, the elderly, and the sick, and this responsibility hampers their economic development.”
When it came to enabling women for the future, the primary recommendations all concerned investment — financial, education, and cultural — in women’s futures.
The study found a staggering one billion women would enter the global economy in the coming decade, and it was stressed that education and training for women was key if they were to successfully run businesses, as well investing in cultural perceptions so that women were confident they could compete economically with men.
Another of the research firm’s partners, Christine Rupp, pointed out that a key hurdle to overcome was lack of credit.
“Although micro financing has helped launch any women-owned businesses, these schemes also risk limiting such businesses to tiny operations in the service sector, instead of helping foster larger operations,” she said.
Although Australia came out on top in the index, with our women among the world’s most educated, we still have a way to go when it comes to equal pay.
Australian women’s average weekly earnings are 17 per cent less than men.
