In this episode of the NCRI Women’s Committee podcasts, we’ll dive into the findings of the recently released Global Gender Gap Report of 2023. In particular, we’ll focus on the gender gap in Iran 2023, Iran’s position at the bottom of the index, and the gender disparities faced by women in the country.
The World Economic Forum recently published its Global Gender Gap Report for 2023, shedding light on the state of gender equality in countries worldwide. According to this report, Iran ranks a startling 143rd out of 146 countries examined, signaling a significant downward trend compared to previous years.
The Global Gender Gap Report, published by the World Economic Forum, is an important tool that measures the gender gap and discrimination against women. It evaluates four key areas: Economic Participation and Opportunities, Educational Attainment, Health and Survival, and Political Empowerment. These areas help determine a country’s ranking in terms of gender justice.
Unfortunately, Iran’s performance in these areas is concerning. Regarding economic participation and opportunities, the report reveals that the gender gap index for Iran stands at 34.4%. This index considers factors such as women’s labor force participation rate, income disparities, and representation in high-level positions.
Iran’s labor force participation rate is alarmingly low, at just 20.4%, placing the country at the bottom of the ranking. Furthermore, the income gap between men and women is stark, with women earning only 17.1% of men’s income, ranking Iran at 145th place.
Regarding representation in positions of power, only 21.9% of legislators, senior officials, and managers in Iran are women, while professional and technical workers make up 53.4%.
The challenges for educated Iranian women are particularly striking. Although they represent 27% of university graduates, their share of employment is a mere 19%. Shockingly, this means that 60% of educated Iranian women are unemployed.
Even for women who are fortunate enough to find employment, the situation is far from ideal. Approximately 70% of working women in Iran do not have stable jobs or incomes. The economic and livelihood crises, exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, have led to the loss of many Iranian women’s jobs.
Women consistently receive lower salaries than men for similar work. It has become distressingly common for women to work just as hard as men but to earn significantly less. This wage disparity negatively impacts the financial independence and well-being of Iranian women.
The Global Gender Gap Report also highlights the lack of political empowerment for women in the country. With a parity score of just 3.1%, Iran ranks among the lowest in this category. Women’s representation in parliament is only 5.9%, and there are no women holding head-of-state positions.
The gender gap in Iran is not solely confined to the economic sphere. The patriarchal thinking promoted by the ruling regime has brought about many other consequences for Iranian women.
Recently there have been reports of femicide becoming a rampant problem in the country. Every four days one woman gets killed at the hands of a husband or a father, a brother or ex-husband, or some other male relative.
This figure should be considered a minimum, since many deaths are deliberately not reported. In addition, there are frequent suicides among young women and girls who want to escape early forced marriages or domestic violence.
These statistics paint a troubling picture of gender inequality and discrimination in Iran. The patriarchal thinking ingrained in Iranian society, coupled with the regime’s oppressive policies, perpetuate the marginalization of women and hinder progress towards gender equality.
Despite these challenges, Iranian women have consistently shown incredible resilience and determination. For the past 44 years, they have defied the regime and fought for their rights. Leading anti-government protests and demanding equality, Iranian women have proven their strength and their unwavering commitment to shaping their country’s future.
