Gender Empowerment Measure: Empowering Women, Shaping Society
Understanding the Gender Empowerment Measure (GEM)
The Gender Empowerment Measure (GEM) is a composite index developed by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) to quantify gender inequality in three key areas:
- Economic participation and decision-making
- Political participation and decision-making
- Power over economic resources
GEM's Role in Measuring Gender Equality
GEM was created to complement the Gender-related Development Index (GDI), which focuses on health and education. Together, these indices provide a comprehensive assessment of gender equality in a country.
GEM's Contribution:
- Identifies gender disparities in decision-making roles
- Measures women's economic empowerment and control over resources
- Provides a benchmark for tracking progress towards gender equality
GEM's Calculation and Interpretation
GEM is calculated using a range of indicators, including:
- Percentage of women in parliament
- Percentage of female ministers and legislators
- Ratio of female to male earned income
Countries with higher GEM scores have greater gender equality, while lower scores indicate greater inequality.
GEM's Impact on Policy and Practice
GEM has been widely used by governments, international organizations, and researchers to:
- Inform policy decisions on gender equality
- Track progress and identify areas for improvement
- Advocate for women's empowerment and rights
Key Points:
- GEM is a comprehensive measure of gender inequality.
- It quantifies gender disparities in economic, political, and decision-making roles.
- GEM provides valuable insights for policymakers and advocates working towards gender equality.
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