It will take 100 years for women to achieve equality
What's the story
Women are nowhere closer to bridging the gender gap. In fact, they are farther behind on the progress scale than they were last year. According to the World Economic Forum, at the current rate, it'll take women 100 years to achieve equality in areas like politics, finance, health and education. Last year, the WEF estimated it would take 83 years to close the gap.
Abysmal performance
India at 108 among 144 countries on gender gap index
This is the first time in 11 years that the annual Global Gender Gap Report has recorded negative growth. India, which has slumped 10 places since 2006, is at number 108 among the 144 countries ranked. That a large section of Indian women has no access to healthcare, education, and does unpaid work which is mostly unaccounted for, is responsible for their increasing invisibility.
Rankings
Iceland tops the list, US at 49, China at 100
Iceland, where gender gap will soon be a thing of the past, has topped the list. The US, at 49, has fallen four places since 2016. Though American women have reached 77% of the way in economic opportunity, and get same education and healthcare as men, they lack visibility in politics. Ranked 100, China needs to work on its women's health and economic participation.
Representation
Women don't make as many leaders as men
Though more women are working now across industries, they don't make as many leaders, even in the fields where they are in the majority. According to the report, women are studying fields such as information technology and manufacturing but their hiring hasn't increased proportionately. Even among the ones who do find work in these sectors, the retention rate is a major concern.