Indexes and Gaps:Debating Gender Methodology for International Comparisons

Prof Jacqueline O’ReillyUniversity of Brighton

Business School

• Feminism as a political project: Contested methodological approaches

• Universal understanding of subjugation & International comparisons of female employment

• A typology of approaches• Benchmarking, multi-level indexes &

comparative analytical frameworks• Conclusions

Benchmarking and multi-level indexes to inform comparative analytical frameworks

• GDI• GEM• EUGEI

GDI• developed in 1995 from the Human Development Index (UNDP 2006:396).• Three key measures: • life expectancy at birth, • adult literacy, • and real GDP per capita to indicate access to resources for a

decent standard of living. • The GDI uses the same measures as the HDI differentiating for

men and women. Countries are ranked on their absolute levels for HDI and their relative scores on gender equality in human development.

GEM

• developed to focuses on women’s opportunities in: • political participation and decision making (the female

share of parliamentary seats); • economic participation and decision making (women’s

share of positions as legislators, senior officials and managers; and women’s share of professional and technical positions);

• and power over economic resources (measured by men and women’s estimated earned income) (UNDP, 2006: 398).

• Benchmark base to compare countries• Available data & relevance• Consciousness raising• Draw attention to policy areas to address gaps

Cons

• Debate over capabilities & outcomes• Methods of calculating indices• Confusion over what is being measured –

relative or absolute gender inequalities• Neglected in policy debates• Not dig deeper

EU Gender Equality Index (EUGEI)

• Rationale European Employment Strategy – policy orientated

• Definition of equality based on – Fraser – equity

• Multiple levels of measures

Composition of the EU Gender Equality Index (EUGEI)

Dimensions Subdimensions Indicators

Equal sharing of paid work Labour Force Participation Gender employment gap

Unemployment Gender unemployment gap

Equal sharing of money Pay Gender pay gap

Income Gender poverty gap among single-headed households

Equal sharing of decision-making power

Poltical Power Gender gap in Parliament

Socio-economic power Gender gap in ISCO1

Equal sharing of time Caring time Gender gap in caring time for children

Leisure Gender gap in leisure time

Source: Plantenga et al. 2009

Conclusions

?Locke & Thelen (1995) contextualized comparisons

Daly & Rake (2003)Chant (2006)