Gender Equality Index 2023 - The Quest For Gender Equality In The European Union

Author: LawSphereX

Category: General Law

Published: 2026-08-23T19:56:49.801Z

Updated: 2026-08-30T07:07:30.582Z

GENDER EQUALITY INDEX 2023: THE QUEST FOR

GENDER EQUALITY IN THE EUROPEAN UNION Adriana Roland de Souza Ribeiro, University of Debrecen, Marton Géza Doctoral School of Legal Studies

ABSTRACT

This paper presents an analysis of the 2023 Gender Equality Index, an extensive and qualitative assessment of the European Union’s progress towards gender equality. There are still significant gaps in several domains, including political representation, economic involvement, equal pay and accessibility to resources, among others that will be addressed in more detail. Despite a lot of progress, some disparities have persevered or stagnated. On top of that, the 2023 publication (which has the 2021 reference year for the majority of the data) highlights the recent crisis that our society has faced in the recent years: the COVID-19 pandemic and the Russian war in Ukraine. The results demonstrate how crucial it is to effectively implement EU legislation and how specific policy measures are possible, especially in times of hardships.

This article seeks to provide information to policymakers, researchers, and advocates by describing both current achievements and obstacles. In the end, the quest for gender equality is presented as both a moral requirement and a critical component of the EU's general social and economic health. Keywords: Gender equality. European Union. Gender Equality Index.

1 INTRODUCTION

Within the European Union (EU), achieving gender equality is a fundamental concept that embodies a dedication to justice, fairness, and the advancement of human rights. Equality itself has been one of the objectives of the European Union since its creation. 1 After what started out as an economic bloc, meant to broaden the frontiers of commercial trade, the EU became something much bigger, it is now a comprehensive political and social union that fosters justice, equality and development. 2 The notion of gender equality is fundamental to the EU's social and economic foundations, and it also influences its legislative agenda. Gender inequality still exists in many spheres of society, especially in the workplace and societal norms, despite significant advancements in recent years.

3 Achieving real gender parity is hampered by these challenges, which are evident in the gender wage gap that persists, unequal opportunities for career progression, and differences in how each gender is expected to act, dress, and engage in various aspects of life. The Gender Equality Index 2023 is a crucial instrument for evaluating gender equality throughout the European Union, providing a thorough and multifaceted examination of the state of affairs at the moment. 4 This Index provides national contexts on equality issues while evaluating a variety of important variables, such as work, money, knowledge, time, power, and health.

Through the use of mixed methodology that takes into account both the qualitative and quantitative dimensions of gender disparity, this study seeks to shed light on the development of gender equality in the European Union and the gaps that still need to be overcome. As we consider the findings brought by the Gender Equality Index 2023, we are reminded that achieving gender equality involves more than just closing gaps—it also entails building a culture that celebrates tolerance and diversity. This research’s aim is to inquire what is the overall score of the Gender Equality Index for the EU in 2023, and how does it compare to 1 Laya Targa et al. , Enhancing the Understanding of the EU Gender Equality Index through Spatiotemporal Visualizations, 12 ISPRS Int'l J. Geo-Information 421 (2023).

2 Martin J. Dedman, The Origins and Development of the European Union 1945-95 145 (Routledge 1996).

3 Sylvia Walby, The European Union and Gender Equality

Emergent Varieties of Gender Regime, 11 Soc. Pol. 4, 4–29 (2004). 4 European Institute for Gender Equality, Gender Equality Index 2023. Towards a Green Transition in Transport and Energy (Publications Office of the European Union 2023). previous years; which areas have had the most significant improvement over the years and which areas are stagnant; and how does time of hardships affect women comparatively to man. With this approach, the research helps to frame the discussion around the present and the future of gender equality in the EU and reinforces the notion that equality benefits society as a whole.

2. EUROPEAN INSTITUTE OF GENDER EQUALITY (EIGE)

The European Institute of Gender Equality (EIGE) is a specialized agency of the European Union dedicated to promoting gender equality across EU Member States. It was founded in

2007 and based in Vilnius, Lithuania, EIGE's mission is to provide expertise, research, data,

and tools that support gender equality efforts across the EU. 5 To promote gender equality globally, the EIGE collaborates with international organizations, non-governmental organizations, and civil society in addition to working with EU institutions and Member States. It frequently works on international gender-related projects in conjunction with organizations like the Council of Europe and the United Nations. Morais Maceira published in 2017 a very enlightening review of some of the reports presented by the EIGE, explaining that promoting greater involvement of women in the work market and enhancing their education in the STEAM field (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) would significantly benefit the EU economy, that advancements in gender equality could create as many as 10.

5 million extra jobs, that enhancing gender equality positively affects GDP per capita, with these benefits increasing and contributing to economic growth by enhancing productivity and expanding workforce participation. 6 This project will address, further up, the data collected by regarding gender equality, which culminated in the reporting of the Gender Equality Index 2023.

3 EIGE REPORT ON GENDER EQUALITY IN THE EU

A DATA

ANALYSIS

The Gender Equality Index is an assessment tool in the area of Gender Equality, launched by 5 European Institute for Gender Equality, Our Work, EIGE, European Union, https://eige. europa. eu/about/ourwork (last visited Oct. 7, 2024). 6 H. Morais Maceira, Economic Benefits of Gender Equality in the EU, 52 Intereconomics 178, 178-183 (2017), https://doi. org/10. 1007/s10272-017-0669-4. the European Institute for Gender Equality and aims to calculate the developments on gender equality in the European Union and in each of the Member States. The Index scale, ranging from 1 (totally unequal) to 100 (totally equal) is attributed to each of the Member States. This assessment has been done since 2013 by the Institute and the progress of country is measured through six domains: work, money, knowledge, time, power, and health.

To determine equal access to employment possibilities for men and women, to appraise the equality of training offered to men and women and the window of opportunity for raises and promotions, the EIGE uses the “Work” parameter. The work domain assesses how equal ate the opportunities for men and women to find work. This encourages equitable access to financial resources and aids in the reduction of poverty when paired with the elimination of prejudice and segregation. 7 Another parameter studied by the Institute is “Money”. In this instance, the goal is to compare men's and women's overall wages, buying power, and risk of poverty. Ensuring equal financial resources for both men and women is essential in the financial domain, particularly in addressing income inequality and the feminization of poverty, which are critical gender issues.

8 The “Knowledge” parameter approaches the access education granted to men and women as well as gender discrimination in education and employment decisions. It looks into the variations between men and women when it comes to education and skill development. It involves ensuring both genders have the same opportunities for access and success and breaking down gender divisions in academic fields. 9 To assess the gender discrepancy in the time spent dealing with family matters and domestic chores, which have considerable influence on the work life of the women, there is the “Time” parameter. 10 Even with all the advancement of the feminist struggle and the rights conquered by women, women today are still largely responsible for domestic tasks, which leads them to work less 7European Institute for Gender Equality, Gender Equality Index—Report (2019), https://eige. europa.

eu/publications/gender-equality-index-2019-work-life-balance (last visited Oct. 7, 2024).

8 Ib.

9 Ib.

10 Ib.

hours and, consequently, receive less. 11 This reality is a reflection of the patriarchal history that subjected women, for centuries, to the role of those responsible for the house and for the husband. 12 Furthermore, the “Power” parameter analyses the inclusion of men and women in positions of decision making power, both in the political and entrepreneurial perspective. 13 Lastly, "Health" gauges how much focus is placed on gender-specific issues and healthcare accessibility. 14 After analysing all domains, with data collection and investigation of adopted governmental policies, each country receives a score from 0 to 100 for each domain. In 2023, the score was 70. 2 points, the first time that the European Union surpassed the 70 points mark and 1. 6 point up since 2022. 15 Here is the score for each individual Member State: Belgium (76. 0), Bulgaria (65. 1), Czech Republic (57.

9), Denmark (77. 8), Germany (70. 8), Estonia (60. 2), Ireland (73. 0), Greece (58. 0), Spain (76. 4), France (75. 7), Croatia (60. 7), Italy (68. 2), Cyprus (60. 7), Latvia (61. 5), Lithuania (64. 1), Luxembourg (74. 7), Hungary (57. 3), Malta (67. 8), Netherlands (77. 9), Austria (71. 2), Poland (61. 9), Portugal (67. 4), Romania (56. 1), Slovenia (69. 4), Slovakia (59. 2), Finland (74. 4), and Sweden (82. 2).

4 THE REALITY OF GENDER INEQUALITY IN THE EUROPEAN UNION

EIGE INDEX 2023 As previously mentioned, the European Institute for Gender Equality publishes every year it’s Gender Equality Index, which is a compilation of quantitative data from every Member State related to gender equality. The publication presents a well rounder perspective on the current 11 Equal Opportunities – The Catch-Up Game, 3 Found. Focus (Off. for Off. Publ’ns of the Eur. Cmtys.), Apr. 2007, at 1.

12 Sarah Bradshaw, Joshua Castellino & Bineta Diop, Report 8 (Sustainable Dev. Sols. Network 2013),

https://www.jstor.org/stable/resrep16102 (last visited Oct. 8th, 2024). 13European Institute for Gender Equality, Gender Equality Index—Report (2019), https://eige.europa.eu/publications/gender-equality-index-2019-work-life-balance (last visited Oct. 7, 2024).

14 Ib.

15 European Institute for Gender Equality, Gender Equality Index 2023. Towards a Green Transition in Transport and Energy (Publications Off. of the Eur. Union 2023). reality when it comes to the gaps that still exist when we talk about gender equality and women’s rights. The 2023 publication (which contains data of the 2021 reference year) brings special attention the recent crisis that the society has endured in the recent times: the COVID-19 pandemic and the Russian war in Ukraine. 16 It is common knowledge that the pandemic was the biggest public health crisis of the past decades, leading millions of people to death, and that it proceeded a global economic recession due to the restrictions and lockdown.

17 Schools and universities were closed, transportation was restricted, factories shut down and home work as implemented, exacerbating inequalities due to unequal access to technology and internet connectivity. On top of all that, the world was facing a mental health crisis due to the mandatory isolation and the fear of the virus, triggering mass anxiety and depression. 18 As for the Russian war in Ukraine, an act of gratuitous violence that also has repercussions not only for those directed affected by it, but the entire world itself. Millions of Ukrainians have fled the conflict, causing a humanitarian crisis and adding strain to the economies and social systems of neighbouring countries in Europe.

Furthermore, the war has affected global supply chains, caused global energy shortage, and has exacerbated global inflation, with rising energy and food prices increasing the cost of living in many countries. 19 In this manner, the crisis and uncertainty perspective adopted by the 2023 Gender Equality Index is extremely important to understand the nuances of the data gathered. The numbers collected over the years are essential to showcase the disparities when it comes to gender equality, but the context in which they were gathered and its consequences is equally clarifying. After all, statistically speaking, women tend to be more impacted by crises because of a few important variables. 20 Firstly, because of the income disparity, women are a more economically

16 Ib.

17 Independent Panel for Pandemic Preparedness and Response, COVID-19

Make it the Last Pandemic (2021), https://theindependentpanel. org/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/COVID-19-Make-it-the-Last-Pandemic_final. pdf (last visited Oct. 7, 2024) 18 World Health Organization, The Impact of COVID-19 on Health and Care Workers: A Closer Look at Deaths (2021), https://apps. who. int/iris/handle/10665/345300 (last visited Oct. 7, 2024). 19 Nataliia Stukalo & Anastasiia Simakhova, Social and Economic Effects of the War Conflict in Ukraine for Europe, 2. 1 Geopolitics Under Globalization 11 (2018). 20 UN Women, COVID-19 and Ending Violence Against Women and Girls, https://www. unwomen. org/en/digitallibrary/publications/2020/04/issue-brief-covid-19-and-ending-violence-against-women-and-girls (last visited Oct. 7, 2024). vulnerable population. Secondly, women are usually the primary caretakers, which restrict their ability to seek paid employment and further education.

21 Additionally, during catastrophes or natural disasters, the caregiver bears a disproportionate amount of responsibility. Gender-based violence is a significant factor that is frequently intensified during times of crisis. 22 It is also more difficult for women to maintain their health during times of crisis since access to reproductive health services (such as maternity care and contraception) are frequently restricted or interrupted. Lastly, the bulk of those displaced by crises like wars, natural catastrophes, or economic failures are women and children. Women have particular difficulties as refugees, such as restricted access to safety, healthcare, education, and sanitary facilities, which increases their susceptibility to abuse and exploitation.

23 As it stands, women are more susceptible to harm during times of crisis, such as war, natural disasters, or pandemics, due to gender inequity as well as socioeconomic and cultural variables. Women who belong to marginalized groups, such as those who live in poverty or in areas of violence, are even more affected by these consequences. Despite all of that, there is a positive outcome in the European quest for gender equality. The Gender Equality Index 2023 showcases that the equality concerning gender issues fared quite nicely in the European Union in 2021 (the reference year for most of the indicators), with an improvement of 1. 6 compared to the previous year. The work domain has received a score of 73. 8. Nonetheless, research points out that participation in the full-time job market is still consistently higher for men than women. Currently, the EU average is 42.

5% of women and 57. 4% of men in full time work. Regarding the duration of career, the Institute points out that the European Union average is 33. 6 years for women, while for men it is 38. 1 years.

21 Carole Vincent, Why Do Women Earn Less than Men?, 1 CRDCN Research Highlight 1 (2013),

https://ir.lib.uwo.ca/crdcn_rccdr/vol1/iss5/1 (last visited Oct. 7, 2024). 22 Olena Strelnyk, Gender, Citizenship and War: How Russia’s War on Ukraine Affects Women’s Political Rights,

32.1 Femina Politica 87, 87–94 (2023).

UN

Women, COVID-19 and Ending Violence Against Women and Girls (2021), https://www.unwomen.org/en/digital-library/publications/2020/04/issue-brief-covid-19-and-ending-violenceagainst-women-and-girls (last visited Oct. 8, 2024).

It is concluded, therefore, that men work for more years and in greater participation in the fulltime regime when compared to women. As for the segregation in the labour market, which showcases the extent to which women and men tend to work in different sectors, the report conveys that, women represent the majority of workers of Human health and social work activities, Education and Social Work activities (30. 4% of women are employed in those areas, while the men average is much lower – 8. 4%). The money domain is ranked second in terms of gender equality, with an 82. 6 score in the Gender Equality Index. However, gender equality in this sector has somewhat declined by 0. 4 points, mostly as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and its previously mentioned long-lasting impacts on economic disparities.

In addition to facing difficulties connected to gender segregation in the workplace and large salary discrepancies, the data showcases that women make less than 70% of what men do for the same amount and quality of work. The knowledge currently sits at 63. 6, with an increase of 1. 1 points from the 2022 Gender Equality Index. According to the findings, women are more likely than males to participate in lifelong learning and training. However, in the EU, segregation in educational settings is still pervasive and women made up the majority of those partaking in education or health and welfare programs. In the academic domains of engineering, manufacturing, and construction, women continue to be outnumbered. The time domain was granted a score of 68. 5 in the 2023 Gender Equality Index, putting it the lower half of the domains.

The lower score is due to the continuous gender disparities Regarding the amount of time devoted to housekeeping and childcare. In 2022, 34% of women reported their involvement in unpaid care, compared to 25% of men. As for housework activities and cooking, 63% of women declared engaging in it every day, against 36% of man engaging in those same activities24. This reality is a reflection of the patriarchal history that subjected women, for centuries, to the role of those responsible for the house and for the husband. 25That is why the EU decided to 24 European Institute for Gender Equality, Gender Equality Index 2023. Towards a Green Transition in Transport and Energy (Publications Off. of the Eur. Union 2023).

25 Sarah Bradshaw, Joshua Castellino & Bineta Diop, Report 8 (Sustainable Dev. Sols. Network 2013),

https://www. jstor. org/stable/resrep16102 (last visited Oct. 8th, 2024). European Institute for Gender Equality, adopt legislation to promote flexibility and allow a better balance between work and family life, as well as a more equitable sharing of family responsibilities. Coming up next is the domain of power, scoring 59. 1 points, and the lowest of all seven. Data demonstrates that, although there has been progress over the years, women still aren’t equally represented in political life. In 2023, only 33% of members of the lower house of parliaments of Member States are women and only five out of 27 Member States had women prime ministers: Denmark, Estonia, France, Italy and Lithuania. Overall, more than two-thirds of senior ministers in national governments are men, which means that women are quite underoutnumbered.

And this imbalance is also reflected in the broader political participation, not only in the decision making. Men are more inclined to contribute to a political campaign or take part in political action than women. The domain of health has the highest score of the 2023 Index: 88. 5 points. Notwithstanding, despite its high position in the index scorer, there has been a decrease when compared to the Index 2022. This is the result of an absence of advancement in actions related to overall wellness and access to care. When it comes to the domain of violence, data continues to be scarce. When developing the Gender Equality index, EIGE analyses the violence suffered by women in the European Union, with the aim of helping Member States to monitor the situation and understand which are the most common types of violence that should be combated.

In this case, there is no comparison between women and men. The main objective is to completely eliminate the violence suffered by women. In the report, EIGE reports progress, but highlights that many challenges remain, in particular the lack of data to carry out a current analysis of the situation. This figure indicates that despite significant progress in the criminalization of domestic violence, the practice is little reported and remains present in the daily lives of thousands of women in the European Union, especially in times of crisis. Domestic violence complaints Gender Equality Index 2023. Towards a Green Transition in Transport and Energy (Publications Off. of the Eur. Union 2023). spiked during the COVID-19 pandemic. 26 Furthermore, females escaping from Ukraine due to the war are more vulnerable to violence not only during the conflict, but also when seeking help.

The main violence suffered by women is not reported and, therefore, there is no way to collect data to ascertain the real suffering to which women are subjected. Against this backdrop, it is necessary to adopt measures such as: the sustainable financing of specialized services and civic-based initiatives for the protection of women; an investment in specialized training for professionals dealing with instances of violence towards women; the creation of data collection centres connected to domestic violence and the opening of financial, emotional, legal and police support services to women who are victims. With those measures in place it will be possible to develop national action plans with the objective of eliminating violence against women and implementing public policies that are in fact efficient in ending, or at least decreasing, the violence suffered by women.

In summary, from the survey produced by EIGE, it is concluded that women and women are still at a disadvantage in various aspects of society and that there is still a great differentiation in the labour market and in the educational sector. It appears, even though women have more formal education, they are still underrepresented in decision-making positions, both in the market and in politics. It is also a matter of concern that, even with all the advancement of the feminist struggle and the rights conquered by women, women today are still largely responsible for domestic tasks, which leads them to work less hours and, consequently, receive less. EU countries now need to show sufficient political will to tackle the deeper cultural causes that are at the root of some of these imbalances, which is not an easy task in such a diverse Union.

27 It is necessary to invest in debates and in education, so that both women and men feel at ease in their new roles, support each other and realize that there is an alternative. We also have to

26 YWCA Greenwich, Domestic Violence Spikes During Coronavirus as Families Trapped at Home,

https://ywcagreenwich.org/domestic-abuse-could-spike-as-the-coronavirus-traps-people-indoors/ (last visited Oct. 8, 2024) 27 S. Dilli, S.G. Carmichael & A. Rijpma, Introducing the Historical Gender Equality Index, 25 Feminist Econ. 31, 31–57 (2018), https://doi.org/10.1080/13545701.2018.1442582 (last visited Oct. 7, 2024). support this debate in Europe at various levels, so that national and local authorities understand how important it is to support infrastructure that allows women to make the decisions that best suit their needs. This aspect is particularly important, since in some places there is a worrying trend and regressive attitudes towards equality, especially by populists. The issue of women's rights is misused to fuel unsuccessful debates and make equality an ideological issue. This opposition to our efforts makes it even more difficult to fight to move things forward.

5 CONCLUSION

In conclusion, the findings presented in the Gender Equality Index 2023: The Quest for Gender Equality in the European Union highlights the persistent disparities that hinder true gender equality across various dimensions of society. Despite the European Union’s foundational commitment to promoting equality, our analysis reveals that women continue to face significant challenges. The data demonstrates that women disproportionately bear the burden of unpaid domestic labour, are often paid less than their male counterparts for similar work, and remain underrepresented in political and leadership positions. Additionally, the vulnerability of women to violence remains alarmingly high, further complicating their ability to participate fully in society.

These disparities are not merely statistical; they have real-world implications that affect the quality of life and opportunities available to women throughout the EU. The COVID-19 pandemic and the ongoing crisis caused by the war in Ukraine have exacerbated these issues, highlighting how crises disproportionately impact women, particularly in terms of job security, mental health, and access to essential services. The findings clearly illustrate that gender equality is not a standalone issue but intertwined with broader social, economic, and political factors that require constant attention. In addition to being a question of social fairness, overcoming these inequities is crucial for promoting long-term prosperity and the welfare of society.

The EU must intensify its efforts to implement comprehensive policies that not only recognize the importance of gender equality but actively work to dismantle the barriers that perpetuate inequality. Achieving gender equality requires a concerted effort from all sectors—government, businesses, and civil society—along with robust legal frameworks and societal support.

REFERENCES

Bradshaw, Sarah, Joshua Castellino, and Bineta Diop. Report. Sustainable Development Solutions Network, 2013, p. 8. Accessed May 30, 2020. www. jstor. org/stable/resrep16102. Dedman, Martin J. The Origins and Development of the European Union 1945-95. Routledge, 1996. “Equal Opportunities – The Catch-Up Game. ” Foundation Focus, vol. 3, April 2007, Office for Official Publications of the European Communities, Luxembourg. European Institute for Gender Equality. Gender Equality Index—Report. 2019. Vilna, European Institute of Gender Equality. https://eige. europa. eu/publications/gender-equalityindex-2019-work-life-balance. Accessed Oct. 8, 2024. European Institute for Gender Equality. Gender Equality Index 2023: Towards a Green Transition in Transport and Energy. Publications Office of the European Union, 2023. European Institute for Gender Equality. “Our Work.

” EIGE, European Union, https://eige. europa. eu/about/our-work. Accessed 7 Oct. 2024. Independent Panel for Pandemic Preparedness and Response. COVID-19: Make It the Last Pandemic. Geneva, 2021. https://theindependentpanel. org/wp- UN Women. “COVID-19 and Ending Violence Against Women and Girls. ” UN Women, 2020, https://www. unwomen. org/en/digital-library/publications/2020/04/issue-brief-covid-19-andending-violence-against-women-and-girls. Accessed Oct. 8, 2024 Vincent, Carole. “Why Do Women Earn Less Than Men? ” CRDCN Research Highlight/RCCDR en Évidence, vol. 1, no. 5, 2013. https://ir. lib. uwo. ca/crdcn_rccdr/vol1/iss5/1. Walby, Sylvia. “The European Union and Gender Equality: Emergent Varieties of Gender Regime. ” Social Politics: International Studies in Gender, State & Society, vol. 11, no. 1, Spring 2004, pp. 4–29. https://doi. org/10. 1093/sp/jxh024.

World Health Organization. The Impact of COVID-19 on Health and Care Workers: A Closer Look at Deaths. Geneva, 2021. https://apps. who. int/iris/handle/10665/345300. Accessed Oct. 8, 2024. YWCA Greenwich. “Domestic Violence Spikes During Coronavirus as Families Trapped at Home. ” https://ywcagreenwich. org/domestic-abuse-could-spike-as-the-coronavirus-trapspeople-indoors/. Accessed Oct. 8, 2024