Why Gender Inequality Is Plain Stupid

According to research from McKinsey Global Gender Report if Africa steps up its efforts now, and closed gender gaps, it can secure a substantial growth dividend, and boost African economies by the equivalent of 10 percent of their collective GDP by 2025.

The report includes a gender parity score for each country composed of 15 indicators across two dimensions, gender inequality at work and gender inequality in society. It states that overall progress on gender equality has stalled in Africa, with South Africa scoring the highest gender parity score while Niger performs the worst. The report finds that Africa could add $316 billion to its GDP by 2025 if every country improved its score to match the best performing African country on each indicator.

What is further sobering and worrisome is the fact that at the current rate, this generation will not see gender parity in its lifetime. But with the World Economic Forum Global Gender Gap Report 2020 indicating that gender parity will not be attained for 99.5 years, we are flabbergasted! What will it take to break the status quo – like soonest?