Gender Development Index
Definition
The Gender Development Index (GDI) is an index designed to measure gender inequality.
Why This Matters
The Gender Development Index was created with the intention to bring attention to gender inequality and disparities. There is a need for gathering data for/about women especially with their health, economic status, education and political and social background in order to track progress with the Sustainable Development Goals.
Goal five(5) of the SDGs focuses on gender equality and despite improvements, full gender equality has not been fulfilled. The Gender Development Index aids in providing visualization of a country’s gender differentials using a scale of 0-1. The GDI also explains the gender gap in human development achievements by highlighting gender disparities in health, education and availability and access to economic resources thus the GDI matters so governments can utilize data and implement policies which may bridge the gaps. In conclusion, Barbados has to make more progress with goal 5 to achieve full gender equality.
Measurement and Limitations
This data was collected by the United Nations Development Programme.
Data Source
The United Nations Development Programme: Human Development Reports
References
http://hdr.undp.org/en/data
Gender Development Index in the Sustainable Development Goals
Click on the SDG to reveal more information
5. Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls
While the world has achieved progress towards gender equality and women’s empowerment under the Millennium Development Goals (including equal access to primary education between girls and boys), women and girls continue to suffer discrimination and violence in every part of the world.
Gender equality is not only a fundamental human right, but a necessary foundation for a peaceful, prosperous and sustainable world.
Providing women and girls with equal access to education, health care, decent work, and representation in political and economic decision-making processes will fuel sustainable economies and benefit societies and humanity at large.
Related Gender Development Index Targets
End all forms of discrimination against all women and girls everywhere