Gender : a partnership of equals

Of the worlds female population, over 70% in developed countries and 60% in developing countries are engaged in paid employment. However, sheer numbers do not necessarily imply greater gender equality. The book "Gender: A Partnership of Equals" shows that: 1. Part time work: Between 65 and 90% of part time workers in industrialized countries are women; 2. Public sector: Women constitute a majority of the workforce in education and health, but hold only 1-2% of jobs in public utilities (water, gas, electricity); 3. Occupational segregation: A majority of workers in the world work in what can legitimately be regarded as "female" or "male" occupations; 4. Export processing zones (EPZs): Between 60 and 90% of workers in EPZs are women, often young and in their first job; 5. Child labour: Some 110 million child workers are girls aged 5 to 14; 6. Trade unions: Despite the fact that women now constitute a significant proportion of union membership - in some sectors 30 to 50% (agriculture, teachers, nurses) - their active participation is still quite limited; 7. Vocational training: Male dominated occupations are seven times more common than female-dominated occupations; 8. Management jobs: Women represent 40% of the worlds labour force but their share of management jobs rarely exceeds 20%, dropping to 2-3% in the largest and most powerful enterprises.