12 must-read stories about gender

This week’s digest of stories about how the gender gap plays out
around the world – in business, health, education and politics.
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Where are the women in global power? As leaders gather in
Davos, these seven charts show the dearth of women at the top
of business, academia, politics and finance. (World Economic
Forum )
“Coming out made me a better leader.” Beth Brooke-Marciniak,
an executive at EY, on why LGBT awareness is on the agenda at
Davos. ( World Economic Forum )
Q&A: What is the future of fatherhood? Psychologist Adam
Grant on the changing role of men at home and at work, ahead
of a Davos debate on family life. (World Economic Forum )
To achieve gender equality , “we need to mobilise not just
parliaments but populations, not only civil society but all
society.” Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, Executive Director of UN
Women. (World Economic Forum )
How one woman is changing business lending in Africa. 85% of
small businesses in emerging markets suffer from a lack of
access to credit. ( Forbes )
Why women don’t speak up in the workplace. Either they are
ignored or judged as too aggressive, write Sheryl Sandberg and
Adam Grant. ( New York Times )
Sexism and the City. London’s financial sector has a problem
with senior women. ( Financial Times )
Goodluck Jonathan hopes for female president in Nigeria. The
Nigerian president said it should happen in his lifetime. (Premium
Times )
But there’s a backlash against African women. Public strippings
are the frontline of a war on women’s progress in rapidly
urbanising societies. (New York Times )
Why are so many women in China rich? The one child policy and
high expectations have played a part. (Fortune )
Can the US fix its maternity leave system? Half of American
woman don’t get any paid time off after giving birth. Washington
can’t ignore this forever. (Businessweek)
Sony hack spawns one big winner. Charlize Theron reportedly
negotiated a $10m deal for her next movie, in line with her male
co-star. (Business Insider)
Statistic of the Week
105 out of 111 countries studied have made positive strides
towards gender equality since 2006, according to the World
Economic Forum’s Global Gender Gap report.
Some comfort, even if no country has closed the gap entirely.
Quote of the Week
“I am heartbroken that the same crusty attitudes the war
generation brought to the diversity question are still being used
against my daughters .”
Linda Scott, DP world chair for Entrepreneurship and Innovation
at the Saïd Business School, University of Oxford, writing for the
World Economic Forum.