This report gives a picture of where women stand today and how they have progressed in the world of work over the last 20 years, and of the root causes of inequalities and how they should be tackled based on what works and the guidance provided by international labour standards. It shows that, despite some encouraging advances, major gender gaps at work remain. Increasing gender parity in educational attainment does not prevent women from being concentrated in middle to lower-paid occupations that reflect traditional gender stereotypes and beliefs about women’s and men’s aspirations and capabilities.
'The Little Data Book on Gender 2016 is a quick reference for users interested in gender statistics and presents sex-disaggregated data for more than 200 countries in a straightforward, country-by-country reference on education, health, access to economic opportunities, and public life and decision making. Summary pages that cover regional and income group aggregates are also included. .The report examined the driving forces behind differences in key aspects of welfare between men and women—education and health, access to economic opportunities and productive resources, and the ability to make .effective choices and take action. Gender equality is increasingly recognized as not only a core development objective, but smart economics. Over the past decades, countries have seen significant progress to raise living .standards and close gaps between males and females, including visible improvements in health and education. At the same time, critical gaps persist in economic opportunity as well as agency of women and girls. Addressing .gender inequalities requires continued efforts to overcome a complex set of interrelated challenges linking gaps in human capital and technology, women’s disproportionate responsibility for unpaid work, legal discrimination, .and gender-based violence.'