Since 2006, the World Economic Forum’s Global Gender Gap Report has measured how far countries have come in closing the gaps between men and women across four areas: economic participation and opportunity, educational attainment, health and survival, and political empowerment.

This year marks its 20th edition, covering 145 economies. Among the economies tracked since the very first edition, the overall score has risen from 64.2% to 69.4%, its highest yet. But at this rate, global gender parity is still estimated to be 120 years away.

So, what does this index actually tell us, and what does it leave out? And what does it mean for Malaysia?

In this conversation, I speak to Sivananthi Thanenthiran, who’s the Executive Director of the Asian-Pacific Resource & Research Centre for Women (ARROW). 

In this conversation, we focus on:

 • What the Global Gender Gap Index measures, and what it leaves out

 • Why do the Nordic countries and Namibia rank so highly?

 • Why does Malaysia rank below Singapore and Thailand?

 • Why has political parity in East Asia and the Pacific not kept pace with economic progress?

 • Career breaks, care, and the case for parental leave

 • Can AI reproduce existing gender inequality?

Image Credit: Asian-Pacific Resource & Research Centre for Women (ARROW) Facebook

Since 2006, the World Economic Forum’s Global Gender Gap Report has measured how far countries have come in closing the gaps between men and women across four areas: economic participation and opportunity, educational attainment, health and survival, and political empowerment.This year marks its 20th edition, covering 145 economies. Among the economies tracked since the very first edition, the overall score has risen from 64.2% to 69.4%, its highest yet. But at this rate, global gender parity is still estimated to be 120 years away.So, what does this index actually tell us, and what does it leave out? And what does it mean for Malaysia?In this conversation, I speak to Sivananthi Thanenthiran, who’s the Executive Director of the Asian-Pacific Resource &amp; Research Centre for Women (ARROW).&nbsp;In this conversation, we focus on:&nbsp;• What the Global Gender Gap Index measures, and what it leaves out&nbsp;• Why do the Nordic countries and Namibia rank so highly?&nbsp;• Why does Malaysia rank below Singapore and Thailand?&nbsp;• Why has political parity in East Asia and the Pacific not kept pace with economic progress?&nbsp;• Career breaks, care, and the case for parental leave&nbsp;• Can AI reproduce existing gender inequality?Image Credit: Asian-Pacific Resource &amp; Research Centre for Women (ARROW) Facebook

As they say, democracy doesn't begin and end at the ballot box. 
On Beyond the Ballot Box, we have in-depth conversations about political economy and human rights in Malaysia, Southeast Asia, and around the globe through a class prism.

As they say, democracy doesn't begin and end at the ballot box. On Beyond the Ballot Box, we have in-depth conversations about political economy and human rights in Malaysia, Southeast Asia, and around the globe through a class prism.

Beyond the Ballot Box

As they say, democracy doesn't begin and end at the ballot box. On Beyond the Ballot Box, we speak to politicians and analysts and explore burning issues and questions surrounding our fluid and ever-changing political scene.

As they say, democracy doesn't begin and end at the ballot box. On Beyond the Ballot Box, we speak to politicians and analysts and explore burning issues and questions surrounding our fluid and ever-changing political scene.