The Global Gender Gap Index is the leading global indicator (148 countries are currently included) that analyzes the evolution of gender equality across four dimensions: economic opportunity, education, health, and political empowerment. As interesting and useful as it is, it remains a partial or incomplete measure.
The fact that it was developed by the World Economic Forum (first published in 2006) betrays the indicator's bias, focusing primarily on the public sphere and with a primary focus on the economy.
The underlying problem is that it completely ignores the domestic sphere, which is the true source of female inequality and exploitation. Therefore, even if this index were to one day come close to parity, it would still be far from complete democratic equality.
Despite the call made in Goal 5.3 of the 2030 Agenda (recognize and value unpaid care and domestic work, promoting policies that allow for the equitable distribution of these tasks between women and men), the key issue of power asymmetry in the domestic sphere (also known as the sphere of social reproduction) is not addressed.
The same problem exists with other indices, such as the Gender Inequality Index introduced in 2010 by the UNDP. In this case, three dimensions are examined: reproductive health, empowerment, and labor market participation.
Ignoring the domestic sphere may indicate the difficulty the economic world (essentially male-dominated) has in understanding the complexity of the processes taking place within it. As Mandich and Rampazi aptly point out, "the relevance of this seemingly banal and extremely limited sphere lies precisely in its location at the intersection of key processes and categories of modernity. Domesticity is, in fact, strongly implicated in at least three of the most complex and controversial issues of modern society: the public/private distinction, the definition of gender order, and spatial-temporal transformations.
[…] The other major theme that contributes to the complex and controversial nature of the domestic sphere is the mutual constitution of the order of the home and the order of gender. The home is placed (both materially, as a place of domestic activities, and symbolically, as a typically female sphere) at the center of the experience of gender. It is the place where women are "domesticated," and the organization of spaces within it reflects gender asymmetries."
Only the Gender Equality Index (developed by EIGE) attempts to address these issues by including the dimension of time (individuals' habits regarding care work and social interaction). But once again, it lacks any perspective that could be useful for achieving Objective 5.3.
For these reasons, we have been working for some time now to fill this gap by proposing a Domestic Equality Index (DEI). This is an inclusive tool to highlight gaps in the division of household labor and support a process of rediscovery and rebalancing, from couples to public policies. The DEI is therefore a tool that measures how couples divide:
• time and daily activities,
• degree of involvement of both,
• ability to negotiate and rebalance tasks.
Each activity receives a score from -1 to +1, providing a snapshot of distribution. The DEI works based on a participatory questionnaire focusing on the set of activities necessary for a couple to function. Inspired by the French Institute of Statistics (INSEE), three areas are considered: narrow, intermediate, and broad. The data collected remains anonymous and is used to generate a comprehensive index, useful for couples, research, and public policy.
The Domestic Equality Index was created to give voice to what happens in homes, because gender justice begins with shared everyday life. Measuring means recognizing, and recognizing means being able to transform.
Its usefulness in complementing the set of general indicators currently in use, starting with the Global Gender Gap Index, seems clear to us. We also believe this type of index could also play a role in the private sector (businesses, banks, etc.), where certification of gender equality and sustainability (within the ESG framework) is becoming increasingly necessary, despite the tools currently available being insufficient.
Certainly, in order to influence the decision-making level where these indicators are developed and monitored, political alliances and support are needed. Our work began at the grassroots level, with farmers' organizations, unions, and even municipal administrations. This year, we hope to establish partnerships with the private sector, but we remain open to suggestions for collaboration, both in Italy and abroad.
Paolo Groppo, EquiDom
EquiDom is the name of an open, mixed, and informal group working on the domestic sphere. More information (in italian) here: https://equigendum.blogspot.com/
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