We focus on Strengthening Leadership Skills of Young Women
Across the world and across all sectors, women’s leadership continues to be underrepresented. Women must contend with:
- Discriminatory laws
- Institutions
Attitudes that restrict their leadership and full participation in public life.
Women are also disadvantaged by unequal access to the resources needed to become effective leaders.
Challenges Faced by Young Women
Young women experience discrimination based on both gender and age. Critical gaps in funding and resources for:
- Education
- Skills development
- Mentorship
These gaps impact the ability of young women to realize their full potential as leaders.
We invest in women’s leadership skills as an approach to strengthen and support:
- Girls’ leadership
- Adolescent girls’ leadership
- Young women’s leadership
- Women’s leadership
Investing in young women’s leadership will not only change the trajectory of their future but also that of their communities.
Gender Inequality Affects Everyone
Gender inequality impacts all citizens throughout their lives:
Children
- Gender stereotypes affect children's sense of self from a young age.
- Boys receive 8 times more attention in the classroom than girls.
- Girls receive 11% less pocket money than boys.
- Children classify jobs and activities as specific to boys or girls.
Young People
- Gender stereotypes affect behavior, study choices, ambitions, and attitudes about relationships.
- Girls are less likely to take part in organized sport.
- Girls are less likely to do advanced math subjects in their final years of school.
- 1 in 3 Australian women over 15 has experienced physical violence.
Adults
- Victorian women earn 87.6 cents to every dollar earned by men.
- More women than men complete tertiary education, yet their graduate salaries are lower.
- 1 in every 2 mothers experiences discrimination during pregnancy, on parental leave, or when returning to work.
- Victorian women do nearly twice as much unpaid work as men.
Older People
- Women retire with half the superannuation savings of men.
- This affects women's financial security, health, and well-being.
- Older women are at greater risk of homelessness than men.
Aboriginal Women
Aboriginal women’s experience of gender inequality is exacerbated by the impacts of colonization and violent dispossession.
- They are 11 times more likely to die from family violence than other women.
- Culturally Diverse Communities
- Women from culturally diverse communities experience racism and discrimination on top of gender inequality.
- Migrant and refugee women are often in insecure and low-paid work or work they are overqualified for.
- Women from non-English speaking backgrounds can face barriers to accessing services and understanding their rights.
Men
Traditional stereotypes are difficult for many men to live up to. They feel pressure to be a ‘real man,’ physically and emotionally strong, and the main income earner.
- Many workplaces don’t offer men extended parental leave or flexible hours.
- Men are more likely to drink too much, take unhealthy risks, and engage in violence.
- They are less likely to seek professional help or talk about their problems with friends or family.
- Men are more likely to commit suicide.
Rural and Regional Women
Women living outside metropolitan areas often do not have access to public services.
- They are at greater risk of poor health outcomes and family violence.
- Trans and Gender Diverse People
- Trans and gender diverse people may feel forced to hide their gender identity when using services, at school, or at work.
- They are at greater risk of mental illness, verbal and physical abuse, and social exclusion.
Women with Disabilities
Women with disabilities are more likely to experience family violence and sexual assault.
- They are more likely to be unemployed or underemployed.
- They are paid less than men with disabilities and women without disabilities.
What is the Importance of Equality?
Equality is about ensuring that every individual has an equal opportunity to make the most of their lives and talents. It is also the belief that no one should have poorer life chances because of the way they were born, where they come from, what they believe, or whether they have a disability.
