Abstract

OLASKOAGA-LARRAURI, Jon  and  SALAVERRI-RUIZ-OZAITA, Rut. Measuring Gender Equality in Europe. A review of the features of the Gender Equality Index and their consequences. Pap. poblac [online]. 2020, vol.26, n.104, pp.213-238.  Epub June 02, 2021. ISSN 2448-7147.  https://doi.org/10.22185/24487147.2020.104.17.

In this paper we explore some of the features of the Gender Equality Index (GEI) proposed by the European Institute for Gender Equality (EIGE), which is the measure for gender equality most known and with a greater impact in Europe. The GEI has supposed a considerable step forward in the measurement of gender equality. Nevertheless, it also suffers some drawbacks due to the selection of its basic indicators and the metric used. In short, i) the GEI fails when it has to distinguish between achievements regarding gender quality in the most developed countries in Europe; ii) the GEI measures gender equality and economic and social development simultaneously and therefore overstates the achievements in gender equality in the more developed countries; and iii) the GEI tends to overstate the progress in gender equality from 2005 to the present.

Keywords : Gender equality; gender equality index; Europe; methodology.