Discrimination Against Women in the Workplace Perceptions Index

The purpose of the Discrimination Against Women in the Workplace Perceptions Index is to provide a subjective measure of the magnitude of the problem in a given country as perceived by its inhabitants.

Question asked: How big of a problem is discrimination against women in the workplace in the country where you live? Take this survey.

Rank
Map
Table

Rank	Country	Average
1	Japan	7.26
2	Aruba	6.12
3	Guatemala	5.92
4	India	5.62
5	Afghanistan	5.52
6	Nepal	5.49
7	Mexico	5.46
8	Bolivia	5.45
9	Egypt	5.43
10	Azerbaijan	5.42
11	Pakistan	5.41
12	Saudi Arabia	5.38
13	El Salvador	5.34
14	Honduras	5.33
15	Turkey	5.28
16	Iran	5.23
17	Chile	5.22
18	Lebanon	5.08
19	China	5.07
20	Colombia	5.01
21	Angola	4.98
22	Bangladesh	4.94
23	Armenia	4.94
24	Bahamas, The	4.92
25	Belize	4.91
26	Nicaragua	4.83
27	Peru	4.81
28	Morocco	4.78
29	Korea, South	4.73
30	Dominican Republic	4.72
31	South Africa	4.71
32	Kenya	4.70
33	Zambia	4.69
34	Albania	4.68
35	Paraguay	4.66
36	Spain	4.64
37	Mauritius	4.55
38	Bahrain	4.50
39	Costa Rica	4.50
40	Zimbabwe	4.45
41	Austria	4.43
42	Italy	4.43
43	France	4.41
44	Brazil	4.40
45	Sri Lanka	4.38
46	Tanzania	4.37
47	Ethiopia	4.36
48	Cameroon	4.35
49	Ecuador	4.34
50	Cote d'Ivoire	4.31
51	Nigeria	4.28
52	Algeria	4.22
53	Puerto Rico	4.22
54	Vietnam	4.17
55	Trinidad and Tobago	4.14
56	Uruguay	4.11
57	Ghana	4.11
58	Uganda	4.10
59	Panama	4.06
60	Argentina	4.03
61	Indonesia	4.01
62	Tunisia	3.95
63	Malaysia	3.94
64	Thailand	3.88
65	Jamaica	3.83
66	United States	3.79
67	Philippines	3.78
68	Australia	3.76
69	Israel	3.75
70	Hungary	3.74
71	Ukraine	3.72
72	Venezuela	3.70
73	Romania	3.70
74	Germany	3.69
75	Belgium	3.65
76	United Arab Emirates	3.60
77	Russia	3.60
78	Kazakhstan	3.56
79	United Kingdom	3.46
80	Portugal	3.46
81	Hong Kong	3.43
82	Greece	3.43
83	Poland	3.30
84	Switzerland	3.25
85	Czech Republic	3.15
86	New Zealand	3.14
87	Canada	3.10
88	Ireland	3.07
89	Sweden	3.06
90	Singapore	2.83
91	Bulgaria	2.79
92	Norway	2.76
93	Lithuania	2.75
94	Netherlands	2.70
95	Cuba	2.49
96	Finland	2.28
97	Denmark	2.01

Problem Explanation

Discrimination against women in the workplace is a pervasive issue that has significant implications for individuals, businesses, and society. Here are key reasons why workplace discrimination against women is considered a problem:

Violation of Equal Rights: Discrimination denies women their basic right to equal opportunities in the workplace, perpetuating gender-based inequalities and violating principles of fairness and justice.
Undermining Talent and Potential: Discrimination prevents the full utilization of women's talents, skills, and potential, hindering organizational growth and innovation. This not only harms individuals but also limits the success and competitiveness of businesses.
Impact on Career Advancement: Discrimination can impede women's career advancement, limiting their access to leadership positions, promotions, and decision-making roles. This glass ceiling prevents the realization of diverse leadership and undermines corporate governance.
Gender Pay Gap: Discrimination contributes to the gender pay gap, with women often receiving lower salaries than their male counterparts for equivalent work. This economic disparity affects women's financial independence and perpetuates systemic inequalities.
Hostile Work Environment: Discrimination fosters a hostile work environment, contributing to stress, anxiety, and reduced job satisfaction among women. It can lead to a culture of exclusion and hinder collaboration and teamwork.
Reinforcement of Stereotypes: Discrimination reinforces harmful gender stereotypes, perpetuating the belief that certain roles or professions are more suitable for men or women. This limits the diversity of career choices and opportunities available to women.
Impact on Mental Health: Workplace discrimination has adverse effects on the mental health of women, leading to feelings of inadequacy, anxiety, and depression. It can create a toxic work environment that undermines overall well-being.
Legal and Ethical Concerns: Discrimination raises legal and ethical concerns, as it goes against principles of equal employment opportunity and fairness. Organizations that tolerate or perpetuate discrimination may face legal consequences and damage to their reputation.
Global Competitiveness: Countries and businesses that fail to address gender discrimination may experience reduced competitiveness on the global stage. Inclusive workplaces that value diversity are better positioned to attract and retain top talent in a diverse and interconnected world.
Social and Cultural Impact: Discrimination against women in the workplace reflects and perpetuates broader social and cultural norms. Efforts to combat workplace discrimination contribute to challenging and changing societal attitudes towards gender roles and equality.

Addressing discrimination against women in the workplace requires a commitment to creating inclusive environments, implementing fair employment practices, promoting diversity and gender equality policies, and fostering a culture that values and respects the contributions of all employees.