England

Population

• Total Population: Approximately 56 million (as of 2024)
• Gender Distribution: 50.6% female, 49.4% male
• Youth Population: Around 30% of the population is under the age of 30
• Urban vs Rural Distribution: 83% urban, 17% rural

Economic Landscape

• GDP: $3.2 trillion (2023 estimate)
• Key Industries: Finance, Healthcare, Manufacturing, Technology
• Women in Workforce: Approximately 47%, with significant participation in healthcare and education sectors
• Gender Pay Gap: Women earn on average 14% less than men in full-time employment
• Challenges: Gender disparities in leadership roles, work-life balance issues, underrepresentation in STEM fields

Political Landscape

• Women’s Representation in Leadership:
  • Parliament: 35% (House of Commons), 28% (House of Lords)
  • Local Government Leadership: Around 40% of councilors are women
• Challenges: Persistent gender biases, political underrepresentation, policy gaps in gender equity
• Key Policies Promoting Gender Equality:
  • Equality Act 2010: Comprehensive anti-discrimination framework
  • Gender Pay Gap Reporting requirements
  • Domestic Abuse Act 2021 to protect victims of gender-based violence

• Social and Cultural Context

  • Gender Norms and Cultural Attitudes:
    • Increasing gender equality awareness and advocacy
    • Persistent societal expectations on women’s caregiving roles
    • Efforts to address unconscious bias and gender stereotyping
  • Traditional Barriers:
    • Workplace discrimination
    • Unequal childcare responsibilities
    • Gender-based violence

• Gender Index Rankings

  • Global Gender Gap Index (2023): Ranked 22nd out of 146 countries
  • Human Development Index (2023): 0.929 (Very high human development)
  • Women’s Empowerment Index: High participation in education and workforce
  • Challenges Identified: Wage disparities, gendered career progression, rising cost of childcare.