Studies show that countries with high levels of gender-equality have better health and faster rates of growth than in societies were women’s rights are often overlooked. The study, which was published in the journal BMJ Open, shows that this trend holds true even in countries that are otherwise resource poor.
Researchers argue that despite the fact that gender equality is often overlooked and highly debated, nations benefit greatly from equal rights among the sexes.
“Today the value of human rights has often been questioned from an economic standpoint,” researchers say “However, our data finds that rather than limit progress, human rights, and women’s economic and social rights) in particular, can only benefit them.”
It’s been found that there is a direct link between protecting women’s rights and improvement in a nation’s health rates, as well as sustainable development.
The study was conducted by researchers studying a databases that held information on health, human rights, and economic and social rights of 162 countries for a six year period between 2004 and 2010. The data showed that the overall health of nations with advanced women’s rights surpassed that of nations were gender equality is moderately or poorly respected. Health indicators include disease prevention (such as vaccinations), reproductive health, death rates and life expectancy. Even in countries where access to medical care such as doctors and hospital beds was limited, but a strong human rights structure is present, health outcomes were still consistently better than average.
This new study comes after researchers at Queen Mary University of London found that levels of gender equality around the world are linked with disproportionate death rates among girls under five years old. Data from that study found that the poor treatment of women globally could affect the natural biological advantage they have over males when it comes to survival. Typically women tend to live longer than men worldwide, and in multiple countries, their lifespan is up to a decade longer than their male counterparts.
In the year of 2015 more than 5.9 million children under the age five died, and more than half of those deaths were preventable yet occurred due to a lack of human rights and medical resources. While boys under the age of five do tend to have a slightly higher mortality rate on average,in countries with poor human rights infrastructure the more girls are penalised in terms of their survival rates. This is shown to be more apparent in lower to middle income countries.
“Because of a sexist ideology which values boys over girls, young girls are often at greater risk of mortality through diminished access to health resources, as well as through heightened exposure to health risks. These girls are further exposed to this risk via their mothers, who may themselves penalised and valued less than mothers of sons, and less able to provide for their daughters.” Says Dr. Valentina Gallo, a researcher who conducted this study.
While previous studies have shown that a lack of gender equality did have an effect on infant mortality it was unknown as to whether girls or boys were more affected.
Written by Devon Clare Banfield
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