The benefits of gender equality (2024)

Gender equality helps prevent violence against women and girls and makes our communities safer and healthier. It is a human right and it is good for the economy.

Gender equality prevents violence against women and girls

Gender inequality underlies family violence and violence against women. There are four gendered drivers of violence:

• condoning violence against women
• men’s control of decision-making and limits to women’s independence in public and private life
• rigid gender stereotyping and dominant forms of masculinity
• male peer relations and cultures of masculinity that emphasise aggression, dominance and control

The best way to prevent violence against women is to promote gender equality.

Gender equality is good for the economy

Every day that we fail to deliver gender equality, we pay the price.

• Australia’s GDP would increase by 11% if the gender employment gap was closed.
• The Australian economy would gain $8 billion if women transitioned from tertiary education into the workforce at the same rate as men.
• Businesses with at least 30% women in leadership positions are 15% more profitable.
• Family violence costs the Victorian economy more than $3.4 billion a year and takes up 40% of police work.
• Women do most unpaid care work. This has major costs - the unpaid care economy in Australia is nearly six times larger than the paid economy.

Gender equality is a human right

Australia has committed to equal rights for men and women through:

• Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination Against Women - An international treaty of the United Nations that monitors and seeks to improve the situation of women
• Beijing Platform for Action - Commitments for gender equality and the empowerment of all women developed at the Fourth World Conference on Women in Beijing
• 2030 Sustainable Development Goals - 17 goals to improve life. for future generations by ending poverty, protecting the planet and ensuring that all people enjoy peace and prosperity
• Victorian Charter of Human Rights and Responsibilities Act 2006 - A Victorian law that sets out the basic rights, freedoms and responsibilities of all people in Victoria
• Equal Opportunity Act 2010 (Vic) - A Victorian law about discrimination, sexual harassment .and victimisation that promotes equality

Gender equality makes our communities safer and healthier

Unequal societies are less cohesive. They have higher rates of anti-social behaviour and violence. Countries with greater gender equality are more connected. Their people are healthier and have better wellbeing.