The Gender Equality Index (GEI) 2022 in Moldova increased more prominently compared with the previous years. The average equality level between women and men, calculated for six assessed strategic areas, was estimated at 62 points, being by three points higher than last year, according to the Gender Equality Index compiled by the Center “Partnership for Development” (CPD). According to the authors, the GEI was launched to assess the progress and failures seen in ensuring equal opportunities for men and women in the Republic of Moldova. The equality index is measured on a scale of 0 (zero) to 100 (one hundred). This way, the closer is the calculated index to 100, the higher is the GEI in the given area, IPN reports.
The rise in the GEI is mostly due to the reforms implemented in the public sector. Owing to the double quota system (representation quota of 40% and provisions concerning the position on the list), the number of women in the legislative body increased considerably and the number of female MPs in 2021 grew to a record high of 40.6% of the MPs. In 2020, the female MPs represented only 25% and this led to a significant rise in the GEI in the political sector: 61 as opposed to 47 in 2020.
Positive trends are also seen in the health system and in the field of access to resources. In general, the inequalities in healthcare affect primarily the men, while those concerning access to resources, primarily the women. In 2022, the GEI in these sectors rose by 2 points and these changes presumably benefit both women and men. In 2022, the gender pay gap decreased slightly and this means that women’s incomes and the access to resources tend to even out. A similar evening out tendency is seen in healthcare, including as regards life expectancy (over the past 10 years, discrepancy in life expectancy was constantly higher than eight years to the men’s detriment).
The labor market is the only area in which a significant decline was seen in terms of gender equality. Generally, this is the area with the most important inequalities between women and men. The number of women on the labor market is much lower than that of men. Their employment rate decreases drastically together with the appearance of children. This points to the insufficiency of public social and political infrastructure aimed to the needs of women and families. The employment rate of women with children is by 20% lower than that of women without children. The inequalities on the labor market widened considerably during the pandemic. A large part of women lost the job or entered technical unemployment, while others had their working hours reduced. These aspects evidently had significant implications for their financial security.
The stereotypes and perceptions concerning the women’s and men’s participation have become softer. For example, 32% of the citizens in 2009 considered the women are less capable and cannot hold managerial posts, while in 2021, during the election campaign, the figure declined to 12%. The biggest changes are seen in the perceptions concerning the men’s representation in decision-making posts.
This tendency is typical of all the stereotypes related to the care roles and traditional roles of men. Even if the tendency is constantly positive, the number of people who consider that the care and household chores in the family should be assumed by women grew slightly in 2021, this being also an effect of the pandemic crisis that amplified the care needs.
