1. Indexes and Gaps: Debating Gender Methodology for International Comparisons Prof Jacqueline O’Reilly University of Brighton Business School

2. Feminism as a political project: Contested methodological approaches Universal understanding of subjugation & International comparisons of female employment A typology of approaches Benchmarking, multi-level indexes & comparative analytical frameworks Conclusions

3. Benchmarking and multi-level indexes to inform comparative analytical frameworks GDI GEM EUGEI

4. GDI developed in 1995 from the Human Development Index (UNDP 2006:396). Three key measures: life expectancy at birth, adult literacy, and real GDP per capita to indicate access to resources for a decent standard of living. The GDI uses the same measures as the HDI differentiating for men and women. Countries are ranked on their absolute levels for HDI and their relative scores on gender equality in human development.

5. GEM developed to focuses on women’s opportunities in: political participation and decision making (the female share of parliamentary seats); economic participation and decision making (women’s share of positions as legislators, senior officials and managers; and women’s share of professional and technical positions); and power over economic resources (measured by men and women’s estimated earned income) (UNDP, 2006: 398).

6. Benchmark base to compare countries Available data & relevance Consciousness raising Draw attention to policy areas to address gaps

7. Cons Debate over capabilities & outcomes Methods of calculating indices Confusion over what is being measured – relative or absolute gender inequalities Neglected in policy debates Not dig deeper

8. EU Gender Equality Index (EUGEI) Rationale European Employment Strategy – policy orientated Definition of equality based on – Fraser – equity Multiple levels of measures

9. Composition of the EU Gender Equality Index (EUGEI) DimensionsSubdimensionsIndicators Equal sharing of paid workLabour Force ParticipationGender employment gap UnemploymentGender unemployment gap Equal sharing of moneyPayGender pay gap IncomeGender poverty gap among single-headed households Equal sharing of decision- making power Poltical PowerGender gap in Parliament Socio-economic powerGender gap in ISCO1 Equal sharing of timeCaring timeGender gap in caring time for children LeisureGender gap in leisure time Source: Plantenga et al. 2009

11. Conclusions ? Locke & Thelen (1995) contextualized comparisons Daly & Rake (2003) Chant (2006)