Monday, May 16, 2005

'Gender gap' Stats: USA 'ranks poorly'

'Gender gap' is biggest in Egypt
Women in Egypt are the furthest behind men in terms of economic equality, while no country has closed the "gender gap" entirely, a new survey has found.

Sweden has the smallest difference between the sexes, followed by Norway, Iceland, Denmark and Finland, according to the World Economic Forum (WEF).

The report singled out the US for particular criticism, saying it "lags behind many Western European nations".

It was a "disturbing fact" that women still trailed men, the WEF said.

US 'ranks poorly'

The US, the world's largest economy, came 17th in the WEF's equality table.

It "ranks poorly on the specific dimensions of economic opportunity and health and well-being, compromised by meagre maternity leave, the lack of maternity leave benefits and limited government-provided childcare," the WEF said.

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