Beyond Aspiration: Making Economic Inclusion of Women a Reality

International Women’s Day serves as a poignant reminder that the path to global progress must actively include and invest in women. Under the resonating theme, ‘Count Her In: Invest in Women. Accelerate Progress,’ we underscore the imperative to empower women economically. Economic inclusion of women is not merely a social aspiration; it is an economic imperative that propels nations towards prosperity. According to the World Economic Forum’s Global Gender

Gap Report 2022, where 1 refers to parity between men and women, Indian women scored 0.961 in educational attainment, but the score plummeted to 0.350 for economic participation and opportunity. According to the World Economic Forum (WEF), it will take 217 years to close the global gender gap in economic participation and opportunity at the current rate of progress. The WEF’s 2023 global gender gap score is 68.4%, which is a 0.3% increase from the previous year. The WEF also estimates that it will take over 100 years to close the global gender pay gap. These numbers indicate how far ahead the world needs to move to get women as active economic participants. Unless women are actively allowed to participate and contribute to the economy the world will never reach its optimum potential to achieve stability.

Investing in women means recognizing and unlocking the vast potential that resides in half of the world’s population. By providing equal opportunities in education, entrepreneurship, and the workforce, we amplify the voices of women, fostering innovation and resilience. Economic empowerment of women catalyzes a ripple effect, transforming families, communities, and entire societies. By dismantling barriers and biases, we pave the way for a future where women can contribute their talents uninhibited, driving progress for all. On this International Women’s Day, let us commit to investing in the economic potential of every woman. Let us celebrate not just the achievements of women, but also the untapped possibilities that await when we truly count her in—forging a world where women’s economic inclusion is not just a goal but a reality, accelerating progress for the benefit of all.

Melody Lopez

Director and Chief of Staff

Crayon Software Experts India