Global Gender Gap Report 2021 (World Economic Forum, 2021)
The report assesses gender disparities across 156 countries, focusing on four key dimensions: Economic Participation and Opportunity, Educational Attainment, Health and Survival, and Political Empowerment. It highlights a setback in closing the global gender gap, estimating it will take 135.6 years to achieve parity, an increase from the previous estimate of 99.5 years. The report also underscores the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, noting that women have been disproportionately affected, particularly in sectors hardest hit by lockdowns and increased caregiving responsibilities. This has contributed to the widening of gender gaps observed in the 2021 findings.
https://www3.weforum.org/docs/WEF_GGGR_2021.pdf
Improving VET image and attractiveness (Cedefop, d.)
The resource examines strategies to enhance the image and appeal of Vocational Education and Training (VET) across Europe. Despite VET’s critical role in equipping learners with job-relevant skills, it often suffers from outdated perceptions as a “second choice” pathway. The toolkit highlights evidence-based interventions to reposition VET as a dynamic and high-quality option.
The analysis underscores the need to challenge stereotypes and promote VET’s value in fostering employability, innovation, and lifelong learning. Successful examples from EU countries demonstrate how integrated policies can attract diverse learners—including high-achievers—to VET pathways.
https://www.cedefop.europa.eu/en/tools/vet-toolkit-tackling-early-leaving/intervention-approaches/improving-vet-image-and-attractiveness
Why Europe’s girls aren’t studying STEM (VOCEDplus, 2017)
Region-wide research of 11,500 women reveals how we can get more young women into science, technology, engineering and math.
https://www.voced.edu.au/content/ngv%3A76105
Understanding the Gender Imbalance in STEM (Davies, n.d.)
The white paper examines factors influencing career choices, barriers encountered during job searches, and attitudes toward diversity initiatives within STEM fields. It underscores the importance of diversity initiatives, representation, and supportive work environments in attracting and retaining women and non-binary individuals in STEM careers.
https://www.stemwomen.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/STEM-Women-Whitepaper-2019-2021-FINAL-1.pdf
Global Gender Gap Report 2023 (Global Economic Forum, 2023)
The report evaluates gender disparities across 146 countries, focusing on four key dimensions: Economic Participation and Opportunity, Educational Attainment, Health and Survival, and Political Empowerment. It underscores the persistent challenges in achieving gender parity and highlights the need for sustained efforts to accelerate progress across all sectors and regions.
https://www3.weforum.org/docs/WEF_GGGR_2023.pdf?ref=tabulado.net
Women in STEM in the European Union – Facts and Figures (Brett, 2022)
The article provides an overview of the representation of women in STEM fields across the EU. It highlights that despite progress in gender equality, women remain underrepresented in STEM professions, particularly in engineering and technology. The text presents statistical data showing that women account for a smaller percentage of STEM graduates and workers compared to men, with variations across different EU member states. It also discusses the factors contributing to this disparity, including societal stereotypes, lack of role models, and workplace culture. The article emphasizes the importance of encouraging more women to pursue STEM careers to address skill shortages and promote innovation. It concludes by suggesting policy measures and initiatives to improve gender balance in these fields, such as targeted education programs, mentorship opportunities, and workplace diversity policies.
https://esthinktank.com/2022/03/24/women-in-stem-in-the-european-union-facts-and-figures/
Pupils enrolled in post-secondary non-tertiary education by programme orientation, sex, type of institution and intensity of participation (Eurostat, 2023)
Statistics on education enrollment by education level, sex, and field of study in the EU member states. The dataset offers insights into student participation across different educational stages—from early childhood to tertiary education—with breakdowns by gender and discipline.
The figures reveal trends in enrollment patterns, highlighting disparities between male and female participation in various fields. For example, women tend to be overrepresented in fields like education, health, and welfare, while men dominate STEM subjects. The data also allows comparisons between countries, showing variations in educational preferences and gender imbalances across Europe.
https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/databrowser/view/EDUC_UOE_ENRS07__custom_5608029/default/table?lang=en
Attractiveness is in the eye of the beholder (Russo et al. 2019)
The study explores the subjective nature of attractiveness and how perceptions vary across individuals, cultures, and contexts. The research challenges the notion of universal beauty standards, arguing that attractiveness is influenced by personal preferences, societal norms, and psychological factors rather than objective criteria.
Key findings suggest that factors such as familiarity, symmetry, and cultural background shape how people judge attractiveness. The study also examines the role of evolutionary psychology, social conditioning, and media in shaping beauty ideals. Additionally, it highlights differences in how men and women perceive attractiveness, with some evidence pointing to biological influences alongside sociocultural ones.
The paper concludes that attractiveness is a complex, multi-dimensional concept that cannot be reduced to a single standard. It calls for further interdisciplinary research to better understand the interplay between biology, psychology, and culture in shaping aesthetic preferences.
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/331955642_Attractiveness_is_in_the_eye_of_the_beholder
Tertiary education statistics (Eurostat, 2024)
Comprehensive analysis of higher education trends across the European Union, focusing on enrollment, graduation rates, and demographic patterns among individuals aged 20-34. A notable gender gap emerges in the statistics, with women demonstrating higher participation and graduation rates in tertiary education overall. This trend is particularly pronounced in fields such as education, health, and humanities, while men continue to dominate STEM disciplines. From a policy perspective, these findings emphasize the need to align higher education systems with evolving labor market demands, address persistent gender imbalances in STEM fields, and strengthen opportunities for international academic mobility.
https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/statistics-explained/index.php?title=Tertiary_education_statistics
Regional Mapping: STEM and Digital Skills for Girls (UNICEF, 2021)
The UNICEF report titled “Gender Equality in Education in Eastern Europe and Central Asia” provides a comprehensive analysis of gender disparities in educational access, participation, and outcomes across the region. The study examines both persistent challenges and emerging trends affecting girls’ and boys’ education from primary to tertiary levels.
Key findings reveal significant progress in closing gender gaps in basic education enrollment, with most countries achieving near-parity in primary and secondary school attendance. However, the report identifies concerning regional variations in learning outcomes, with girls generally outperforming boys in reading literacy while boys show slightly better performance in mathematics and science.
At the secondary and tertiary levels, traditional gender stereotypes continue influencing subject choices, with girls underrepresented in STEM fields and boys less likely to pursue humanities and care-related professions. The analysis highlights how these patterns contribute to later gender segregation in labor markets.
https://www.unicef.org/eca/media/19301/file
VET-in-Europe country reports (Cedefop, n.d.)
The report provides a comprehensive overview of vocational education systems across European nations. These detailed national analyses offer policymakers, educators and stakeholders valuable insights into the structure, governance and challenges of VET systems throughout Europe.
The collection presents standardized reports for each participating country, following a common structure that enables systematic comparison. Each national report examines six key dimensions of vocational education: its historical development, current structure and governance, participation trends, labor market relevance, emerging innovations, and ongoing reform efforts.
The reports highlight significant variations in how countries balance school-based and workplace learning, with some nations like Germany and Austria maintaining strong dual systems while others rely more heavily on institutional training. Common challenges include addressing skills mismatches, improving the image of VET, and ensuring equitable access across demographic groups.
https://www.cedefop.europa.eu/en/country-reports/vet-in-europe-country-reports
Women In STEM Statistics: Progress and Challenges (STEM Women, 2023)
Comprehensive analysis of female representation in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics fields globally. The report examines current participation rates, identifies persistent barriers, and highlights initiatives promoting gender diversity in STEM careers.
The analysis reveals gradual but uneven progress in women’s STEM participation. While women now comprise 40-50% of life sciences graduates in many countries, they remain significantly underrepresented in core engineering (often below 20%) and computer science fields (typically 15-25%). The gender gap widens further in senior academic and industry positions, with women holding less than 30% of leadership roles in most STEM sectors.
https://www.stemwomen.com/women-in-stem-statistics-progress-and-challenges
