As on every March 8, today we celebrate International Working Women's Day, a date that in some way compels us to analyze the main challenges involved in achieving genuine equality between men and women.
Many women have faced great difficulties in reconciling their professional lives with their family lives, which has undoubtedly hindered full equality between men and women and makes it necessary to promote policies in this area.
According to data from the EU statistical office, Eurostat, Spain ranks near the bottom of the list of European countries when it comes to work-life balance. In fact, in our country, only 63.2% of mothers with one child work, compared with 60.3% of those with two children and 49% of those with three or more.
Today, coinciding with the celebration of this day, the European Union has adopted a new Pact for Gender Equality for the 2011–2020 period, replacing the one approved in March 2006 at the initiative of six Member States: Spain, Sweden, the Czech Republic, France, Finland, and Denmark.
The priorities of this new pact include eliminating gender inequalities in employment and improving work-life balance for women and men.
Regarding work-life balance, the Pact explains that governments must act to ensure there are enough affordable childcare facilities to serve at least 30% of children under the age of 3; improve infrastructure for the care and support of dependent people; and facilitate flexible working arrangements.
March 8, International Women’s Day
As on every March 8, today we celebrate International Working Women's Day, a date that in some way compels us to analyze the main challenges involved in achieving genuine equality between men and women.
Many women have faced great difficulties in reconciling their professional lives with their family lives, which has undoubtedly hindered full equality between men and women and makes it necessary to promote policies in this area.
According to data from the EU statistical office, Eurostat, Spain ranks near the bottom of the list of European countries when it comes to work-life balance. In fact, in our country, only 63.2% of mothers with one child work, compared with 60.3% of those with two children and 49% of those with three or more.
Today, coinciding with the celebration of this day, the European Union has adopted a new Pact for Gender Equality for the 2011–2020 period, replacing the one approved in March 2006 at the initiative of six Member States: Spain, Sweden, the Czech Republic, France, Finland, and Denmark.
The priorities of this new pact include eliminating gender inequalities in employment and improving work-life balance for women and men.
Regarding work-life balance, the Pact explains that governments must act to ensure there are enough affordable childcare facilities to serve at least 30% of children under the age of 3; improve infrastructure for the care and support of dependent people; and facilitate flexible working arrangements.
