Large difference in employment rates between men and women!
If you compare the employment rates in EU regions, you will notice that the female employment rates still lag behind the male rates in most of the regions.
The EU has set a policy target in this area of halving the gender employment gap from 11.7% in 2019 to 5.8% by 2030.
The green regions shown here are those that have already attained the target.
Source: Eurostat
It’s not a problem if it’s a choice, but the question becomes whether it really is a choice.
Is it a choice if financial support means it is not possible to be equal without personal sacrifice. Is it a choice if there is societal pressure to conform. Is it a choice if male salaries are higher in general, and then self perpetuating. Is it a choice if there is no access to affordable or free childcare. Is it a choice if the father has no right to take parental leave?
Is it a choice if women are not allowed to drive, like in Saudi Arabia? Is it a choice to wear the burqa or niqab, like in Iran?
We shouldn’t confuse choices made under the guise of religion with personal choices people would make if religion wasn’t imposed in them. Sure, some would choose either way, but a more equitable society is a more free society. Some more religious countries used to have no divorce, so domestic violence persisted. People “chose” to stay with their abuser. When separation and divorce was legal, many chose to leave.
So if we make the assumption that it’s not by choice, who holds the responsibility to do something to correct it?
Well, the EU is asking the countries to try themselves....