Malta’s Gender Equality Progress in 2024: Achievements and Challenges
Gender equality is a cornerstone of a fair and inclusive society, and Malta’s recent performance in the 2024 Gender Equality Index (GEI) demonstrates significant progress. Ranked 13th among EU countries, Malta scored 70.1 out of 100—an improvement of 2.3 points from last year. This achievement reflects advancements in multiple areas, though challenges remain.
Understanding Malta’s Progress in Gender Equality
The GEI measures progress across six key domains: work, finances, knowledge, time, power, and health. Here’s a breakdown of Malta’s achievements and the areas needing further improvement.
🏠 Shifts in Household Responsibilities
Since 2016, Malta has witnessed a 26% increase in men’s participation in daily cooking and household chores, reducing the gender gap in domestic activities. By 2022:
- 78% of women and 63% of men engaged in daily housework.
However, disparities persist:
- Among couples with children, the gender gap in household responsibilities stands at 30 percentage points.
- Among those aged 50-64, the gap is 28 percentage points.
These figures underline the need for continued efforts toward balancing familial responsibilities.
💼 Climbing the Ranks in the Workplace
Malta has risen to 3rd place in the EU for workplace equality, with a score of 81.0. This is a remarkable improvement from its 23rd position in 2010.
Key highlights:
- Women’s full-time equivalent employment rate has reached 51%, surpassing the EU average of 44%.
- However, Malta still has one of the highest gender employment gaps in the EU.
This underscores the dual narrative: women are increasingly active in the labor market, but deeper structural inequalities need addressing.
💰 Financial Gains with Persistent Gaps
With a score of 84.8, Malta has shown progress in financial equality, reflecting better access to economic resources. However:
- Men’s disposable income has grown faster than women’s, leading to a 2% gender income gap.
This small but significant disparity signals that economic independence for women requires sustained focus.
🎓 Evolving Trends in Education
The knowledge domain scored 71.4, reflecting reduced gender segregation in education:
- More men are entering fields traditionally dominated by women, such as education, health, and the arts.
Despite these positive changes:
- Gender gaps remain in cultural, sports, and leisure activities, where the score is 59.4.
- Cultural norms continue to influence traditional gender roles.
👩⚖️ Empowering Women in Leadership
Malta has made notable strides in the power domain, with its score increasing by 30.3 points since 2010 to 51.2 in 2024.
- The introduction of gender corrective mechanisms during the 2022 elections contributed to this progress.
- However, political representation remains a challenge, with a decision-making score of 46.6 (ranked 20th in the EU).
This calls for policies to further bolster women’s representation in leadership roles.
🩺 Health: A Consistent High Performer
The health domain remains Malta’s strongest, scoring 87.9—the highest among all areas. However:
- Progress has been limited, with only a 0.5-point increase since the last index.
- Alarmingly, the score has dropped by 2.7 points since 2010.
This emphasizes the importance of ongoing efforts to ensure equitable access to healthcare.
🌟 Sustaining Progress and Addressing Challenges
Malta’s advancements in gender equality reflect decades of work and commitment. The National Commission for the Promotion of Equality (NCPE) acknowledges these successes but also highlights persistent challenges:
- Balancing Family Responsibilities: Narrowing the gender gap in caregiving and household tasks.
- Reducing Employment Disparities: Ensuring equitable access to the labor market.
- Economic Independence: Closing the gender income gap.
- Leadership Representation: Enhancing women’s roles in decision-making positions.
The Gender Equality Index serves as a vital tool, monitoring the EU’s progress toward equity. With a scale from 1 (complete inequality) to 100 (complete equality), Malta’s performance signals both triumphs and areas for improvement.
📈 A Vision for the Future
Malta’s upward trajectory in the 2024 Gender Equality Index is a testament to its progress, yet it also serves as a reminder of the journey ahead. Continued policy innovation, societal commitment, and individual efforts are essential to achieving genuine gender equality.
By addressing remaining gaps and promoting inclusivity, Malta can build a society where everyone enjoys equal opportunities and rights. A future of fairness and empowerment awaits—if sustained action continues.
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