Controversies Gender Development Index

1 controversies

1.1 general debates
1.2 debates surrounding life expectancy adjustment
1.3 debates surrounding income gaps

controversies
general debates

in years since creation in 1995, debate has arisen surrounding reliability, , usefulness of gender development index (gdi) in making adequate comparisons between different countries , in promoting gender-sensitive development. gdi particularly criticized being mistakenly interpreted independent measure of gender-gaps when not, in fact, intended interpreted in way, because can used in combination scores human development index, not on own. additionally, data needed in order calculate gdi not readily available in many countries, making measure hard calculate uniformly , internationally. there worry combination of many different developmental influences in 1 measurement result in muddled results , perhaps gdi (and gem) hide more reveal.

debates surrounding life expectancy adjustment

more specifically, there has been lot of debate on life-expectancy component of gender-related development index (gdi). mentioned previously, gdi life expectancy section adjusted assume women live, normally, 5 years longer men. provision has been debated, , has been argued if gdi looking promote true equality, strive attain same life-expectancy women , men, despite might considered biological advantage or not. however, may seem paradoxical in terms of policy implications, because, theoretically, achieved through providing preferential treatment males, discriminating against females. furthermore, has been argued gdi doesn’t account sex-selective abortion, meaning penalty levied against country gender inequality less because affects less of population (see sen, missing women).

debates surrounding income gaps

another area of debate surrounding gender-related development index (gdi) in area of income gaps. gdi considers income-gaps in terms of actual earned income. has been said problematic because often, men may make more money women, income shared. additionally, gdi has been criticized because not consider value of care work other work performed in informal sector (such cleaning, cooking, housework, , childcare). criticism of gdi takes gender account factor inequality, not, however, consider inequality among class, region or race, significant. criticism income-gap portion of gdi is heavily dependent on gross domestic product (gdp) , gross national product (gnp). countries, earned-income gap accounts more 90% of gender penalty.