Gender equality, equity, and equal opportunities

Abstract

The history of equality is part of our existence and one of the fundamental pillars of democracy. However, it is not a natural entity, but a concept that needs to be specified in order to acquire meaning: between whom and in what aspect does equality operate? In this work, we address the issue of equality between men and women in the six areas of life identified by the European Institute for Gender Equality (Work, Money, Time, Power, Knowledge, Health) plus that of Violence. This is because what we know for sure is that no country in the world can yet claim to have achieved gender equality. In this chapter, we therefore define the evolution of the concept of equality and gender equality, as well as the relevance of the latter in the international arena and the countless barriers to its achievement.