The Human Development Index (HDI) vs the Gender Inequality Index (GII)

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Introduction The Human Development Index (HDI) was designed “as a frame of reference for both social and economic development” . With this index, as well as other cumulative indexes, there is a problem as to how well the index actually measures what it wants to measure; whether the data is accurately portraying the true reality of half of the population, or if it is only projecting the general consensus of a population skewed because the range of data is too big. An index that might more accurately portray half of the population of a country is the Gender Inequality Index (GII). The GII looks at the differences between men and women in a country. The index includes the level of empowerment for each gender within a country, labor market participation, and reproductive health values. Due to these subparts, the index can more accurately portray how well off women are within a country, and the level of equality in that country. This leads me to my question- to what extent do HDI and GII rankings in Cote d’Ivoire and Finland accurately portray the overall quality of life for women in those countries? While the HDI shows an overall consensus of how well off a country is, it does not show the differences between men and women, thus the GII gives a more accurate portrayal of a situation within a country; but the true indicator is the effectiveness of legislature and the government in that country, not the rankings that are given in a cumulative index. Despite laws that protect women in both Cote d’Ivoire and Finland the effectiveness of these laws are miniscule and disregarded in Cote d’Ivoire compared to Finland where the laws are enforced and motivate women to be active in government, thus in turn the overall quality of life is much... ... middle of paper ... ...United Nations International Children's and Education Fund, 15 Mar. 2010. Web. 13 May 2013. "Central Intelligence Agency." The World Factbook. Central Intelligence Agency, 10 July 2013. Web. 30 July 2013. . Isiroglu, Gina. "Countries and Their Cultures." Culture of Côte D'Ivoire. Countries and Their Cultures, 21 Jan. 2007. Web. 30 July 2013. . Parviainen, Seija. "Recent Trends and Future Prospects in Gender Equality." Recent Trends and Future Prospects in Gender Equality. Eiro, 28 Oct. 2003. Web. 07 Oct. 2013. "Cote D'Ivoire." Gender Equality in. Social Institutions and Gender Inequality, 2012. Web. 30 July 2013. .

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