Gender Matters! Gender is much more than just a personal identity. It determines the opportunities we have in life and the inequalities we experience. In patriarchal and conservative societies, these differences are particularly evident. They are reflected in a multitude of collected data, such as the gender pay gap: in South Tyrol, women earn on average 17 percent less than men for the same role and qualifications. The same is observed in statistics on violence against women. In 2022, over 600 women in South Tyrol sought help from violence support centers, and in Italy, every 72 hours a woman becomes a victim of femicide. Inequality also manifests when it comes to care work. In Italy, 74 percent of unpaid care work is performed by women. Political representation is also insufficient: only 26 percent of municipal councilors in South Tyrol are women.

When it comes to health, these inequalities can become dangerous: women receive 60 percent more misdiagnoses than men. LGBTQIA+ people are heavily underrepresented in media, and even in academia, women are at a disadvantage: despite excellent education, only 33 percent of researchers in the EU are women.

Despite many companies and organizations celebrating Pride Month each June, it is often just a calculated marketing strategy. This so-called pinkwashing creates the illusion of real support for the community when, in reality, the only goal is profit. True support comes in the form of concrete measures, such as Spain’s introduction of paid menstrual leave, one important step toward recognizing gender-specific health needs. Similarly, Sweden’s parental leave model, which requires shared responsibility between mothers and fathers, or the French law that forces large companies to disclose gender pay differences. Significant progress is being made, marking the path toward a fairer and more inclusive society. These will also be central themes in our blog.

Despite these advances, the rights of women, LGBTQIA+ individuals, and other minorities cannot be taken for granted in patriarchal societies. Recently, former U.S. President Donald Trump signed an executive order defining gender as an immutable biological classification, recognizing only the categories of “male” and “female.” The right to self-determination over one’s own body is increasingly being questioned, challenged, or even restricted in Western societies, further fueling discrimination.

If these inequalities and developments are not denounced and addressed, society will not improve. This blog aims to shed light on and discuss the structural differences arising from the unequal distribution of power, resources, and care work, as well as deeply rooted stereotypes. In contrast, we also want to highlight progress, positive examples, and inspiring perspectives that can lead to a fairer future. Only in this way can we take small but decisive steps toward a more gender-equitable society.