Trade Drives Gender Equality and Development

Gender equality is a basic human right and an economic priority.

Extensive research has demonstrated the wisdom of gender equality. The work of both men and women helps economies around the world. Developing economies, which feature a greater inequality gap, need the benefits that working women provide.

Global trade can elevate women’s participation in the economy, mitigating inequality and affording women more opportunities for education and training. Women in developing economies constitute one-third of exporters’ employees, as opposed to one-quarter of the employees in firms that do not export. Exporting companies pay more and hire more women, thus reducing economic disparities. By virtue of their integration with global value chains, exporters create better and more secure employment, benefits...