DEBUTING making steady progress in Navarre, Spain

The Interreg Europe project DEBUTING continues to make steady progress in Navarre, Spain, where some of the issues behind gender inequality have been further analysed. Also, the topic has been discussed in conferences and seminars to further promote improving gender equality.

DEBUTING and Gender Equality presented in various forums

The project has been presented in various national forums, including the seminar Gender Equality: European policies and the situation in Navarre, organised by the Directorate of External Action of the Government of Navarre and the conference Integrating Equality in public and private management in Navarre, organised by Areté Activa. In the latter, the economic impacts of the lack of gender equality were highlighted in round tables and presentations.

Practical challenges in improving Gender Equality

Many studies show that gender equality leads to an increase in the productivity of companies of 5-20%, which results in higher profits. Therefore, the importance of equality plans and improving gender equality should be better identified. An equality plan is an opportunity to better understand what is happening and how to tackle the retention and attraction of talent in order to create competitive advantage. 

The reports analysed as part of the project show that the number of women in industry, which is the main driving force of the economy of Navarre, is less than 30%. The average salaries of women are also lower than that of their male colleagues. In addition, there are issues connected to segregation in vocational training: no women are enrolled in electricity and electronics or mechanical manufacturing, while in some other fields women represent more than 80% of the enrolments.  

Still, women use most of the parental leave in Spain: up to 90% of requests come from women. Women also have 3 out of 4 part-time jobs, which is often connected to domestic caregiving. All of this need to change to be able to improve gender equality.

Despite all this evidence, gender equality still faces obstacles and resistance to overcome. To be able to reach gender equality, the role of men in the process is essential. Achieving a commitment from all segments of the society, a change of culture and customs, training, resources and time will be the basis for improving gender equality, a process to which DEBUTING project will contribute.