Women «punished» despite better performance

Until recently, most parents-to-be wanted a boy. Today, however, the desire for a girl seems to be becoming more popular. Statistics show that boys often cause more difficulties, both at home and at school. Girls, on the other hand, are often perceived as being more humorous, cleverer, smarter and more hard-working. In addition, women are (theoretically) equal in our society, earn their own money and are not dependent on a man as a earner. Parents can therefore afford to cherish the desire to have a girl.

Girls have never been so much more successful than boys at school. This trend is also clearly noticeable at universities. Although the rise of the educated woman began decades ago, it has now reached a peak: girls have overtaken boys in almost all areas of education. In Switzerland, 54 % of young women outnumber boys by 50 %, and the gap is widening. In 2022, 12 % more girls than boys in Switzerland graduated from high school with a baccalaureate.

As soon as men and women are given the same educational opportunities, the latter show superior performance in many areas. Researchers agree that women are also catching up in traditional boys' subjects. Even in mathematics and sport, men's grades are no longer significantly higher. Studies show that girls have a greater interest in learning and are often more versatile. They instinctively feel that they must work hard to achieve their goals, even if they are very talented.

The bad news? Despite often outperforming men, women frequently fall short of their male peers in their careers because they oftentimes take a back seat to their families. This not only leads to lower salaries, but also to under-representation in leadership positions. On International Women's Day, we should shed light on the challenges and obstacles that women continue to face in their professional lives.

It is crucial that we actively promote gender equality and ensure that women have equal opportunities to pursue their career goals. Education and career advancement are key to realizing women's full potential. We need to create a society where women are not only treated equally but also encouraged to realize their ambitions. Only then can we create a future where women have equal opportunities to live their dreams and find their place in the world.