Let’s say you and your pals are in the middle of an all-night cram session for a big exam when you realize you’re out of food. You volunteer to make a snack run to the convenience store, and on your way out the door, someone yells, “Grab me a bag of chips!”
It’s not until you’re actually standing in the chip aisle that you realize your friend didn’t specify which type of chips she wanted. You stare for what seems like hours (okay maybe three seconds) at plain, baked, barbeque, and even some bizarre cappuccino-flavored concoction before texting her to learn that she wants a specific brand of baked, wavy chips (that a convenience store won’t likely sell).
What does all this have to do with gender equality?
Aside from making you crave chips, my point here is that choosing articles and topics for essays is kinda like standing in that chip aisle: There’s a lot to choose from, and not all options are created equal.
Choose your chip incorrectly, and you end up with a terrible flavor that leaves a bad taste in your mouth for days. Choose your topic and sources incorrectly, and your entire essay could be equally terrible. (A bad grade will leave a bad taste in your mouth for days too.)
So grab a bag of your favorite chips, sit back, and let’s look at 10 good gender equality article choices for your upcoming essay.
The Broad Topic of Gender Equality
Before you do just about anything, you’ll need to decide what exactly to write about. While your professor may have assigned a gender equality essay, it doesn’t mean you can (or should) write about everything related to gender equality in the required five pages.
To write an effective essay, you first need to narrow your topic.
Not sure how to even begin? Here are a few suggestions:
- How/why gender inequality persists
- Why we need full gender equality
- Gender equality and LGBTQ individuals
- Gender-based violence
- Wage gap between genders
- Gender equality in the workplace
- Gender equality in education
- Should only exist sex pills for men
- Promotion of gender equality in professional sports
Keep in mind that even the above list of topics can be further narrowed.
For instance, you might discuss gender-based violence as it relates to teens, to the United States, or to another country. You might focus your discussion of gender equality in the workplace as it relates to STEM fields or to the political arena.
If you’re still not sure which direction is best for your essay, take a look at these 10 gender equality articles to help jump-start your research.
10 Gender Equality Articles to Support Your Next Essay
The articles below cover a wide range of gender equality topics, so I’ve provided a brief summary of each article to help you decide whether the article is a good fit for your essay.
I’ve also included an APA (7th edition) citation and MLA (8th edition) citation for each of the gender equality articles. (If you need to use APA 6th edition, consult this resource for the correct formatting.)
When citing, don’t forget to include in-text citations for each piece of information you use from sources. (Need a few reminders about citation and avoiding plagiarism? Click here to learn more.)
And now, let’s look at those 10 gender equality articles I promised.
1. Why Is Gender Equality Important?
This article is posted by Global Vision International (GVI), “an award-winning organization that focuses on high-impact and high-quality conservation and community development programs.”
In addition to providing readers with ways they can help promote gender equality through volunteer efforts, this article explains how creating equal employment opportunities for women can change the economy and help break the cycle of poverty.
APA 7 Citation
Darrah, P. (2019, June 11). Why is gender equality important? Global Vision International. https://www.gviusa.com/blog/why-is-gender-equality-important/
MLA 8 Citation
Darrah, Petrina. “Why Is Gender Equality Important?” Global Vision International, 11 June 2019, www.gviusa.com/blog/why-is-gender-equality-important/.
2. The Importance of Gender in Early Childhood Education Policy
Published by the well-respected Brookings Institution, the writer argues that gender equality in early childhood education is often overlooked. The writer also stresses the importance of gender awareness in order to help children thrive.
Chi, the author of this article, is a 2018 Echidna Global Scholar and Associate Professor at the Center for Teacher Education Research, KIS, MOE, Beijing Normal University.
APA 7 Citation
Chi, J. (2018, November 5). The importance of gender in early childhood education policy. Brookings Institution. https://www.brookings.edu/blog/education-plus-development/2018/11/05/the-importance-of-gender-in-early-childhood-education-policy/
MLA 8 Citation
Chi, Jin. “The Importance of Gender in Early Childhood Education Policy.” Brookings Institution, 5 Nov. 2018, www.brookings.edu/blog/education-plus-development/2018/11/05/the-importance-of-gender-in-early-childhood-education-policy/.
3. Gender Equality As a Security Issue
This article asserts that gender inequality should not be thought of as only a feminist issue. It is, in fact, a global security issue. The author indicates that “studies have repeatedly shown that gender inequality is a global concern, linked to domestic and international conflict, radicalization and economics.”
Published by Yale University, this article passes the CRAAP Test regarding currency and authority. If it meets your research needs and is relevant to your essay, it will have passed the test with flying colors.
APA 7 Citation
Johnson-Freese, J. (2019, September 17). Gender equality as a security issue. YaleGlobal Online. https://yaleglobal.yale.edu/content/gender-equality-security-issue
MLA 8 Citation
Johnson-Freese, Joan. “Gender Equality As a Security Issue.” YaleGlobal Online, 17 Sept. 2019, yaleglobal.yale.edu/content/gender-equality-security-issue.
4. Gender Inequality Is One of the Most Persistent Evils of Our Times
Written by the Prime Minister of Iceland, this piece examines the #MeToo movement and how the government can eliminate gender inequality to work toward an equal society.
This article is published by CNN, a respected news organization.
If you’re not sure whether the online sources you’re reviewing are credible, take a look at Evaluating Websites: What You Need to Know to Find Great Sources.
APA 7 Citation
Jakobsdóttir, K. (2019, September 17). Gender inequality is one of the most persistent evils of our times. CNN. https://www.cnn.com/2019/09/17/opinions/katrn-jakobsdttir-gender-inequality-intl/index.html
MLA 8 Citation
Jakobsdóttir, Katrin. “Gender Inequality Is One of the Most Persistent Evils of Our Times.” CNN, 17 Sept. 2019. www.cnn.com/2019/09/17/opinions/katrn-jakobsdttir-gender-inequality-intl/index.html.
5. Goal 5: Achieve Gender Equality and Empower All Women and Girls
This United Nations article highlights the importance of achieving gender equality in order to build a “foundation for a peaceful, prosperous and sustainable world.”
This article includes gender inequality statistics and also links to a variety of gender- and equality-related sites.
Interested in reading one writer’s thoughts on how to achieve gender equality? Take a look at The Goals and Ways of Achieving Gender Equality.
APA 7 Citation
United Nations. (n.d.). Goal 5: Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls. https://www.un.org/sustainabledevelopment/gender-equality/
MLA 8 Citation
“Goal 5: Achieve Gender Equality and Empower All Women and Girls.” United Nations, www.un.org/sustainabledevelopment/gender-equality/.
6. Gender Inequality and Women in the Workplace
Posted as a Q&A with a sociology professor at Harvard, this piece examines the concerns of work–life balance, fertility rates, and concerns over the declining birth rate in Japan and how the decline could undermine the Japanese economy.
Not sure how to approach an essay about gender equality in the workplace? Get inspired by reading this essay from our library on childcare, gender equality, and paternal leave, or this essay on women in combat.
APA 7 Citation
Harvard Summer School. (n.d.). Gender inequality and women in the workplace. https://www.summer.harvard.edu/inside-summer/gender-inequality-women-workplace
MLA 8 Citation
“Gender Inequality and Women in the Workplace.” Harvard Summer School, www.summer.harvard.edu/inside-summer/gender-inequality-women-workplace.
7. Women’s Rights (killer facts on gender equality)
This is a brief fact sheet filled with statistics about gender inequality. For instance, the fact sheet states how “gender-based violence is one of the biggest causes of injury and death to women worldwide, causing more deaths and disability among women aged 15 to 44 than cancer, malaria, traffic accidents, and war.” The fact sheet also details how, “as a result of violence and neglect, there are 50 million fewer women in South Asia today than there should be.”
This fact sheet is published by OxFam New Zealand, “a non-profit organisation dedicated to finding lasting solutions to poverty and injustice” (OxFam.org.nz), and also links to a women’s rights section of the website.
Looking for ideas about gender equality and the status of women in society? Check out this essay from our library.
APA 7 Citation
OxFam New Zealand. (n.d.). Women’s rights. https://www.oxfam.org.nz/what-we-do/issues/gender-equality/killer-facts
MLA 8 Citation
“Women’s Rights.” OxFam New Zealand, 2019, www.oxfam.org.nz/what-we-do/issues/gender-equality/killer-facts.
8. 7 Appalling Facts That Prove We Need Gender Equality Now
This article highlights seven facts to illustrate the injustices of gender inequality, including the fact that “over 150 countries have at least one actively sexist law.” Other facts include that “1 in 3 women have experienced physical or sexual violence at some point in their lifetime.” Additionally, per the article, “in most countries, women only earn between 60 and 75% of men’s wages – for the same work.”
The site also links to a variety of resources with more information about each of the facts.
Interested in writing about the gender pay gap? Get inspired by reading A Study of the Gender Pay Gap in Society.
APA 7 Citation
Olorunshola, Y. (2016, May 25). 7 appalling facts that prove we need gender equality now. Global Citizen. https://www.globalcitizen.org/en/content/shocking-facts-gender-inequality-international-wom/
MLA 8 Citation
Olorunshola, Yosola. “7 Appalling Facts That Prove We Need Gender Equality Now.” Global Citizen, 25 May 2016, www.globalcitizen.org/en/content/shocking-facts-gender-inequality-international-wom/.
9. 17 Marketing Campaigns With a Positive Message for Women
Included in this blog post by Econsultancy are 17 marketing campaigns that fight inequality and female idealism, and promote female empowerment.
The highlighted ads tackle domestic violence, motherhood, education, fashion and beauty even in the young ones.
APA 7 Citation
Econsultancy. (2018, November 21). 17 marketing campaigns with a positive message for women. https://econsultancy.com/17-marketing-campaigns-with-a-positive-message-for-women/
MLA 8 Citation
“17 Marketing Campaigns With a Positive Message for Women.” Econsultancy, 21 Nov. 2018, econsultancy.com/17-marketing-campaigns-with-a-positive-message-for-women/.
10. Gender Equality: “No Room at the Top for Women Scientists”
This article reports the findings of several studies. Per the article, although women do enter STEM and related science fields, many “leave the profession due to problems such as harassment and issues around promotion and pay.”
This article is trustworthy and is a reliable research source as it’s published by BBC News.
APA 7 Citation
Briggs, H. (2019, September 6). Gender equality: “No room at the top for women scientists.” BBC News. https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-49552812
MLA 8 Citation
Briggs, Helen. “Gender Equality: ‘No Room at the Top for Women Scientists.’” BBC News, 6 Sept. 2019, www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-49552812.
What’s Next?
Finished your bag of chips but aren’t sure what to do next? You could make another snack run to the convenience store. But you might want to actually do a little more research to find additional gender equality articles for your upcoming essay first. (You can always get more snacks after you’ve finished your research.)
Here are several additional resources to not only help you find the sources you need but also help you put everything together into a finished research essay:
- 5 Best Resources to Help With Writing a Research Paper
- 15 Thesis Statement Examples for Research Papers to Inspire You
- How to Write a Research Paper: A Step-by-Step Guide
- How to Craft a Research Paper Outline
Finished your research and completed a draft of your gender equality essay? Pat yourself on the back, and let a Kibin editor help you make your draft even more awesome. We’re here 24/7 to help you with any step of the writing process.
