Economic Impact of Gender Equality - Gender equality in the workforce could add $28 trillion to the global GDP by 2025 [2] - 24 billion women still lack equal economic opportunities due to legal barriers in 178 countries [3] - Investing in women's education leads to better job opportunities and greater financial independence [8] Case Study: Japan's Womenomics - Womenomics, an economic strategy to boost the economy through increased female workforce participation, became a national strategy in Japan [4] - Japan implemented policies to increase women's leadership roles, childcare support, and work-life balance [6] - Many women were pushed into low-paying, part-time jobs with limited career advancement [7] - Policies alone are insufficient; structural and cultural changes are necessary [7] Call to Action - 119 million girls worldwide are out of school [13] - Investing in women changes generations and communities and promotes gender equality [14] - The real question is not whether we can afford to invest in women, but how much longer we can afford not to [14]

Workforce Participation & Gender Roles - Young women's workforce participation is near record rates, exceeding previous generations [1] - Approximately 78% of women in their 20s and 30s are employed [2] - A growing percentage of prime-age men are taking on more caregiving responsibilities at home [2][3] - The percentage of men ages 25 to 34 not working because they're caregivers has doubled since 2001 [5] Economic & Social Implications - Increased workforce participation and equitable caregiving create opportunities for wage parity [6] - The existing child care system, already under strain, will face increased pressure [5] - Families and the economy thrive when both women are in the workforce and men are caregiving [7] Policy & Systemic Needs - Policies like paid leave and child care are crucial to support the changing dynamics of work and gender roles [7] - Systems need to adapt to the generational realignment in work and gender roles [7][8] - Government and society need to catch up with the evolving values surrounding work and caregiving [7]