Why It Matters - Soroptimists Driving for Equality
The Right to Education and Training of Women and Girls
International Women’s Day (IWD) remains as relevant today as ever, serving as a global platform to celebrate progress, highlight persistent inequalities, and drive change. In 2025, Soroptimist International of Europe brings the focus on “Education” and its pivotal role in achieving gender equality. While significant strides have been made, barriers continue to limit women’s full participation in society, especially in Europe, where academic achievements do not always translate into equal economic opportunities.
Education: Progress and Challenges
More women in Europe are attending school and excelling academically than ever before. However, systemic barriers—including biases, social norms, and expectations—continue to influence their educational paths and career choices. According to the OECD (2024), although women outperform men in education, they do not enjoy equivalent opportunities in the labour market[1]. While Northern European countries like Sweden, Finland, and Denmark report high female tertiary education completion rates, Southern and Eastern European nations lag behind[2].
STEAM Fields: Progress and Challenges
Despite attaining equal or higher levels of education overall, women remain underrepresented in science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics (STEAM)[3]. This underrepresentation perpetuates male dominance in digital and technological industries:
- The share of women among STEAM graduates varies widely, from 17% in Luxembourg to 40% in Romania.
- At the doctoral level, the EU-27 average share of women is 38%, with Poland the only country achieving gender parity.
- Women constitue just 20% of ICT graduates and 35% in engineering, while over 75% pursue health and welfare studies, reinforcing occupational segregation.
Closing these gaps is crucial—not just for individual women, but for the future of industries that thrive on diverse perspectives. Girls must see successful women in STEAM to envision themselves in these fields.
Employment and the Pay Gap
Despite their academic success, women face unequal career prospects. The EU gender pay gap stood at 12.7% in 2022, due to factors such as[4]:
- Overrepresentation in lower-paying sectors;
- Underrepresentation in leadership roles;
- Career interruptions due to caregiving responsibilities.
If Europe doubled the share of women in the tech workforce to 45% – adding an estimated 3.9 million women by 2027— it could close the talent gap and boost GDP by €260 billion to €600 billion[5].
Without addressing structural barriers, education alone cannot deliver true gender equality.
Why It Still Matters
International Women’s Day serves as a powerful reminder that progress cannot be taken for granted. Achieving equality requires ongoing advocacy, policy change, and societal shifts in perception. By championing the right to education and training, we can ensure that future generations of women have the opportunities they deserve.
The world needs women in leadership, in STEAM, and in all sectors. IWD 2025 is more than a celebration—it’s a call to action. The fight for gender equality is far from over, and Soroptimists worldwide continue to drive equality.
[1] https://www.oecd.org/en/publications/education-at-a-glance-2024_c00cad36-en/full-report.html
[2] https://genderdata.worldbank.org/en/topics/education
[3] https://eenee.eu/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/Analytical-Report-No-46-Gender-Gaps-in-Education-Evidence-and-Policy-Implications.pdf
[4] https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/statistics-explained/index.php?oldid=566883
[5] https://www.mckinsey.com/capabilities/mckinsey-digital/our-insights/women-in-tech-the-best-bet-to-solve-europes-talent-shortage