Switzerland is i of the world's nearly successful economies, scoring highly in areas from innovation to institutional excellence. So why is our record less stellar when it comes to gender equality? Switzerland'south performance in the Globe Economic Forum's Global Gender Gap 2014 Report is a case in point. We came showtime in the Forum's Global Competitiveness Report, but only 11th in terms of closing the gender gap. A closer await reveals an even starker contrast between economic success and gender bias. In the wealthy canton of Zurich, for example, women earn on average 24% less than men. In the financial sector, ane of Switzerland's signature industries, the difference is an astonishing 32%. To make matters worse, Swiss women are more at chance of poverty than men.

Entrenched traditions are part of the problem. Possibly surprisingly, women's independence is still a relatively contempo phenomenon in Switzerland. Until 1985, Swiss women could not open up a bank business relationship or go to work without their husbands' permission. Many young women today saw their fathers having to sign off on their mothers' career decisions. The consequences are still felt today: 75% of female teenagers in Switzerland choose their apprenticeships from a narrow range of but eleven stereotypically feminine occupations, such as hairdressing or equally dental assistants. The aforementioned proportion of male person teenagers choose from a range that is more than twice every bit broad. Popular "masculine" jobs, such equally machine mechanic or Information technology specialist, also offering more opportunities for career evolution.

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If nosotros want Swiss society to truly cover gender equality, nosotros have to start at school. We need to teach both girls and boys to aim for aggressive careers, demand meliorate pay and learn to negotiate. We need to encourage girls to motion-picture show themselves equally future breadwinners. Information technology should be natural for a girl to retrieve most condign a carpenter when she grows up, and for a male child to want to be a nurse.

For companies, there are half dozen concrete means of promoting gender equality at every phase of the hiring process and career progression:

ane. Rethink chore interviews. The question: "What do y'all think your salary should be?" should be abolished altogether, as women consistently enquire for less than men. Instead, interviewers should provide a fair and transparent salary range and ask applicants to position themselves inside it.

2. Brand gender equality part of preparation and education. Young people should be supported in choosing jobs that are future-oriented and promising, regardless of their gender.

3. Be proactive about welcoming women. Companies should conspicuously country that they want to hire, back up and promote women. Salaries and promotions should be monitored and evaluated on a regular basis to ensure equal treatment.

4. Brand flexibility and work-life residual a function of the wider visitor civilisation. Too often, employees have to specifically ask to work part-time or work from dwelling house, which can be bad-mannered. Companies should instead offer a broad range of different options.

five. Don't limit your talent pool. Companies should aim for a 50-fifty gender divide in all their teams – right up to the executive floor. Offering practical back up such as childcare, is role of this, as is the right attitude. It should not exist a career killer for a man to ask for extended leave because he wants to look later on his children.

half-dozen. Use the power of networking. Networking, mentoring and coaching opportunities can help women build confidence and develop their careers.

Immature people today have a very dissimilar view of what a great career means. Many want equality in their private and professional lives, and see a healthy piece of work-life residue equally crucial to their happiness. This presents a huge opportunity for redefining gender roles. The claiming is to address this in all sectors – business concern, education, research and politics. When it comes to gender equality, nosotros all accept to work together. Only so tin can we provide the adjacent generation with the very all-time support for shaping their own path in life and contributing to Switzerland'south continued success – regardless of gender.

Writer: Helena Trachsel is the Head of the Office for the Equality of Men and Women of the Canton of Zurich

Image: Swiss Economy Minister Doris Leuthard is silhouetted confronting a Swiss national flag as she speaks during the party's convention at the cable car station on the top of Saentis mountain (ii,502 metres higher up ocean-level) in eastern Switzerland, September 15, 2007. REUTERS/Miro Kuzmanovic