The UN Millennium Development Goals

By Amy Starlight Lawrence

The U.N. Millennium Development Goals aim to improve the lives of people in some of the poorest parts of the world. Eight goals range from increasing access to safe drinking water to reducing child mortality. Goal three is to "promote gender equality and empower women." The target of this goal is to "eliminate gender disparity in primary and secondary education, preferably by 2005, and to all levels of education no later than 2015."

Six years after the enactment of the goals, have we made any progress?

The MDG report released in 2005 to monitor the progress of these goals noted that "the gender gap is closing – albeit slowly." According to the report, women hold only 16 percent of seats in parliaments across the world, and women have a smaller share of paying jobs than do men.

In 2005 the AAUW boards voted to approve a new theme, Education as the Gateway to Women’s Economic Security. As an organization founded on ideals to promote education and equity for women and girls, this theme not only solidifies the position of AAUW as a defender of gender equity issues but also allows the organization to tackle global issues on a local and research-based level. AAUW addresses issues that impede women’s academic, financial, and professional goals. The departmental structure of AAUW allows for a wholistic approach to confronting and combating inequity.

The AAUW Legal Advocacy Fund addresses sex discrimination in higher education by assisting sex discrimination lawsuits, providing educational resources, recognizing efforts to improve the campus climate for women, and providing experts to give advice on current and potential lawsuits.

The AAUW Educational Foundation strives to increase women’s access to higher education and serves as one of the world’s largest sources of funding for graduate women — both in the U.S. and internationally.

AAUW commissioned a study in 2005 to learn more about the public perception of the pay gap. The study found that not only are Americans aware that a gap exists but many believe women are often not considered for promotion because of business concerns about parental leave and obligations to children.

So have we made progress?

The United States as a developed and educated country does not have to face many of the struggles of developing countries. Gender disparities in the United States, however, are complex issues that do not have simple solutions.

AAUW is taking the progress made in the United States thus far and building upon it to further enhance equity for all women and girls. The group’s dedication to sound research, focus groups, and input from all stakeholders makes AAUW a strong leader in the debate. AAUW’s advocacy efforts further highlight the importance of equality issues.

The goals of AAUW align with the MDGs. AAUW also strives to ensure that progress is made in all regions of the world. AAUW also recognizes that improvements should not be made only in countries where drastic improvements are needed but also in the most prosperous parts of the world.

Read more information about the U.N. Millennium Development Goals.

For further information about AAUW’s efforts to ensure equity for women and girls, visit the Educational Foundation’s website and the Legal Advocacy Fund website.

Read AAUW’s research report on perceptions regarding the gender pay gap.

Learn more about AAUW’s international partnerships and programs.