Collecting gender disaggregated data is highly important for tracking progress and making informed decisions towards gender equality. Gender disaggregated data is data collection that distinguishes between genders, which allows you to see and quantify the different experiences between genders. This data is often collected along binary lines, having only ‘man’ and ‘woman’ categories. However, inclusive data collection could also use other gender categories to create space for non-binary or other gender identities. Limited data means limited knowledge and uninformed decision making. Collecting data with no gender disaggregation often means you are not seeing the full picture. If you collect data relating to the employees or members of your supply chain, it is very important to categorise your data based on gender, and other identifiers. This way, you can more clearly see how the experiences between men and women differ. Experiences such as training opportunities, wages, management or leadership positions, gender specific issues, sexual harassment etc. With accurate and disaggregated data, you can ensure that your decision making is beneficial to all employees, not just the most privileged, and work to rectify gender based issues in your supply chain. Here are some benefits of the importance of gender disaggregated data in your supply chain:
Ensuring equal and fair pay for women. Recording and tracking pay structures and wages based on gender within your supply chain means being able to ensure equality. Maintaining a living, gender equal wage for all employees creates a more ethical supply chain and is a vital part of any companies’ Sustainable Development Goals.
Creating a safe work environment for all employees. Adding a gender lens to health and safety can create a safe work space. There are many industries and products that have previously ignored the specific needs of women, which have led to potential hazards. Product design for women’s bodies, such as machinery and safety equipment, specific hygiene related policy and safety from sexual harassment are all gender specific issues that require gender specific data.
Equal access to leadership opportunities is more easily achieved with gender disaggregated data. This data can help identify potential barriers of opportunity that women face when trying to access higher positions. Such as access to training, qualifications, education and possible discrimination. With this information, more resources or openings can be allocated to women.
We regularly emphasise the importance of supply chain diversity. Gender disaggregated data helps you get an overview of the demographics of people working within your supply chain. Encouraging supply chain diversity could mean sourcing from more women owned or operated businesses, a great way to increase gender equality in your supply chain!