Temperature anomalies as an obstacle to women’s rights and economic empowerment?
This paper analyzes historical temperature and precipitation fluctuations within countries to assess their effect on legal gender equality, using data from the World Bank's Women, Business and the Law dataset. By understanding this relationship, the association of gender equality and climate change can be established - an important influential factor on the economic growth and resilience that result from equal rights for men and women.
The study reveals that temperature anomalies correlate with slower progress in legal gender equality, particularly in low-income countries. Irregular temperature fluctuations significantly delay the development of legal frameworks for parental leave, marriage, and mobility. Countries, particularly those with limited resources, seem less inclined to provide tangible benefits to women. This study emphasizes the complex relationship between extreme temperatures and women's rights, highlighting the importance of addressing gender disparities to build more resilient societies, especially in the face of temperature shifts and weather patterns.