What is the Global Gender Gap Index? What does research using the GGGI show concerning women's status and quality of life in countries around the world?

The Global Gender Gap Index is a measure of women's status and quality of life in countries around the world.The GGGI is based on key indicators in four fundamental categories: economic participation and development,educational attainment,political empowerment,and health and survival.Using the GGGI as a measure,most women live in countries that rank from "medium" to "bottom ten countries." Women do best in the top ten countries.However,even in these countries there are areas of inequality between women and men.In high ranking countries in general,women have higher literacy rates,lower maternal mortality rates,and a higher percentage of university students.However,domestic violence is still widespread in many of these countries.In the middle ranked countries,there is a great deal of variation in women's roles in the family,education,and politics and in employment opportunities.In some of these countries,thriving sex industries are fed by a steady supply of young women from poor countries where they cannot find employment.In low ranked and bottom 10 countries,women tend to experience early death due to AIDS and maternal mortality during childbirth.Literacy rates are generally low and women's participation in government is negligible.Rates of sex trafficking to other countries tend to be high.