Accomplishing SDG 5 in the Labor Market: A Framework to Advance Gender Equality in Corporate America

Abstract

In 2015, United Nations Member States adopted 17 goals - referred to as the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) - to create a more sustainable and prosperous world for future generations. One of these goals, SDG 5, focuses on achieving gender equality by 2030. Despite the commitment made to advance the gender equality agenda, not enough progress has been made to date. The lack of progress is significant across many spheres, such as in corporate America. Gender inequality can be observed in the American private sector through gender pay gaps, the underrepresentation of women in the workplace, and gender bias in recruitment and promotion processes. Although there is vast scholarly literature on how gender imparity can be observed in the America labor market, there is not enough academic literature on how gender inequality can efficiently be eliminated in the US private sector. The following paper examines available tools, strategies, and resources that companies can employ to overcome gender imparity, and offers readers an original framework that American companies can refer to annually to improve their gender performance and advance SDG 5. The paper also outlines the benefits that closing the gender gap in corporate America offers to both, civil society, and private enterprises.