Why does the European Institute for Gender Equality promote a view of inequality for women in the field of education in Latvia? Are there not equal opportunities and are not most teachers women?
In Latvia, 57% of women aged 30–34 have graduated from tertiary education, compared to 32% of men, representing one of the largest gender gaps among EU Member States. Additionally, participation in initial vocational education and training (IVET) for women is low (18%), below that of men (25%) and right below the EU average.
EIGE’s data also shows that 85% of all graduates in Education, Health, and Welfare studies in the country are women, compared to 75% in the EU. As emerges from the Gender Equality Index 2025, there is quite a high level of educational and professional gender segregation in these fields, generally resulting in women making up the majority of teachers in the country.
How come it is not taken into account that women benefit from more pensions than men, due to the fact that women on average live longer in many countries and therefore have more years in pension age?
EIGE analyses structural inequalities, not biological longevity. Pension gaps are measured by income differences, not by years lived. Living longer with a lower pension is not considered a benefit. Longer life expectancy often leads to more years of financial vulnerability and increases costs and the risk of poverty.
How is possible to get real data on the digital violence perpetrated in each country?
Cyber violence against women and girls (CVAWG) is now recognised as an integral part of women’s and girls’ lives. The EU Fundamental Rights Agency (FRA) collected EU-wide data in 2020 showing that about 8% of women and 10% of men reported that they have experienced cyber-harassment. This data is available at: Cyber violence | Gender Statistics Database | European Institute for Gender Equality.
More recent data is still rather scattered and limited since, until recently, a unified definition of cyber violence was lacking across Member States. Sources such as the WHO Health Behaviour in School-aged Children (WHO HBSC), for minors, and the EU GBV Survey, for women, are good sources to consult in this regard.
EIGE’s work and engagement around this area is ongoing. In early 2026, EIGE and FRA will publish new data on cyber violence from the EU GBV survey for 8 EU Member States. Under the Violence Against Women and Domestic Violence Directive, EIGE was mandated to collect administrative data from all EU MS on the forms of violence covered by the Directive, including cyber violence. The data collection will be performed in 2027.
Moreover, EIGE is supporting the upcoming Cypriot Presidency of the EU Council with a report on cyber violence affecting girls in the EU. The report, entitled ‘From lived reality to policy action: Combatting cyber violence against girls in the EU’ will be published mid-2026.
Can you comment on the influence of social media on the amplification of stereotypes and violence towards women? What do you recommend? (Not as a weapon but in usual perception, especially for youth)
Despite the potential of online media to enable free expression, digital spaces often reflect and even amplify offline gender norms. In 2020, the 6th edition of the Global Media Monitoring Project found that women accounted for only 28% of subjects and sources in digital media in Europe. In digital media, men are often more prominently represented in AI-generated images and are frequently depicted in empowering roles, further reinforcing these stereotypes (Y. Chen et al., 2024).
Social media platforms use demographic data and user behaviour to personalise content through targeted advertising and content recommendation algorithms. For example, adverts for beauty products targeted at women regularly reinforce narrow beauty standards, perpetuating conventional gender roles and expectations (Fosch-Villaronga et al., 2021). These patterns reveal deep-seated gender biases across digital platforms that shape users’ experiences and reinforce traditional norms.
Social media and messaging apps also amplify hate speech, often targeting individuals based on race, gender or religion (EIGE, 2022b). Women in public roles, such as journalists, activists or politicians, are frequently subjected to gendered misinformation and disinformation (Di Meco and Brechenmacher, 2020). This hostile environment pressures many women and girls to avoid online spaces or fields dominated by men, where they are at greater risk of being targeted.
These trends are intensified by the rise of ‘online misogyny influencers’. These individuals offer advice on topics such as relationships, mental health, and success, while promoting conservative and often misogynistic views (Botto and Gottzén, 2022). Social media algorithms expose users to increasingly extreme content, further spreading these harmful ideas.
For example, frequent exposure to violent pornography – which is easily accessible online – has been linked to an increased likelihood of boys engaging in sexual violence in relationships (Regehr et al., 2024). Consequently, there is an alarming trend towards the normalisation of harmful gender stereotypes and violent behaviours, particularly among young men.
In its report on the 30th anniversary of the Beijing Platform for Action, EIGE has recommended the following:
- Reinforce EU-wide legislation against cyber violence and ensure comprehensive controls on the algorithmic systems used on social media to protect women in public roles. Align the Digital Services Act with measures to combat online gender-based violence and expand digital literacy programmes for the safe and responsible use of AI.
- For Member States: Provide comprehensive digital skills and AI training for educators, ensuring gender equality considerations are integrated into national curricula. Design and target formal and non-formal training programmes at both women and men with limited ICT skills, using flexible delivery methods to accommodate diverse learning needs. The report can be consulted at this link: Driving impact for 30 years: How is the Beijing Platform for Action advancing gender equality? | European Institute for Gender Equality.
How to look at the power indicator (one of which had the biggest growth) if women that reach power positions are not actively advancing gender equality matters? Ex. Meloni: exhibiting herself as an example of meritocracy, appropriating feminist language while actively rejecting feminist positions.
Measuring the domain of power with comparable statistics is possible using EIGE’s data on women and men in decision-making. We recognise that this data provides a snapshot of reality but does not necessarily reflect a real impact on gender equality. Indeed, the example of Italy demonstrates that having a woman Prime Minister is not sufficient.
The decline in the number of women in parliament and government provides further evidence. Changes in policies, language, and attitudes towards gender equality are necessary, although these cannot be fully captured by data. The results presented in the Gender Equality Index 2025 for the domain of power can also be interpreted by considering other domains and in time perspective, to effectively assess changes and their impact.
How does EIGE, through the Gender Equality Index, use an intersectionality approach to support progress toward gender equality and make sure that the experiences of marginalised groups are recognised?
The Gender Equality Index presents indicators broken down by age, education, country of birth, household type, disability, and more. In its research, EIGE consistently highlights the experiences of women and men in disadvantaged situations, drawing the attention of each Member State and the EU to the intersecting forms of inequalities that shape people’s employment, education, caregiving, health, and other key areas of life. Making these realities visible to policymakers is the first step to raise awareness and foster change, ensuring that no one is left behind.
What about the poorer migrant women taking care of their own family and the ones are being paid to do so? Why is the narrative about the middle-class woman.
EIGE uses its CARE survey to analyse unpaid care work. The 2nd wave survey, completed in 2024, applied techniques to better target people with a migrant background - a group that is often hard to reach. This focus is supported by evidence showing their extensive engagement in undeclared domestic work, particularly in care-related sectors. The new data will make it possible to examine unpaid care patterns through the lens of migrant background and socioeconomic status.
When can we expect a similar project to the one entering its second phase for the Western Balkan countries and Turkey for Eastern Partnership (EaP) countries (Ukraine, Moldova, and Georgia)?
EIGE is positively inclined towards extending its technical assistance to these countries in case sufficient resources are made available to the Agency. We hope that there will be a relevant regional programme in the EU budget for the upcoming planning period. However, the political guidelines and financial support for EU Agencies regarding technical assistance projects for EU candidate countries and potential candidates are set by the European Commission.