Agenda 2030, Gender Equality, and the Church

Goal 5 of the United Nations’ 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development focuses on gender equality. It seeks to eliminate all forms of discrimination and violence against women of all ages and ensure equality in professional, political, and private contexts. While much progress has been made, women worldwide still earn, on average, 23% less than men and devote nearly three times as many hours to unpaid domestic work.

Even in Western countries, despite a growing awareness of the vital role women play in the economy and the unique skills they bring to organizations, glass ceilings persist. The reasons are complex, but some aspects must be reconsidered immediately—and the Church can contribute to this effort.

Christian thought places great emphasis on the relational dimension of individuals: a person is not fulfilled in isolation but through relationships. This fundamental anthropological principle is often overlooked in equality legislation, which tends to treat people (both men and women) as if they were islands unto themselves. Christian thought could help reshape laws and policies to address not only individual rights but also relational contexts.

In Italy, the Marco Vigorelli Foundation (inspired by Christian principles) combines economic and relational capital, recognizing that nurturing relationships both within and outside the workplace increases productivity. Encouraging men and women to reconcile family and work commitments offers tangible support for gender equality, i.e. fewer women lose their jobs, and more women advance in their careers. Supporting relationships benefits both sexes. For example, starting in 2024, Spain will offer fully paid parental leave of 16 to 20 weeks for both mothers and fathers. Such measures promote shared responsibility for child-rearing and create conditions that help overcome real—not merely theoretical—discrimination against women.

Another central element in the Christian vision is the meaning of sexual difference. The Church wants to cherish differences, not tear them down. Hence, it might help to think about how the laws of equality can ensure equity and at the same time take care of real differences. For example, the commitment to academic research of a pregnant or breastfeeding woman might get more recognition in terms of scoring, because her commitment is more onerous. Some experiments along these lines have already been made in Germany.

After all, nurturing the relational dimension and differences are two fundamental elements of Christian thinking.  I believe that gender equality and the goals of Sustainable Development are not areas that should be foreign to it, but spaces where specific and necessary contribution is needed.

By Marta Rodriguez