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SUBSTANTIVE EQUALITY FOR WOMEN:
The challenge for public policy

Equality before the law is crucial for gender equality but is no guarantee of equality in practice. Women’s rights cannot be separated from the broader political, economic and social conditions that shape livelihoods and social relations.

Human rights and substantive equality

The idea of substantive equality recognizes that inequality can be structural and discrimination can be indirect; that we must go beyond creating equal opportunities, to ensure equal outcomes; and that ‘different treatment’ may be required to achieve real equality in practice.

Substantive equality for women: A framework for action

Bridging the gap between formal rights and women’s lived experience, to achieve substantive equality, is the key challenge for public policy. To address this gap, Progress proposes a 3-point framework for action:

  • Resources: Redressing women’s socio-economic disadvantage
  • Respect: Addressing stereotyping, stigma, and violence
  • Voice: Strengthening women’s agency, voice and participation.


Only when action is taken in all three domains can we bring about the transformation of structures and institutions – including households, labour markets and governance institutions – that maintain women’s subordination.

Source: Fredman and Goldblatt 2014