This not only represents a comparative failure but it also signals a disturbing downward turn: last year Israel ranked 36^th, and in 2006, Israel ranked 35^th. This is in contrast to the top 10 countries in the ranking, almost all of which moved up the scale this year. The top positions in the ranking are held by Sweden (1), Norway (2), Finland (3) and Iceland (4). Other notable positions for Israeli Anglos are the United Kingdom (11), Australia (17), South Africa (31) and The United States (31)

The Index measures each country’s gender gap based on a compilation of measures of economic participation and opportunity, educational attainment, political empowerment, and health and survival. In certain areas, Israel ranked particularly low: in salary gap, Israel ranks 119^th in the world, in parliamentary representation, Israel ranks 75^th, and in governmental representation overall, Israel ranks 81^st. Where Israel ranks first is in the number of women attending school and university.

“The highest ranking country closed over 80% of its gender gap,” said Saadia Zahidi, Head of the World Economic Forum’s Women Leaders Programme, “while the lowest ranking country has closed only a little over 45% of its gender gap. By providing a comprehensible framework for assessing and comparing global gender gaps and by revealing those countries that, regardless of the overall level of resources available, are role models in dividing these resources equitably between women and men, we are expectant that this Report serves as a catalyst for greater awareness as well as greater exchange between policy-makers," (To watch a two-minute video with Saadia Zahidi, click here .)

Israel needs to work hard in order to begin showing signs of closing this embarrassing and archaic gender gap. We have a lot of work ahead of us.