海角大神

Women are half the world鈥檚 population. Obviously, they have a huge role to play in the creation of prosperity around the globe. But in too many places, laws, customs, and tradition hinder what they can do to contribute to national economies.

The good news is those restrictions are declining. A new lists progress in economic-related legal equality for women in every country. Ten years ago no nation had a perfect score, by World Bank criteria. Now six do: Belgium, Denmark, France, Latvia, Luxembourg, and Sweden.

The region that鈥檚 made the most progress in promoting gender economic equality? That鈥檚 sub-Saharan Africa. In the Republic of Congo, reforms now allow married women to register businesses, open bank accounts, and sign contracts. Burundi, Zambia, and three other countries in the region introduced laws on workplace sexual harassment as well as domestic violence.

Africa still has room for progress. But so does the United States. It ranked 62nd on the World Bank鈥檚 list, which considers property ownership and inheritance laws, job protections, pension policies, and laws on pay and personal safety. There are U.S. advances, however: more women are now working than men.聽

March 8 is International Women鈥檚 Day. So it鈥檚 perhaps not surprising that the U.S. national women鈥檚 soccer team chose today to file against the U.S. Soccer Federation. Discrimination has affected how much they get paid, how they鈥檙e coached, and even how they travel, the team鈥檚 28 members said in the suit.

The soccer federation hasn鈥檛 yet responded. The team begins its defense of its Women鈥檚 World Cup final in the next few months.

Now to our five stories for your Friday.