How the Contraception Crisis Threatens Progress for Women in Leadership – Vogue

Report on Private Sector Engagement and Advocacy for Sustainable Development Goals

Advancing SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being) and SDG 5 (Gender Equality)

• The private sector has a demonstrated role in advancing Sustainable Development Goal 5 (Gender Equality) and Goal 3 (Good Health and Well-being). In 2022, corporate actions, such as Estée Lauder offering employee support for abortion access, highlighted how businesses can contribute to safeguarding women’s well-being and reproductive rights.
• Advocacy from civil society leaders is essential to achieving universal access to sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR), a key target of both SDG 3 and SDG 5.
• Sonali Silva, Director of the youth health advocacy organization Yield Hub, identified several critical areas for action:
  • The fundamental importance of choice in healthcare was emphasized, positioning the opposite of choice as control, which directly impacts women’s autonomy and health outcomes.
  • A systemic failure was noted in the treatment of contraceptive health as a mere “budget line,” a practice that devalues women’s bodies and hinders progress on SDG 3.7 (ensure universal access to sexual and reproductive health-care services).
  • The use of public platforms for advocacy is a key strategy for improving contraceptive access, exemplified by global work with organizations such as Yield Hub and She Decides.

Addressing Economic Disparities and Fostering Inclusive Growth (SDG 5, SDG 8, SDG 10)

• Significant structural barriers for female entrepreneurs continue to impede progress on SDG 5 (Gender Equality), SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth), and SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities).
• Eshita Kabra-Davies, CEO and founder of By Rotation, highlighted severe funding disparities that contravene the principles of inclusive economic growth:
  1. Less than 2% of institutional funding is allocated to female founders.
  2. Less than 0.2% of institutional funding is allocated to Asian female founders.
• These figures illustrate a critical challenge to achieving the targets of SDG 10, which aims to empower and promote the economic inclusion of all, irrespective of gender or origin.
• The creation of supportive communities and networks for women was presented as a vital mechanism for success. The concept of a “sisterhood” that provides mutual support is crucial for female entrepreneurs to thrive.
• A call to action was made to foster greater inclusion within influential circles. This approach, which encourages bringing new individuals into established networks, can create a “butterfly effect” of opportunity, aligning with the collaborative spirit of SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals) to achieve gender equality.

Analysis of the Article in Relation to Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

• SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being

  The article directly addresses health by discussing abortion rights, access to contraception, and better healthcare for women. The mention of Estée Lauder offering employee support for abortion access and Sonali Silva’s advocacy for contraceptive health clearly link to this goal.

• SDG 5: Gender Equality

  This is a central theme. The article discusses women’s rights (abortion, contraception), violence against women (Sonali Silva’s experience as a survivor of sexual violence), and economic empowerment. The significant funding disparities faced by female founders (less than 2% for women, less than 0.2% for Asian women) highlight systemic gender inequality in the economic sphere.

• SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth

  The journey of Eshita Kabra-Davies, who left her job to launch her own business, and the challenges she faced in securing funding, connect to this goal. It touches upon entrepreneurship, access to financial services for women, and the barriers that hinder their full economic participation and potential for creating businesses and jobs.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

• Under SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being

  • Target 3.7: “By 2030, ensure universal access to sexual and reproductive health-care services, including for family planning, information and education, and the integration of reproductive health into national strategies and programmes.” This is directly relevant to the discussion on the overturning of Roe v Wade, corporate support for abortion access, and Sonali Silva’s advocacy against treating contraceptive health as a mere “budget line.”

• Under SDG 5: Gender Equality

  • Target 5.1: “End all forms of discrimination against all women and girls everywhere.” The statistic provided by Eshita Kabra-Davies about the minuscule percentage of institutional funding going to female founders is a clear example of economic discrimination.
  • Target 5.2: “Eliminate all forms of violence against all women and girls in the public and private spheres…” Sonali Silva’s statement that she is a “survivor of sexual violence” directly connects the article’s narrative to this target.
  • Target 5.5: “Ensure women’s full and effective participation and equal opportunities for leadership at all levels of decision-making in political, economic and public life.” The challenges female founders face in accessing capital are a significant barrier to their equal participation and leadership in economic life.
  • Target 5.6: “Ensure universal access to sexual and reproductive health and reproductive rights…” This target reinforces Target 3.7 from a rights-based perspective, aligning with the article’s focus on “choice” versus “control” and the fight for abortion and contraceptive rights.

• Under SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth

  • Target 8.3: “Promote development-oriented policies that support productive activities, decent job creation, entrepreneurship… including through access to financial services.” The story of a female entrepreneur and the explicit mention of the lack of access to institutional funding directly relate to this target’s focus on supporting entrepreneurship through financial access.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

Yes, the article mentions both explicit and implicit indicators:

• Explicit Indicators:

  The article provides specific data points that can serve as indicators for measuring economic inequality and access to finance for female entrepreneurs.

  • Indicator: Percentage of institutional funding allocated to female founders. The article states this is “Less than 2%.”
  • Indicator: Percentage of institutional funding allocated to Asian female founders. The article specifies this is “less than 0.2%.”

• Implicit Indicators:

  The article’s narrative implies other ways to measure progress, even without providing specific numbers.

  • Indicator: The number of private sector companies providing employee support for sexual and reproductive healthcare, such as abortion access. (Referenced by the example of Estée Lauder).
  • Indicator: The proportion of national health budgets allocated to contraceptive health. (Implied by Sonali Silva’s criticism of it being treated as just a “budget line”).
  • Indicator: Prevalence of sexual violence against women. (Implied by the personal testimony of being a “survivor of sexual violence”).

4. Summary Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: vogue.com