Open discussion with Dr Rae Lesser Blumberg Dr Rae Lesser Blumberg is a William R. Kenan Jr. Professor of Sociology at the University of Virginia and Professor Emerita of Sociology at the University of California, San Diego. Her internationally renowned research revolves around theories of gender stratification and gender and economic development.

 
What Do Bonobos Have to Do with the Millennium Development Goals?

In this 2nd session of the "UNESCO Forum for Gender Equality", Dr Rae Lesser Blumberg discussed the linkages between women's economic empowerment and the level of gender equality within a group. Dr Blumberg went as far back as humankind’s common ancestors—chimps and bonobos—to show that women have historically held substantial economic power and have been behind significant technological innovations.

Dr Blumberg argued that measuring the third Millennium Development Goal, "promoting gender equality and empowering women", requires the development of additional indicators, beginning with a sex disaggregated measure of relative economic empowerment.

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Ms. Blumberg's PowerPoint presentation below.