The Netherlands is missing out on €10bn
The Netherlands is missing out on €10 billion due to gender inequality! ABN AMRO is committed to diversity and inclusion, both within the bank and for clients and society. Nicole Reimink-Böttger heads up the bank’s internal diversity policy, while director of Inclusive Banking Chantal Korteweg focuses on clients’ needs. We spoke to both of them about an important report and how ABN AMRO aims to achieve equal treatment for all.
Interview with Chantal Korteweg, director of Inclusive Banking
The World Economic Forum (WEF) has estimated that it may take as long as 267 years to achieve gender equality worldwide. But what if the Netherlands had been a gender-equal society since as far back as 2010? ABN AMRO had SEO Amsterdam Economics conduct a study to find out. Chantal Korteweg shares the results.
Key findings
The report shows that gender equality is costing us a lot of money. Fairer distribution of work between men and women would make society more productive. No one would have to work more hours, as the hours of work would just be divided differently. The report reveals that gender equality is beneficial on both a social and an economic level.
Surprising figures
One remarkable conclusion to come out of the study is that the Netherlands’ gross domestic product (GDP) could grow by as much as €10 billion simply by better distributing work. This is an opportunity we are currently letting slip away. On top of that, gender equality would not have an adverse impact on our quality of life. It is shocking that nearly half of all women in the Netherlands are financially dependent. In a gender-equal Netherlands, more women would be financially independent.
Gender equality challenges
Unconscious biases are prevalent. The Netherlands has never had a female prime minister, which affects girls’ aspirations. Women are generally believed to be caring, while men are assumed to be assertive. This kind of gender stereotyping starts at a very young age and influences the way we distribute household tasks and how we assess the performance of women in senior positions.
ABN AMRO's actions for equal opportunities
ABN AMRO is looking into what barriers clients come up against, such as low financial literacy or lack of access to networks. It is not about special products for women, but rather about adopting a personal approach. We are looking at inclusion and solutions we can roll out quickly, such as making information on our website available in more languages.
Contributing to gender equality in the Netherlands
As a major organisation, ABN AMRO has a responsibility to raise awareness around gender equality. This report is a step in that direction. For some solutions, ABN AMRO is teaming up with other organisations and the Dutch government. By joining forces, we can strive to make the Netherlands a gender-equal country.
ABN AMRO is working for a future where everyone has the same opportunities.