Reproduced under courtesy of The World Bank

Women have an essential role to play in order to build a Caribbean that is resilient and realizes its growth potential. The region has made substantial progress toward gender equality, particularly in women’s education achievement and joining the workforce.

In a poll of @WBCaribbean Twitter followers, 67.4% of respondents indicated that access to finance is still a barrier to women entrepreneurs, and 50% voted that harassment is a main barrier facing Caribbean women. Women today have only three-quarters of the legal rights that men have, according to a new index released by the World Bank. This limits their ability to get jobs, start businesses and make economic decisions that are best for them and their families. They also earn 20 percent less than men.

Societal norms and expectations can hinder progress needed, for example the glass ceiling, the “boy’s club” mentality in the workplace, and lack of family support in some cases. We spoke with several women from across the Caribbean about their careers, how they view the challenges ahead, and their advice for younger female professionals.