What does "gender inequality" refer to?

Gender inequality refers to the unequal treatment or perceptions based on gender, highlighting how individuals may experience different levels of rights, responsibilities, and opportunities depending on their gender. This concept encompasses a range of issues, such as disparities in education, healthcare, employment, and political representation, where one gender, often women, may face systemic disadvantages relative to another.

In the context of the other options, equal treatment represents an ideal situation that does not align with the reality of gender inequalities. Preferential treatment suggests an imbalance favoring one gender, while fairness in representation focuses on equal numbers rather than the quality of experiences or treatment based on gender. Therefore, the understanding of gender inequality is best encapsulated by the notion of unequal treatment or perceptions, which reveals the broader societal implications and structural issues that create and perpetuate these disparities.