[Times of gender equity: a description of the inequalities between autonomous communities, Spain 2006-2014]

Gender equity (GE) is a structural determinant of health inequalities. In this light, our objective is to show the evolution of gender equity in the Spanish autonomous communities since 2006, prior to the enactment of the Equality Act (2007) and the economic crisis (2008), until 2014.

Ecological study of gender equity in the 17 Spanish autonomous communities from 2006-2011-2014. We have calculated: 1) modified gender equity index (MGEI) for the autonomous communities (0=equity, ±1=inequity); 2) interregional and temporal convergences in gender equity.

The MGEI in the autonomous communities in 2014 has negative values close to 0 (inequity towards women). There is no interregional convergence due to the dispersion increase (2006: 0.1503; 2011: 0.2280; 2014: 0.4964), and no temporal convergence due to the lack of progress of the autonomous communities with poor gender equity. The gender gap in economic activity continues to be unfavourable to women, decreasing in all communities between 2006 and 2011 but increasing in six communities in 2014. The gender gap in education from 2006-2011-2014 has positive values close to 0 (unfavourable to men), while the gender gap in empowerment is unfavourable to women, representing the most significant gender equity disparity. Inter-community dispersion of economic activity and education did not change between 2006 and 2014, while inter-community dispersion of empowerment increased.

The level of gender equity achieved in the Spanish autonomous communities in 2006 was lost during the economic crisis, as gender equity disparities between the communities had increased by 2014. Gender inequity continues to be unfavourable to women.