Gender equality has been widely explored, but there is limited research investigating its variability at regional level. This paper aims to fill this gap by developing and validating a new, regional gender gaps index, compatible with previous indices used to compare gender equality across nations but now fit for the purpose of measuring gender equality across regions, within nations. To this end, we (i) reviewed existing indicators of gender equality; (ii) assessed the contribution of the indicators most frequently used in previous research to measure gender equality; (iii) developed an extended, regional version of the gender gaps index (eRGGI), by extending it to include new indicators able to capture female empowerment in developed countries, like Italy; and, (iv) explored the variability of gender equality across Italian regions. In developing our eRGGI, some indicators traditionally used to measure gender equality were removed and others were introduced to capture new dimensions of gender equality to suit modern conditions regarding contexts where equality is considered important, in contemporary Europe. Results showed that gender equality varies dramatically across regions, also confirming the relevance of the new indicators we proposed to add. Such results call for more caution in interpreting results based on nationally aggregated data to inform policy and practice, arguing for regional comparisons to become more prominent.

性别平等已被广泛探讨，但在区域层面调查其变异性的研究有限。本文旨在通过开发和验证一个新的区域性别差距指数来填补这一差距，该指数与以前用于比较国家间性别平等的指数兼容，但现在适合衡量跨地区和国家内部的性别平等。为此，我们 (i) 审查了现有的性别平等指标；(ii) 评估以往研究中最常用的衡量性别平等指标的贡献；(iii) 开发了性别差距指数 (eRGGI) 的扩展区域版本，将其扩展为包括能够反映意大利等发达国家女性赋权情况的新指标；(iv) 探讨了意大利各地区性别平等的差异。在开发我们的 eRGGI 时，一些传统上用于衡量性别平等的指标被删除，而其他指标则被引入以捕捉性别平等的新维度，以适应当代欧洲在平等被认为重要的背景下的现代条件。结果表明，不同地区的性别平等差异很大，这也证实了我们建议添加的新指标的相关性。这样的结果要求在解释基于国家汇总数据的结果以告知政策和实践时更加谨慎，认为区域比较变得更加突出。在当代欧洲。结果表明，不同地区的性别平等差异很大，这也证实了我们建议添加的新指标的相关性。这样的结果要求在解释基于国家汇总数据的结果以告知政策和实践时更加谨慎，认为区域比较变得更加突出。在当代欧洲。结果表明，不同地区的性别平等差异很大，这也证实了我们建议添加的新指标的相关性。这样的结果要求在解释基于国家汇总数据的结果以告知政策和实践时更加谨慎，认为区域比较变得更加突出。