OPINION | Policy interventions and dismantling of societal biases needed to truly advance women's equality

Thirty years ago, the Fourth World Conference on Women in Beijing set forth the Beijing Platform for Action, a comprehensive policy agenda aimed at achieving gender equality. This year, it's imperative to assess the progress made and the challenges that persist, both globally and within SA.

Since 1995, progress has been made in advancing gender equality across various sectors. In education, the gender gap has narrowed considerably, with the World Economic Forum's Global Gender Gap Report 2024 indicating that 95% of the global educational attainment gap has been closed.

Sub-Saharan Africa has also seen improvements, with increased literacy rates and higher school enrolment for girls contributing to this progress. In healthcare, maternal health has notably improved over the past three decades. According to Unicef, the global maternal mortality ratio declined by 34% between 2000 and 2020, dropping from 339 to 223 deaths per 100,000 live births.

These advancements are largely attributed to improved access to reproductive health services and policies prioritising women’s health. Political representation has also seen significant growth, with countries such as Rwanda leading the way, where more than 60% of parliamentary seats are held by women, demonstrating the power of deliberate policy interventions. Similarly, SA has made strides, with women now holding about 45% of parliamentary seats, a dramatic increase from just 2.7% in 1994.

These achievements highlight the impact of sustained efforts in closing gender gaps, yet further work remains to achieve full parity in all sectors. Despite notable progress, persistent challenges hinder gender equality, particularly in leadership, economic empowerment and policy protection. Women remain underrepresented in leadership roles across business and politics.

According to the Gender Gap Report 2024, women occupy less than 30% of managerial positions globally. Additionally, Public Investment Corporation report indicated that only 19.7% (average) of board seats are held by women, and in SA, women hold only 7.2% of CEO positions in listed companies, despite the existence of legal frameworks promoting gender inclusion.

The issue is not just about access but also about dismantling biases that undermine women’s authority and credibility in leadership spaces. Economic inequality remains another major barrier, with women still earning 20% less than men for the same work, according to UN Women.

In SA and Sub-Saharan Africa, many women juggle unpaid care work alongside formal employment, worsening systemic economic disadvantages. Additionally, female-led SMMEs face barriers in accessing funding, limiting their entrepreneurial and financial independence. A further challenge is the rise of regressive policies and escalating gender-based violence (GBV).

Across multiple countries, there have been attacks on reproductive rights, rollbacks of gender-sensitive policies, and increasing violence against women.

SA, in particular, faces an alarming femicide rate, with one woman killed every four hours, according to SAPS crime stats. Throughout Sub-Saharan Africa, GBV remains a critical issue, necessitating urgent policy interventions and stricter enforcement of protective measures. Addressing these challenges requires sustained advocacy, targeted policies and structural reforms to ensure gender equality is not only upheld but advanced.

While the challenges to gender equality remain significant, success stories from around the world provide blueprints for action. Rwanda has set a powerful example in political representation, with women holding more than 60% of parliamentary seats, demonstrating the effectiveness of gender quotas.

SA and other sub-Saharan African nations can follow suit by implementing similar quotas in corporate boardrooms and political offices to accelerate women's leadership representation. Pay equity is another area where progress is possible, as seen in Iceland, where laws mandating pay transparency have helped close the wage gap.

SA must adopt similar policies to ensure that women receive equal pay for equal work. Economic empowerment is also crucial and expanding access to financing for women entrepreneurs, alongside gender-sensitive budgeting, can foster inclusive economic growth.

Furthermore, addressing GBV requires national-level strategies and dedicated funding. Countries such as Spain and Canada have successfully implemented such approaches, strengthening legal frameworks and increasing support for survivors. 

SA and its neighbours must prioritise robust judicial responses and greater investments in survivor support services to create safer environments for women and girls. By learning from these successes, countries can build stronger, more equitable societies where women and girls have the rights, opportunities and protections they deserve.

To truly advance equality, we must listen to and elevate the voices of women at the forefront of change. As feminist economist Dr Naila Kabeer asserts, “economic empowerment must be accompanied by structural transformation”. Activist Dr Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka has long advocated for policies that centre women’s lived experiences. Every day, women, from entrepreneurs in Soweto to community leaders in Khayelitsha, and activists in Kenya and Nigeria, continue to challenge inequities and demand justice.

As we marked International Women’s Day last month, we should renew our commitment to the Beijing Platform for Action. The past 30 years have shown that change is possible, but progress is not inevitable. It requires policy action, accountability and the dismantling of deeply rooted societal biases.

• Dr Makola is a senior lecturer in the college of economic and management sciences at Unisa.