New research by Plan International Australia found a concerning gap between perception and reality when it comes to gender equality in the country.
One in two Australians believe that women are treated fairly in most areas of life and have the same choices and opportunities as men, according to the second phase of the Gender Compass project released by Plan International Australia.
“While 60% of people believe we are close to or have already achieved gender equality, real-world data on the gender pay gap, workplace discrimination and underrepresentation of women in leadership tell a different story,” Plan International Australia CEO Susanne Legena said. “The fact that 50% of Australians believe women are treated fairly in most areas of life ignores persistent challenges such as unpaid labour disparities, gender-based violence on our streets and in our homes and systemic barriers in career advancement.”
The world is now at a pivotal moment in time, according to Legena, as gender equality backlash, global aid cuts, worsening humanitarian crises, and political and economic instability are rolling back decades of hard-won progress.
“From limits on reproductive rights to restrictions on education and growing gender-based violence, these shifts are not just happening in far-off countries—they are reaching our own shores,” Legena said. “In Australia, we’re seeing rising rhetoric against diversity, equity and inclusion policies and a growing resistance to the notion of gender equality as a fundamental human right.”
Such trends call for a need to continue pushing towards a gender-equal future.
“Gender Compass is a call to action for all of us—to engage, listen and act with empathy and determination. The world needs us to be united in this effort,” Legena added.
Launched in 2023, Gender Compass regularly surveys a diverse group of Australians over 16 years of age on their attitudes and beliefs in terms of gender equality. The project is funded by several organisations, including Australians Investing in Women, Equity Trustees, the Lord Mayor’s Charitable Foundation, the Minderoo Foundation, the Red Rocketship Foundation, the Snow Foundation and the Trawalla Foundation.
Read also: Opinion: Gender equality and climate action are inextricably linked
Geraldine is currently the Content Producer for Third Sector, an Akolade channel. Throughout her career, she has written for various industries and international audiences. Her love for writing extends beyond the corporate world, as she also works as a volunteer writer at her local church. Aside from writing, she is also fond of joining fun runs and watching musicals.
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