The economic case for gender parity is undeniable. Research consistently shows that if men and women were granted equal opportunities across education, employment, and healthcare, the rewards would be substantial—both socially and financially.
“If women participated in the economy as actively as men, global GDP would be 20% higher,” observed Anna Bjerde, managing director of operations at the World Bank, during a panel discussion at Davos.
Echoing her sentiment, Michael Ensser, chairman of executive search firm Egon Zehnder, described the business rationale for gender equality as “an absolute no-brainer.”
However, what was once a consensus on the necessity of gender equality has increasingly come under threat.
Around the world, women’s access to sexual and reproductive healthcare has been curtailed.
According to the World Health Organization, women’s bodily autonomy is declining in 40% of countries with available data.
Addressing this backlash, Lutfey Siddiqi, special envoy to the head of Bangladesh’s interim government, pointed to tokenism and virtue-signalling as contributing factors.
“One of the problems we need to confront is the superficial way this has been approached,” Siddiqi explained.
He highlighted instances where organisations have prioritised symbolic appointments over fostering an inclusive culture at all levels.
“This approach has not only proven ineffective but has also fuelled resistance to gender equality in some countries,” Siddiqi continued.
“Simplistic ESG scores and HR compliance measures have stripped managers of the opportunity to take genuine ownership of these initiatives.”
Nonetheless, Siddiqi cautioned against abandoning the cause altogether.
“To dismiss gender equality simply because some attempts were tokenistic is a mistake,” he argued.
“We cannot throw out the baby with the bathwater.”
The conversation at Davos underscored that lasting progress requires addressing entrenched socio-cultural attitudes and gender roles.
Katherine Garrett-Cox, CEO of Gulf International Bank, expressed frustration at the slow pace of change.
“It’s quite embarrassing that we’re still having this conversation in 2025,” she remarked.
“Perhaps some people find it too difficult to tackle?”
While panellists agreed that solutions may not be straightforward, they emphasised the importance of maintaining focus.
“We have much to learn from one another,” urged Bjerde.
“But abandoning the issue of gender parity is not an option.”
The session concluded with a renewed call to action - achieving gender equality is not just a moral imperative but an economic necessity, one that demands cultural and structural transformation.
