If “The Subtle Art of Undermining Women” were a book, it would likely top the best-seller charts. As it’s International Women’s Day, it’s concerning to note that achieving gender equality is getting harder with each year. In 2025, we mark the 30th anniversary of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, a landmark document aimed at advancing gender equality. Although it was adopted by 189 countries in 1995 at the fourth World Conference on Women by the UN, the goal of achieving full gender equality still feels far out of reach. In recent months, gender diversity has faced setbacks, with several major corporations scaling back Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives, the rise of far-right governments and conservative movements across the globe.
Specific to media, the implementation of commitments in Section J of the Beijing Declaration (to increase women’s participation in media decision-making, promote balanced and non-stereotypical portrayals of women, and ensure women’s access to and use of communication technologies) is under threat. The deliberate suppression of freedom of expression, especially on websites and channels that promote equality, will impact reportage on gender equality. This will surely affect reportage of violations faced by women, reduce the use of gender equity language and make uprooting existing gender stereotypes more difficult.
Other factors like poverty, limited economic opportunities, a shortage of women in leadership roles, workplace discrimination, unpaid caregiving responsibilities, harmful cultural practices like child marriage and female genital mutilation (FGM), inadequate access to healthcare, violence against women, food insecurity, lack of clean energy and sanitation, weakly enforced laws, and insufficient funding for gender equality programs continue to impact gender equality goals.
The Beijing Declaration focuses on 12 critical areas, including economic opportunity, political participation, peace, and ending violence against women. This anniversary and the 2025 IWD theme, ‘For All Women and Girls: Rights, Equality, and Empowerment,’ should serve as an important reminder to intensify efforts toward gender equality, and address the systemic power imbalances that still exist.
InkSights is a monthly art series by NWMI member Anupama Bijur viewing current affairs through a gender and news lens.
