Chloe Gibson
In celebration of this year’s International Women’s Day, the United Nations in Australia has announced the official theme: 'March Forward'. As noted by Minister for Women Senator the Hon Katy Gallagher, this theme is a reflection on past achievements and a call for action to address ongoing gender inequalities.
Globally, systemic barriers continue to hold women back. According to the 2023 Gender Snapshot on the Progress of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG), women still do not have equal opportunities to live healthy lives, and we are not on track to meet SDG 5 focused on gender equality. Within international affairs, only 28 countries have a female head of state, and the most common government portfolio held by women is that of gender equality itself. On the current trajectory, true gender parity will not be achieved until 2155 - we are not doing enough.
The Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action
Thirty years ago, 189 countries united to adopt the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, the most comprehensive global agenda for women’s empowerment. While challenges persist, this blueprint has been instrumental in advancing gender equality in health, civic participation and leadership.
At Australia’s launch of International Women’s Month, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese highlighted women’s advancement in society as “a driver of our national success”. Australia’s Parliament now boasts record female representation, and the government has committed $3.4 billion to the National Plan to End Violence Against Women and Children.
However, the Office for Women National Report highlights that there is unfinished business as we enter the 30th year since the Declaration. Persistent challenges, including gender-based violence, economic inequality, and gaps in healthcare and leadership, must be addressed before Australia can achieve true gender equality. Simply increasing women’s representation in decision-making capacities is not enough; we need to dismantle the "chiefdom system of governance" that holds us back.
Acknowledging Those Who Came Before Us
Progress towards gender equality has been driven not only by governments, but also by courageous and persistent individuals. Incredible women from all backgrounds have challenged oppressive structures, paving the way for future generations and earning their right as household names. Malala Yousafzai, Greta Thunberg, Hillary Clinton, Angela Merkel, Jacinda Ardern and Kamala Harris, just to name a few.
Closer to home, Australia’s women have been breaking gender stereotypes in positions of power even before the Beijing Declaration. In 1971, Dame Annabelle Rankin became Australia's first female head of a foreign mission, serving three years as the High Commissioner to New Zealand. This occurred after Australia became the first Western nation to lift the marriage bar in 1966 and support the introduction of equal pay and paid maternity leave to improve access to employment. In 1987, Ruth Dobson became the first career Head of Mission as the Ambassador to Denmark. While the growth in gender diplomatic appointments was slow in the 1990s, reports from the Lowy Institute and Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade show that the percentage dial is balancing out more than ever before.
Today, Senator Penny Wong's career, marked by her dedication to policies supporting women in senior government roles, and her current role as Foreign Affairs Minister exemplifies how women's presence in decision-making roles is not just symbolic but transformative.
These milestones, achieved through decades of persistent advocacy, have helped shape the opportunities available to women today. But while more women are stepping into leadership roles, they often face a new and deeply embedded challenge: the glass cliff.
The 'Glass Cliff': The Hidden Pitfall in Times of Crisis
The 'glass ceiling', the invisible barrier that limits women and minority groups from advancing into leadership positions, is well known. But an equally insidious challenge is the 'glass cliff', where women are promoted into leadership roles only during times of crisis or instability. These high-risk appointments often set them up for failure, forcing them to navigate leadership with limited resources, heightened scrutiny, and unrealistic expectations. Rather than being positioned for long-term success, they are handed a crumbling foundation and expected to rebuild it.
This phenomenon is well documented. Research highlights how companies and governments often see a 'different type of leader' in moments of crisis - someone perceived as more empathetic, communicative, or capable of steering through turmoil. Unfortunately, this means women are disproportionately placed in precarious positions where the likelihood of failure is high.
A notable example is Theresa May's appointment as UK Prime Minister in the aftermath of Brexit. She inherited a deeply divided country at one of the most turbulent moments in recent British political history, tasked with delivering a near-impossible solution. The circumstances surrounding her leadership underscore the realities of the glass cliff: when women are given opportunities to lead, it often comes with greater risks and fewer safety nets. If they do not "fix" the crisis, their failure is used as justification for gendered stereotypes that women are unsuited to leadership.
Of course, not all women fall off the proverbial glass cliff. Many not only survive but thrive, forging new pathways and proving that women belong in leadership at all times, not just during crises. However, recognising this pattern is critical. True progress means ensuring women are in sustainable positions where leadership is based on merit and qualifications alone, rather than misguided notions founded in gender stereotypes.
This is why initiatives that amplify and support emerging women leaders are so important. For the past 9 years, Young Australians in International Affairs has published a Young Women to Watch List, championing the voices of emerging leaders in the male-dominated field of international affairs. This initiative reminds society that women should not only be given opportunities at the edge of the glass cliff, but reinforces the reality that they are equally qualified to shape global conversations, drive change, and hold leadership roles in any circumstance.
This International Women’s Day, we will continue to March Forward, not just in celebration, but in action. This theme reminds us that the fight for gender equality is an ongoing journey. It calls us to reflect on and honour the women who have paved the way, but also to commit to dismantling the barriers that still hold women back from reaching their full potential.
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