Gender revolution, evolution or neverlution?

Liberal feminists of the 1960s viewed women’s increasing levels of education and employment throughout their lives as harbingers of a gender equality revolution. In this commentary, I draw on economic and sociological research since that time to argue why gender equality in public and private domains remains elusive. For one, it is a story of women changing their behaviour to be more like men in employment, without the necessary complementarity of men behaving more like women in caring responsibilities. Despite women’s employment gains, they remain under-represented at business executive levels and on boards, as well as among MPs. In addition, women continue to be physically oppressed through sexual harassment, exploitation and violence in the home, education, organizations and broader society. The COVID pandemic accentuated women’s employment disadvantage, family responsibilities and physical risks. I recommend the sorts of small, doable policy steps needed to nudge us further toward gender equality.