Let's look at mainstream gender equality themes from 1960's to today

Is the gender agenda progressing or declining?

Have we made adequate progress, or are we losing ground?

Let's look at a breakdown of some of the mainstream gender equality themes from the 1960's right through to today, along with a forward-looking view of what’s likely to dominate discussions through 2026–2028.

Key gender equality themes from 1960's–2020's

While the fight for gender equality has been long and hard, let's jump to the 1960's to kick off exploring some of the key themes and topics that have dominated.
 

1960s–1970s: Legal Rights and Second-Wave Feminism

• Key Themes: Workplace rights, reproductive rights, anti-discrimination laws, access to education.

• Milestones:

  • Equal Pay Act (1963, US)

  • Title IX (1972, US – bans sex-based discrimination in federally funded education)

  • Roe v. Wade (1973 – landmark abortion rights case)

• Movements: Second-wave feminism emphasized systemic inequality, not just voting rights.
   

1980's: Workplace Access and Power Dynamics

• Key Themes: Breaking the "glass ceiling," maternity leave, pay equity.

• Shifts: Focus moved to women in leadership, corporate equality policies, and formal workplace protections.

• Critiques: Feminism was sometimes framed as white, middle-class-centric.
   

1990's: Intersectionality and Global Feminism

• Key Themes: Intersectionality (coined by Kimberlé Crenshaw), recognition of race, class, sexuality.

• United Nations (UN) Milestone: 1995 Beijing Platform for Action—a global blueprint for advancing gender equality.

• Pop Culture Influence: The “Girl Power” era (Spice Girls, etc.) introduced feminism to youth, often simplified.
   

2000's: Gender Mainstreaming and the Tech Era

• Key Themes: Gender lens in development, leadership quotas, digital divide.

• Global Push: The UN and NGOs expanded gender equality programs worldwide.

• Conversations: Cyber-harassment, the feminization of poverty, and gender in STEM.
   

2010's: #MeToo, LGBTQ+ Inclusion, Wage Gap

• Key Themes: Workplace harassment, consent culture, non-binary and trans inclusion, unpaid care work.

• Movements: #MeToo (2017 onwards), Time’s Up, etc.

• Policy Changes: Increased focus on paternity leave, equal pay laws, DEI policies.
   

2020's: COVID Iimpact, Care Economy, Gender Data

• Key Themes: The COVID pandemic's gendered impact, burnout, remote work equity, intersectional data gaps.

• Trends:

  • Rise of femtech.

  • Men’s allyship.

  • Gender-inclusive language.

  • More global gender equality related campaigns being activated

• Global Conversations: Abortion rights rollback (e.g., post-Roe in the U.S.), reproductive justice.

What are some potential gender equality topics for 2026 - 2028?

There are a number of aspects likely to take center stage in the coming years when it comes to focusing on gender equality.

Here are some key aspects to consider.
 

AI and Tech Bias

• Growing calls to eliminate gender bias in algorithms, voice assistants, facial recognition, hiring platforms.

• Increasing demand for ethical AI design led by diverse teams, including women and non-binary experts.

• Widening of the digital gender divide in terms of access, education, employment, entrepreneurial ventures, business, and more.
   

Digital Safety and Rights

• Online abuse, deepfakes, and image-based violence will prompt new legal protections and platform responsibilities.

• Push for digital literacy programs centered on girls and gender-diverse youth.
   

Global Policy Shifts and Rights Rollbacks

• The fight for abortion access and LGBTQ+ protections will continue across jurisdictions (e.g., U.S., Eastern Europe, parts of Africa).

• Gender rights activists will focus on safeguarding gains amidst rising authoritarianism and conservatism.
   

Workplace of the Future

• Greater focus on caregiving policies, menstrual equity, and flexible work for all genders.

• Accountability for ESG (Environment, Social, Governance) claims, including gender metrics in corporate reporting.
   

Climate + Gender: Feminist Climate Justice

• Expect expanded attention on how climate change disproportionately affects women and girls - especially in the Global South.

• Funding and frameworks will likely tie climate action with gender-responsive solutions.
   

Health Equity and Reproductive Autonomy

• Beyond access: Calls for quality, respectful, and culturally competent care.

• Spotlight on menopause, maternal health, and trans-inclusive care.
   

Gender Data Revolution

• Demand for sex-disaggregated and nonbinary-inclusive data to guide funding, policy making, and measurement of impact.

• Expect innovation in how impact is tracked, for example, inclusive gender audits.
   

So what are some quick takeaways?

In the past, we've observed the journey moving from legal rights to workplace equity to inclusion to global justice.

Currently, we see a significant focus on intersectional, digital, and care-focused issues.

And in the future, we may see more emphasis focusing on feminist technology, climate, rights resilience, and radical inclusion.

Either way, gender must remain on the agenda.

It takes tenacious collective action to forge an equal world. 

There is no place for apathy, complacency, indifference or disillusionment.

Each of us must continue to do what we can to make a positive difference for the women of today and for future generations. 

As American author, Bell Hooks (Gloria Jean Watkins) known for her writings on race, feminism, and class, once said: "Feminism is for everybody."

Audre Lorde, American writer, feminist and civil rights activist, clearly encourages our perseverance in her well-known quote: "I am not free while any woman is unfree, even when her shackles are very different from my own.”

Gender equality is not a passing phase or privilege, but is an enduring, inclusive fight for justice, equity, and liberation.