Introduction

Australia is currently held back from reaching its full social and economic potential by pervasive and systemic gender inequality. Entrenched and rigid gender norms and enduring bias maintain a social context where gender inequality is assumed, accepted and encoded in everyday life.

Current data shows that inequality is prevalent and persistent, and it impacts  a woman’s public and private experiences across her entire lifetime. Many women face even greater barriers and disadvantages because of their intersecting identities  and experiences. 

Women’s economic inequality has become normalised and is often assumed to be ‘natural’ or the result of women’s personal choices. There is clear evidence to show this thinking is out of step with the ambitions and interests of our highly educated female population and with forging a fair society. It also clashes  with the development of a modern  and vibrant global economy.

Australia faces several key economic challenges in the coming decade,  including managing global economic uncertainty, inequality, geopolitical tensions, transitioning to clean energy while climate change challenges our communities, an ageing population and rapid technological advances. These challenges also provide opportunities to shift Australia’s economic policy settings and unlock the value of women’s full economic participation.