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International Women’s Day may have socialist origins, but today it’s big business. Every March 8, companies take to social media to tout their progress toward gender equity and highlight the achievements of women within their ranks. When companies do this to distract from their otherwise poor records on equity, it’s known as “gender washing.”
And you can find it in surprising places − such as the arms industry. Scholars Rosie Walters and Natalie Jester examined a variety of defense firms’ posts marking International Women’s Day and found many celebrating female staff succeeding in science and tech careers. But those posts didn’t acknowledge the women who may be killed, hurt or displaced by the conflicts that fuel the trade.
In one instance, a manufacturer tweeted a video of its Middle Eastern innovation center in celebration of IWD, featuring female engineers and claiming to be inspiring the next generation. Meanwhile, in the same region, the military technology is deployed in devastating real-life conflicts where women are never the winners. Even war, it seems, can be “gender-washed.”
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Sarah Reid
Senior Business Editor
The Conversation U.K.
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Rosie Walters, Cardiff University; Natalie Jester, University of Gloucestershire
Some defence companies shout about opportunities for their female employees while ignoring the effect their products have on women in conflict zones.
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Trade
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Lauren Johnston, University of Sydney
It’s not certain that China’s response to US trade tensions has influenced its Africa policy, but there are coincidences.
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Subhadip Ghosh, MacEwan University
Canada’s decision to retaliate was not just about responding in kind; it was a strategic move aimed at pressuring key U.S. export industries.
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Work
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Elisabeth Kelan, King's College London
It is often difficult to tell where gender inequalities might be at play.
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Christina Boedker, University of Newcastle; Aeson Luiz Dela Cruz, University of Adelaide; Kieron Meagher, Australian National University
Researchers at the Australian Workplace Index have found the negative impacts of working from home they originally uncovered in a 2022 survey had reversed in 2024.
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Xóchitl Bada, University of Illinois Chicago
Workers can report violations to the government, regardless of their immigration status.
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Banking
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Dustin Fergusson-Vaux, University of Waterloo
As the U.S. pushes for greater access to Canada’s banking market, Canada must weigh the steep political costs of allowing a stronger American banking presence.
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Equality
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Kevin Guyan, University of Edinburgh
DEI schemes are facing a backlash in some quarters – but with the right focus they can make work better for everyone.
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Ramona Zharfpeykan, University of Auckland, Waipapa Taumata Rau
Diversity in leadership isn’t just about ticking boxes. New research on lisetd New Zealand companies finds it’s also about making businesses stronger.
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Economy
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Jacqueline Borel-Saladin, Human Sciences Research Council; Nazeem Mustapha, Human Sciences Research Council; Jerry Mathekga, Human Sciences Research Council
Research, development and innovation are essential for fulfilling state-owned enterprises’ mandates and driving economic growth.
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Bamo Nouri, City St George's, University of London
Iraq’s semi-autonomous north is grappling with a severe economic crisis, with many residents forced into massive personal debt.
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Nonprofits
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Xiaoyan Liang, Xi'an Jiaotong-Liverpool University; Jianwen Zheng, Xi'an Jiaotong-Liverpool University
Should voluntary work come at a price?
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