ABSTRACT Women’s movement actors’ (WMAs) domestic and international activism has been one of the critical factors behind the worldwide diffusion of electoral (and party) quotas for women. Yet there is a set of countries in which this institutional innovation has underperformed for decades. How do WMAs gauge and react to this situation of underachievement? More importantly, do they mobilize a critical state actor – their country’s gender equality machinery (GEM), if one exists – to address the deficiencies of the quota policy? Using primarily qualitative evidence (interviews, participatory observation, and document analysis) from a puzzling case, Brazil, the analysis uncovers underexplored aspects of quota underperformance. In keeping with the social movement literature, as WMAs perceive the introduction of this institutional change as a policy success, they turn their attention to other demands. However, since the policy outcomes of implementing electoral quotas for women might take several election cycles to materialize, there is a delay in understanding the innovation’s shortcomings and formulating responses to address its increasingly evident weaknesses. As a result, even in countries with a robust women’s movement, as in the case at hand, the decline in issue prioritization can obfuscate the pursuit of implementable, effective alternatives in subsequent rounds of quota policy reform.

Gender Equity in Women's Health and Sexual and Reproductive Health Services in Canada: Perspectives from Providers and Patients.

Although the media played a pivotal role in the #MeToo movement, research on #MeToo and journalism has primarily examined journalists as news providers, leaving their own engagement with the movement underexplored. In Sweden, #MeToo was characterized by the formation of petition groups across diverse professions, including journalism. This article draws on qualitative analyses of petition texts and interviews to investigate how key actors in the Swedish journalism industry's #MeToo petition #Deadline conceptualize sexual harassment, assess the movement's consequences, and reflect on ongoing efforts toward gender equality. Findings reveal that participants frame sexual harassment as both a structural and cultural problem, with causes and remedies situated at societal and organizational levels. Precarious employment emerged as a significant risk factor. Moreover, professional norms, ideals, and self-perceptions hinder journalists' identification as activists or victims. A recurring explanation for the persistence of harassment is the “culture of silence”, which discourages employees from speaking out. In journalism, this silence is reinforced by specific cultural and structural conditions, alongside professional ideals such as toughness and objectivity. These findings highlight the importance of examining how processes on different levels co-construct gendered substructures, developing strategies that are sensitive to the specific organizational and cultural context of journalism.

Body shaming refers to the stigmatization of individuals based on body weight, shape, or appearance; it is an under-recognized determinant of women's mental health. It contributes to low self-esteem, depression, anxiety, and diminished quality of life, while discouraging health-seeking behaviors and reinforcing gender inequities. Despite growing global recognition of body shaming as a public health concern, evidence on its prevalence, cultural dynamics, and impact in African contexts remains limited. This review aims to synthesize current evidence on body shaming, examine existing interventions, and identify gaps particularly within African settings. A narrative review of published literature, global health frameworks, and advocacy reports was conducted. Sources included guidance from the World Health Organization (WHO) and the American Psychological Association (APA), evidence-based therapeutic interventions, digital advocacy movements, and policy frameworks such as the African Union's Agenda 2063. The WHO and APA now formally recognize appearance-related distress as a mental health determinant. Evidence-based interventions including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Compassion-Focused Therapy (CFT), and school-based programs such as the Body Project demonstrate measurable reductions in body dissatisfaction and associated psychological risks. Large-scale initiatives like the Dove Self-Esteem Project have reached millions of young women globally, while digital movements (#BodyPositivity, #DetoxYourFeed) and mobile mental health platforms continue to expand access and awareness. However, challenges persist: deeply rooted cultural norms that privilege specific body types, limited African-focused research, inadequate mental health infrastructure, the paradoxical role of social media, and weak policy enforcement. Addressing body shaming requires intersectional, culturally sensitive research, integration of screening and interventions within healthcare systems, strengthened digital literacy, and cross-sectoral policy action. Community-driven campaigns and women's empowerment are central to challenging stigma and celebrating diversity. Systemic change across healthcare, education, media, and policy is essential to promote healthier self-perceptions, enhance mental wellbeing, and advance gender equity.

Tuition-free lower secondary education and women's healthcare decision-making in Sub-Saharan Africa.

Disparities in diabetes care persist in the United States (U.S.), a health concern. Health insurance influences access, yet its impact on outcomes populations remains uncertain. This systematic review and meta-analysis assesses insurance status affects care quality and evaluates racial, ethnic, and gender inequities among adults with type 2 diabetes. Following PRISMA 2020 guidelines, a systematic review and meta-analysis were conducted on 12 studies published between 2000 and 2025. Studies included adults with type 2 diabetes in the U.S. and reported outcomes by insurance type (private, Medicare, Medicaid, uninsured). Key diabetes care indicators assessed included HbA1c testing, blood pressure control, eye examinations, and LDL cholesterol testing. Random-effects models were used to pool effect sizes; heterogeneity and publication bias were evaluated using standard metrics. Insurance coverage was significantly associated with increased likelihood of HbA1c testing (β = 0.2683, 95% CI [0.0531, 0.4835], p = 0.0145). The included studies were generally of moderate quality, with a moderate risk of bias according to the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale. Associations with blood pressure control, eye examinations, and LDL cholesterol control were not statistically significant and showed high heterogeneity. Racial and ethnic disparities in glycemic control persisted among insured individuals, with Hispanic/Latino and African American populations exhibiting poorer outcomes, and gender disparities were also observed, particularly in lipid control. While insurance improves access to certain aspects of diabetes care, it does not eliminate racial, ethnic, or gender disparities. Addressing these inequities requires multifaceted policy approaches beyond insurance expansion, including attention to socio-economic and systemic barriers.

ABSTRACT This study examines the impact of China’s Long-Term Care Insurance (LTCI) policy on women’s entrepreneurship. Using data from the China Family Panel Studies over 2012–2020, we implement a staggered difference-in-differences design to estimate the causal effect of LTCI pilot implementation on women’s entrepreneurship. We find that LTCI significantly increases women’s likelihood of becoming entrepreneurs, with larger effects among households with lower wealth and those in which older family members are in poorer health. lowering young women’s perceived exposure to future risks and easing the caregiving demands they face within the family, thereby strengthening both their willingness and ability to engage in entrepreneurial activity. We further explore spillover effects on intrahousehold allocation and intergenerational outcomes. LTCI not only promotes women’s entrepreneurship but also narrows gender income disparities and improves children’s cognitive and non-cognitive development. Overall, our findings provide policy-relevant evidence for strengthening long-term care institutions and for designing complementary policies that advance women’s economic participation and gender equality.

Healthcare priorities and needs for LGBTQIA+ people with cystic fibrosis: A concept mapping study.

This qualitative study explores perceptions of gender equity and leadership in three higher education institutions in Eswatini. The research involved nine senior management members—deans, registrars, and bursars—and eighteen lecturers (nine women and nine men). Employing narrative inquiry, data were gathered through semi-structured interviews and focus groups, capturing rich individual stories and social dynamics. The study explores how gender influences access to leadership roles, the barriers faced, and potential strategies for fostering inclusive environments. Guided by social role theory, the analysis was deductive, examining how cultural norms and stereotypes shape perceptions of leadership and reinforce gender disparities. Women occupy only 22% of senior management roles, while among lecturers, women constitute 50% of the workforce but only 30% of leadership positions, illustrating persistent under-representation. Findings reveal that despite existing policies, cultural norms rooted in hegemonic masculinity continue to impede gender equity, with organisational biases and societal stereotypes maintaining male dominance in leadership. Participants emphasised that policies must be actively enforced, and cultural change initiatives are essential to challenge stereotypes and reshape societal narratives about gender roles. The study underscores the importance of institutional support, mentorship programmes, and visibility initiatives to empower women and promote gender-inclusive leadership. Engaging men as allies is also critical in transforming organisational culture. These findings contribute to advancing understanding of gender dynamics in Eswatini’s higher education sector and highlight the need for comprehensive, context-specific interventions. Addressing these challenges requires coordinated efforts involving policy enforcement, cultural transformation, capacity building, and ongoing evaluation to ensure sustainable progress toward gender equality in academic leadership.

ABSTRACT During the COVID-19 pandemic, border closures separated thousands of people who were in cross-national, unmarried relationships. Sweethearts across the world protested using the refrain and hashtag, #LoveIsNotTourism. In response, twelve European countries introduced sweetheart visas to reunite couples excluded from family-based migration policies. This study compares sweetheart visas to traditional family/marriage visas to assess their significance and inclusivity. Using qualitative data from online forums and policy documents, it finds that while sweetheart visas often mirrored existing visa structures, the ambiguous definition allowed for broader recognition of intimate relationships – including non-marital, non-heteronormative, and polyamorous partnerships. The analysis also shows that countries with higher gender equality and less adherence to heteronormative norms were more likely to adopt sweetheart visas. This examination of how states temporarily expanded intimate citizenship beyond conventional family forms contributes to debates on migration governance, care regimes, and the politics of belonging.

Women's Conferences in Medicine: Advancing Gender Equity in Medical Education.

ABSTRACT While representation of women in policing is improving, research shows that women do leave policing settings more often than their male colleagues. This disproportionate attrition of women in policing not only slows improvement of gender equality, but can also affect legitimacy and service outcomes. Using monthly employment register data of all new employees of the Dutch policing sector between 2014 and 2023 (N = 33,210), this study investigated both whether and when women were more likely to leave than their male counterparts. To put the gender inequality in perspective, attrition rates among police staff were also compared to those of their peers in other public subsectors. Typically, attrition of women in policing is studied in isolation, while sources (and thus, solutions) of inequalities may lie in societal or broader organisational dynamics. Findings indicated that, while women were more likely to leave the Dutch policing sector than men, several other subsectors showed similar gender differences. Results suggest that approaches to improve gendered attrition, both in policing and in other male or female typed subsectors, should not be limited to increasing representation and improving work-family balance. Rather, efforts should also involve reviewing implicit assumptions about employees, including those in procedures for professional appraisal.

This article investigates the causal impact of educational attainment on women’s empowerment in Malawi. The study utilizes nationally representative data from the Malawi Demographic and Health Survey for 2004, 2010, and 2015–16 to examine the impact of the 1994 universal primary education policy on women’s empowerment. The findings reveal that, on average, women affected by the reform have 0.56 more years of education than those unaffected. Findings also show that an additional year of schooling delays women’s age at first cohabitation by 0.38 years, increases their use of modern contraceptives by 9.3 percentage points, reduces threats of domestic violence by 5.4 percentage points, and enhances their household decision making by 5.3 percentage points. This study also provides insights into the mechanisms behind this relationship, including women’s literacy and knowledge of health, engagement in the labor market, increased exposure to health information, and the characteristics of their husbands or partners. HIGHLIGHTS Malawi’s universal primary education reform generated significant gains in women’s schooling. Each additional year of schooling improved multiple empowerment outcomes for women. Education delayed cohabitation and increased contraceptive use. Schooling reduced domestic violence and strengthened household bargaining. Investments in girls’ education promote gender equality and the development of just societies.

Purpose Over the past decades, female workforce participation has substantially increased; also, more men go on parental leave and participate in domestic and care work. While many women and men progressively try to combine traditionally communal and agentic roles, men are still stereotypically associated with agentic (i.e. assertiveness, competence) and women with communal traits (i.e. warmth, morality). Individuals who do not comply with stereotypical gender roles are likely to receive negative feedback (i.e. backlash effect), particularly in the work environment. We investigated whether the gender stereotypes described above (still) matter for parents during the application process. Design/methodology/approach In two vignette-based 2×2 between subjects-survey experiments (N1 = 150; N2 = 289; both conducted in Germany), we examined whether the duration of parental leave (2 months vs 12 months) influenced the assessment of qualified female and male job applicants regarding their agentic and communal attributes as well as perceived job demand-ability-fit. Findings Across studies, we found no differences regarding agency and job fit. Regarding communion, we found a small backlash effect for mothers (Study 1), and a small communality-bonus effect for fathers (Study 2), suggesting that taking shorter parental leave may be perceived negatively for mothers but not fathers (Study 1), whereas taking longer parental leave may be perceived positively for fathers but not mothers (Study 2). Research limitations/implications In sum, this suggests that mothers and fathers may be evaluated differently in the hiring context, depending on the amount of parental leave they take. Originality/value This research contributes to broader discussions on gender equality and work–life balance.

The political participation is a fundamental aspect of democracy, reflecting the involvement of citizens in the political process. Women's participation in politics is particularly important for achieving gender equality, inclusive governance, and social justice. India, being the world's largest democracy, has witnessed gradual progress in women's political representation over the years. The social medias have created new spaces for political engagement, especially for women. The 2024 Lok Sabha Election highlighted both achievements and challenges regarding women's participation in electoral politics. 800 women candidates contested the 2024 Lok Sabha elections out of more than 8,300 total candidates. This represented around 9.6% of all contestants. Despite being a slight improvement in the number of women candidates compared to earlier decades, women remained significantly underrepresented among political nominees. The increasing participation of women voters demonstrates their influence in determining electoral outcomes and shaping public policy.

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) accounts for a third of all deaths, making it the leading cause of mortality globally. Coronary microvascular dysfunction (CMD) has emerged as a prominent condition in menopausal women, leading to the development of chronic coronary syndrome (CCS). Despite the significant impact on this cohort, research gaps persist which can lead to shortcomings in the delivery of care to women. CMD is more prevalent in women than men and is linked to increased risk of major adverse cardiovascular events and mortality. During the menopausal transition, there is an acceleration in vascular ageing due to hormonal shift and metabolic changes, resulting in endothelial dysfunction. A large proportion of patients with Takotsubo syndrome and heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) are menopausal women with CMD; however, the underlying mechanisms are not fully understood. Limited evidence of the sex-specific pathophysiology of CMD has resulted in current clinical practice relying on evidence from male-dominant or mixed cohorts. This can lead to incorrect risk stratification, treatment side effects and poor prognosis in women. In addition, there is limited research on the efficacy of diagnostic techniques addressing the sex differences in those with CMD. Tailored diagnostic thresholds and models are essential to improve prognosis in women. Further evidence is needed to bridge these knowledge gaps to tackle the sex differences, achieve sex equality in CVD research and reduce the disproportionate burden of microvascular dysfunction in menopausal women.

Objective: This study aims to investigate how sociodemographic and gender equality–related variables, along with attitudes toward gender roles, influence sexual health literacy among women aged 18-49. Materials and Methods: This study was conducted as a cross-sectional study. Data were collected from 316 women across Türkiye between July and September, 2025, through social media and online communication platforms. The data were gathered using the Descriptive Characteristics Form, the Gender Roles Attitude Scale (GRAS), and the Sexual Health Literacy Scale (SHLS). For the analysis process, descriptive statistics, independent group comparisons, Pearson correlation analysis, and multiple linear regression analysis were used. Results: The variables that were significantly associated with participants’ sexual health literacy were egalitarian attitudes toward gender roles (β=0.265), joint decision-making with a spouse at home (β=0.241), having a nuclear family (β=0.197) and an egalitarian/modern extended family structure (β=0.172), and having received gender equality education (β=0.173). The research model significantly explained 25% of the variance in sexual health literacy (R²=0.250; p<0.001). Conclusion: Sexual health literacy is shaped not only by individual knowledge levels but also by women’s social environment, family structure, and attitudes toward gender roles. As a result, interventions aimed at improving women’s sexual health literacy should incorporate holistic approaches that promote egalitarian social norms, support women’s active participation in family decision-making processes, and enhance gender awareness.

Gender disparities across nearly all surgical specialties have become an issue of increasing attention, reflecting persistent inequities in representation, leadership, and career advancement. Despite growing numbers of female medical graduates worldwide, women continue to remain underrepresented in surgery, particularly in subspecialties such as transplantation surgery. To explore gender inequalities among transplant surgeons from the perspective of transplant unit directors and female surgeons worldwide. This study consists of two arms: (1) An 8-item anonymous questionnaire was sent to transplant centers to assess the gender distribution of consultant surgeons' positions and academic roles among female and male surgeons; and (2) A 23-item anonymous questionnaire with closed and open questions was distributed to female transplant surgeons worldwide, addressing demographic profile, working experiences, and suggestions towards professional equality. The questionnaires were promoted through email, social media and professional platforms. Of 46 transplant units participated. Among the 381 board-certified surgeons reported to work in these transplant centers, 102 were women (27%). In the second arm, 75 female transplant surgeons responded. The respondents had a mean age of 43.7 ± 8.8 years (24-70), with most of them working in European transplant centers (65.3%) and self-identifying as White/Caucasian (76%).72% reported gender discrimination, 56% faced verbal sexual harassment from colleagues, and 26.6% from patients, 41.3% were dissatisfied with their work-life balance, with commonly reported challenges including balancing career and family, lack of institutional support and inclusion and sexual harassment. The majority of recommendations involved mentorship, equal opportunities for leadership positions, and flexible working hours. This is the first cross-sectional study addressing gender equity within the field of transplantation surgery worldwide, documenting gender disparities, professional conflicts, and concerning experiences of sexual harassment. This study provides preliminary evidence that underscores the need for further research and structural reforms to promote gender equity in transplantation surgery.

ABSTRACT Gender equality has become a central concern in entrepreneurship policy and practice, yet inequalities in participation and access to resources persist. While scholarship shows that these inequalities stem from structural dynamics in entrepreneurial ecosystems, less is known about how women’s entrepreneurship interventions are orchestrated across ecosystems and what implications this has for gender equality. Drawing on a multiple-case study of two regional entrepreneurial ecosystems in Germany and the UK, based on 41 interviews and field observations, we identify four intervention types: (1) skill-building and funding, (2) representation and visibility, (3) women’s grassroots collectives, and (4) collaborative ecosystem-building. We further reveal four mechanisms through which interventions challenge or reproduce gender inequality: normalization, legitimation, coalition-building, and collective reconfiguration. The study develops a classification framework for women’s entrepreneurship interventions and advances theorization of inclusive entrepreneurial ecosystems by highlighting hybrid orchestration as a pathway to systemic transformation.

Social protection is increasingly used as an instrument for promoting gender equality. However, there is limited evidence on how the implementation of social protection programmes affects the achievement of gender equality objectives, particularly how gender norms shape implementers’ perceptions and their interpretation and translation of gender design features. This study analyses the role of gender norms in shaping the implementation of the Productive Safety Net Programme (PSNP) in Ethiopia, using qualitative data and a value-critical discourse analysis. Our findings suggest that when the values underpinning the gender design features aligned with prevailing gender norms, the policy rationale of those features were largely adopted. However, when these values diverged from prevailing gender norms, policy rationales were modified in ways that undermined the programme’s gender intent, and in some instances were not adopted, which may have led to implementation gaps. These findings demonstrate the need for policymakers to account for and address the complex interplay between gender norms and gender equality objectives of social protection to achieve gender-transformative change.