The role of King’s Global Institute for Women’s Leadership (GIWL) is becoming increasingly urgent. Recent reports show an increase from 100 to 136 years until the global economic gender gap is closed, and research has found that nearly half of Britons think women’s equality has gone far enough. Here, we dig into the work of the Institute over the past 12 months and the people who have helped make it happen.
Since its inception, the Institute’s mission has been to provide research, practice, advocacy and engagement that breaks down barriers, while bringing together those who can advance the cause of access to leadership, regardless of gender.
Chaired by the Honourable Julia Gillard AC, the only woman to have served as prime minister of Australia, GIWL has developed impactful findings, led collaborative activities, and increased attention across areas critical to achieving fair and equal access to leadership for women of all backgrounds. From an accessible podcast to practical workplace training, and research into the role of gender in voting to showcasing women leaders in digital art, the Institute is a beacon of positive progress.
Quality representation
One key area of impact for GIWL has been improving representation for women in politics. While the under-representation of women in politics has been improving over time, GIWL is undertaking steps to ensure the quality and equity of that representation.
GIWL’s QUALREP project examines why, when we see more women leaders that ever before, anti-feminist claims continue to undermine gender equality, and why the most-marginalised women continue to experience a poverty of good representation. Working across borders, QUALREP is set to confront and examine some of the most difficult challenges for understanding the quality of women’s political representation.
GIWL has also led on the creation of the UK Gender Equality Index, whose data measures, maps and analyses the differences in outcomes for women and men across the UK. As well as exploring localised differences, the Index also helps identify demographic groups who may be falling behind in comparison to the overall areas of progress.
Evidence from these projects will aid advocacy, research, and policy intervention in pursuit of greater equality and higher quality of life for all.
Driving the public discourse
GIWL’s research and its findings is having a significant impact on our understanding of gender equality and dynamics on a wide scale.
In 2024, GIWL generated around 140 pieces of national and international media, and was featured in numerous high-profile outlets including The Guardian, The Financial Times, The Telegraph, The Times, The Independent, BBC News, BBC Radio 4, Channel 4 News and Sky News.
GIWL’s research on young people’s attitudes to masculinity and women’s equality showed that the gender split in views is starkest among the young. There was wide coverage and conversation about the finding that many young people questioned how helpful the term 'toxic masculinity' is, whether it’s harder to be a man than a woman today and whether feminism has done more good or harm to society.
Similarly the annual global survey of attitudes to gender equality with Ipsos was widely covered by the Telegraph and Financial Times, as was their discussion with Louise Casey on the harassment and abuse by police.
Building better futures for women
It is thanks to the generosity of our funders that we can invest in rigorous academic research, that influences and emboldens policymakers, practitioners and campaigners to create real change.
GIWL could not have achieved its substantial success – and growing worldwide impact – without the support of the GIWL Founding Circle of individuals, foundations and companies who are our champions and key philanthropic supporters.
Yulia Rud’ko, GIWL Founding Circle Member and King’s alum, explains: ‘I am delighted to be supporting the crucial work of GIWL. Globally, we still have a long way to go to achieve gender equality, and it’s a privilege to support King’s GIWL, who are committed to this goal. As an alum, I also appreciate how becoming a Founding Circle Member has helped me maintain my connection to King’s.’
GIWL works towards a world in which being a woman is not a barrier to becoming a leader in any field – from the grassroots to the global. As we look ahead to the next 12 months, the scale of the challenge can, at times, be a daunting proposition, but the collaborative impact that GIWL delivers means each challenge is another chance to see a better, more equal future for all. Find out more about GIWL and how you can support its work by contacting cara.hepburn@kcl.ac.uk.