A couple of weeks ago at a dinner, the younger people at the table were shocked to learn women hadn’t always competed in every modern-day Olympic sport, hadn’t always been allowed to join clubs, and hadn’t always been welcome to stand beside a man in a pub. They had simply assumed this had always been the case.
And honestly, that moment felt wonderfully hopeful. The idea exclusion is unimaginable to them says something powerful about how far we’ve come, and how quickly things have changed, and can change.
Because the truth is, so much of what we now take for granted is incredibly recent. Women were excluded from many Olympic events until well into the 20th century. Many clubs only opened their doors to women in the 80s and 90s. And in Australia, women couldn’t legally drink in the public bar of a pub until the 60s and 70s. All of this happened within living memory.
Yet look at where we are now.
- Women now hold 54.3% of all Australian Government board positions, exceeding parity for the fourth year running.
- On ASX 200 boards, women make up 34.2% of directors, and every ASX 200 board now includes at least one woman.
- Across the workforce, women now represent 33% of board members, 32.5% of key management personnel, and 19.4% of CEOs numbers that continue to rise.
- In the legal profession, women are now the majority of solicitors and law graduates, and their representation at the Bar continues to grow each year.
These aren’t just statistics,they’re signs of a cultural shift. Girls today grow up seeing women lead countries, companies, courts, and international sporting team like the Matildas and Wallaroos. Women compete in every Olympic sport, break records, and redefine what excellence looks like. Workplaces and communities are stronger because women’s voices are part of every conversation.
And yet, even with all this progress, the gender pay gap reminds us there is still work to do. According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, the national gender pay gap sits at 11.5%, meaning women earn 88 cents for every 1 dollar earned by men. That gap affects lifetime earnings, superannuation, financial security, and the choices women can make throughout their lives.
But International Women’s Day is not about dwelling on the gap,it’s about celebrating the momentum. It’s about honouring the women who pushed open doors that were once firmly shut, and recognising the generations who now walk through them without hesitation. It’s about acknowledging that progress is real, visible, and accelerating.
And it’s about choosing to keep going.
Guest article by Jodie Gwynn-Jones, from the firm Harper Jones Law, [email protected]