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- Beauty brand Avon releases its 2024 Global Progress for Women Report, exposing the reality of women’s progress in achieving gender-based equality.
- In its second year, the latest results indicate lack of progress, and in some instances regression, on key areas of achieving gender equality, including pay, opportunity and control over decision making.
- The number of women who think stereotypes are a barrier to equal opportunity has increased to nearly 9 in 10 (89%)2.
- Almost a fifth (18.6%) of women surveyed in the Philippines feel gender inequality is an obstacle to starting their own business, while more than half (53.3%) see it as an obstacle in working flexibly, for example, factoring in childcare responsibilities which normally fall upon women.
- New research for this year looks at women’s feelings towards their safety, with almost 4 out of 5 Filipino women (77.37%) seeing the workplace as a haven or safe space away from any form of conflict or abuse at home.
MANILA, PHILIPPINES: Global beauty brand Avon releases the results of its second Global Progress for Women Report, indicating a decline in how women perceive their progress to achieving gender equality as well as their safety.
The report, which reflects the views of 7,000 women in seven countries including the Philippines, repeats research commissioned in 2023 to track how much women feel progress is being made year-on-year.
Worryingly, the data paints a picture of regression across the board. The new research identifies the number of women agreeing there are inequalities in pay gaps/earned income has increased from 46% in 2023 to 52% in 2024. There has also been an increase in the amount of women who think stereotypes are a barrier to equal opportunity with 89% agreeing they remain so, up from 86% in 20232.
The new report also shows women continue to face threats to their safety across the world. With a legacy of championing women for over 137 years and a business model which enables greater choice and freedom to earn money, Avon is calling on people to focus on delivering the long-overdue progress women not only need but deserve.
Women are facing barriers to making work ‘work for them’
Women looking for the flexibility and autonomy that comes from starting their own business still face obstacles to achieving it. Over half (53%) of women surveyed in both 2023 and 2024 agree that there are barriers to them setting up their own business/becoming an entrepreneur4.
In some areas, women feel the barriers to achieving their goals are getting worse. A fifth (20%) of women say they see lack of gender equality as an obstacle to starting their own business, up from 14% in 2023. In the Philippines, the number of women who agreed to this sentiment is relatively the same. Moreover, more than half of the women surveyed (53.3%) see gender inequality as a major obstacle in working flexibly, especially when factoring in the addition of childcare responsibilities, which normally fall upon women.
The number of women who think representation in business is in favour of men has also increased from 56% to 61%5 while over half (57%) of women surveyed in 2024 say they think it is difficult for women to achieve a senior position in a company compared to men, an increase from 54% last year6.
Access to opportunity is declining
Almost a third of women (31%) in the 2024 research said they feel prejudice from employers about what roles are deemed more ‘suitable’ for them, due to being female. This number has increased from 27% in 2023 indicating yet another decline in equality.
Also increasing is the number of women who feel there are fewer options available to them when leaving school. 28% of women in Avon’s latest research agree that being female has negatively impacted the options that were available to them when they left school, compared to 23% of women who said the same last year.
Women need safe spaces to thrive
In a new addition for 2024, Avon explored the attitudes and feelings of women towards their safety. Almost three quarters (69%) of women surveyed say they don’t feel safe walking/exercising alone outside at night, 75% don’t feel safe being on a night out, and 45% say they don’t feel safe being on public transport7. The new data also reveals more. Around a third (38%) of women surveyed say they have felt ‘uncomfortable’ in the workplace because of their gender. Additionally, 17% said they felt ‘unsafe’, and another 17% said they felt ‘harassed’.
But workplaces can also be a source of ‘refuge’ for more than three quarters (73%) of respondents who have worked seeing the workplace as a haven or safe space away from any form of conflict or abuse at home.
In the Philippines, a worrying 44% of the 1,000 women surveyed have noticed a colleague at work who appears to have suffered from physical injuries or other signs of domestic abuse. 1 in 2 women (48.79%) have shared that they have had a colleague confide in them regarding receiving abuse from their partner at home. When this happened, 3 in 5 women (62.33%) shared concern and offered information and support on how to get help, while there are still 2 in 5 (39.87%) of those women who did not know what to say, how to provide support, and instead said nothing.
Avon is committed to ending gender-based violence and creating a place where their employees feel safe and supported. Their Gender-Based Violence protocol for employee’s signposts where to get help and support employees through trained Ambassadors. Avon is calling on workplaces to create safe spaces for women by ending silence around gender-based violence and providing support to those who need it.
Kristof Neirynck, CEO of Avon says: This research shows that we’re still a long way off gender equality. The world is unbalanced, and we need to do more to create opportunities for women to contribute to the economy, participate in work and realise their potential. I hear first-hand from our Avon Representatives around the world how Avon’s business model enables women to have greater choice, flexibility and freedom to earn money in a way that works for them. As we continue to transform the Avon business, we’re creating new ways for female entrepreneurs to embrace opportunities for economic participation and personal development. Because a better world for women is a better world for everyone.
It’s deeply concerning to see some of the data around how women perceive their safety, and this reflects the experiences we hear from our charity partners and network of women. Gender-based violence is a persistent pandemic, and we are committed to supporting front-line services and raising awareness, so that women know how and where to access support.
Avon continues to support progress for women
Ever since its inception, Avon has been doing beauty differently, putting the needs of women first, helping to drive equality. Avon collaborates with NGOs around the world to help end violence against women and girls and has contributed more than US$91 million globally since 2004 to support awareness, education and the development and implementation of prevention and direct service programmes. In the Philippines, Avon has been working closely with Luna Legal Resource Center for Women and Children, Gender Watch Against Violence and Exploitation (GWAVE), and Ing Makababaying Aksyon (IMA) Foundation.
In celebration of International Women’s Month this month, Avon launched its Hydramatic Shine Lipstick—newest addition to its Make-up +Care range—which sees a portion of each sale to partner women-support groups in ending violence against women and girls. This is the latest in the brand’s commitment to create positive change for women everywhere, underscoring the belief that all women deserve to be treated well with respect and care.
Last March 7, a day before International Women’s Day, Avon also conducted a panel discussion to begin the important conversation and encourage everyone to speak out against violence and shine bright for women in need.
In her opening remarks, Marion Limlengco, Head of Communications for Asia Pacific, said: “At Avon, we believe that in creating a better world for women, we create a better world for all. What sets us apart as a beauty brand is our passion about creating positive change for women. This is seen in how we approach what we do as a brand ever since; first through enabling and giving women opportunities to earn and learn and grow, second through our innovative products that allow women to be confident in her own skin, and third but definitely not the least, in the amazing causes we support.”
The panel composed of Pauline Amelinckx, beauty queen and a true empowered woman who empowers women, Lynn Pinugu, co-founder of Mano Amiga and She Talks Asia, Mimiyuuuh, the face of Avon’s Make-up +Care range and strong ally for women, and Onna Rhea Cabio Quizo, Executive Director of Gender Watch Against Violence and Exploitation (GWAVE). They spoke about the common types of abuse in the Philippines, red flags to look out for, what kind of support we can give to survivors, and how we can all be allies for women.
On speaking out, Lynn Pinugu shared: “This is one thing I would encourage everyone to do. Whenever you speak up, you always embolden someone else to speak out, as well. If we are courageous enough to speak up, then maybe we can be the voice for those who are voiceless. Maybe we can be that voice for those who are afraid to speak up. It’s everyone’s duty and responsibility to fight for the rights of every woman, for everyone. Especially for the women who are abused, especially for the women who are at a disadvantage, and most especially for the women who do not have access to platforms like this.”
“With the collective help of different people, our story can make a difference, and that cycle can end. It’s really important for us to be able to realize that safe spaces don’t just exist—they are created by us. We all have a part in creating those safe spaces for people to feel free to speak out and shine bright,” said Pauline Amelinckx.
The panel discussion touched on how when we as a society stand up for women, we stand up for everyone—and this leads to a better world for all, Onna Rhea Quizo shared: “As much as there are so many horror stories, there are also a lot of stories of hope. A lot of stories of strength come from women who gathered the courage to speak out, and to really understand that we are all part of the problem and we can all be part of the solution, as well. At the end of the day, women’s rights are human rights—it’s all our issues. If we build each other up, if we help all women, that would mean we have a healthier home, a healthier society, and a healthier country.”
On using her platform and being mindful of what we can do to #SpeakOutShineBright every day, face of Avon’s Make-up +Care line Mimiyuuuh quipped: “It really starts with ourselves. Knowing our worth and empowering ourselves, because when people see how empowered we are, [they are inspired to] empower others. And for me po, speaking out doesn’t mean doing yung pagsasalita sa labas, sa rally, but it’s about using what you have. With my platform, I will try my best to speak out and be the voice of the voiceless.”
Be a part of the movement fighting violence against women and girls and learn how you can help create a better world for women, which is a better world for all. Read the full Global Progress for Women Report 2024 at this link.
This is a press release distributed by The EON Group