How can art drive equality for women? Two cultural trailblazers weigh in

The World Economic Forum’s 2024 Global Gender Gap Report reveals that achieving equality will take an estimated 134 years – underscoring the deep-rooted nature of gender inequality.

This inequality is ingrained in cultural norms, traditions, and societal attitudes that define gender roles and power dynamics. While policy reforms are essential, cultural change is just as crucial in shifting beliefs and behaviours. The cultural sector, spanning art, media, entertainment, and education, has the power to lead this transformation.

Through media, literature, music, and art, the cultural sector shapes public perception, either reinforcing or challenging stereotypes. By championing diverse representations of gender and ethnicity, it fosters a more inclusive understanding of gender and inspires individuals to question traditional roles, opening the door to more equitable possibilities.

The cultural sector can further promote inclusion by amplifying marginalized voices, including women of colour, LGBTQ+ individuals, and those from diverse socioeconomic backgrounds, who are often underrepresented or misrepresented in mainstream media. This not only enriches our understanding of human experiences but also highlights how race, class, and other identities intersect to exacerbate gender inequality.

Additionally, the cultural sector must address inequality within its own structures, ensuring equal representation and opportunities for women and non-binary individuals in leadership roles and behind the scenes. By modelling equity and inclusion, it can set a powerful example for other sectors to follow.

With its significant potential to shape the future, the cultural sector has the ability to challenge stereotypes, amplify diverse narratives, and advocate for gender equality. The question now is: How can we harness this potential to drive real change and close the gender gap for generations to come?

We asked two cultural leaders ahead of Davos 2025 how they interpret the role of the cultural sector in reducing the gender gap, and what actions they have taken that have had the most impact. Misty Copeland is a Principal Dancer with American Ballet Theatre, and the first Black woman to be promoted to the position in the company's 75-year history. Yana Peel is the Global Head of Arts and Culture at CHANEL, and is also a board member of the Fondation CHANEL, dedicated to the advancement of women and girls across the world.

Misty Copeland, Principal Dancer with American Ballet Theatre

The cultural sector is a powerful engine for change. It shapes narratives, challenges stereotypes, and sparks movements. As someone who has spent my life in ballet – a field historically steeped in tradition and inequality – I’ve seen how art can be a mirror to society, reflecting both its flaws and its potential.

To reduce the gender gap, the cultural sector must first embrace diverse voices at every level. Women – and especially women of colour – must not only be on stage but also in positions of leadership: directing companies, producing films, curating exhibitions, and crafting policy. When women lead, they bring unique perspectives that can inspire systemic change.

Representation matters. Seeing women thrive in traditionally male-dominated spaces rewires how society, and especially young girls, perceive what’s possible. But representation alone isn’t enough. The sector must also commit to equitable practices: equal pay for equal work, mentorship programmes that uplift emerging talent, and initiatives that dismantle the barriers that women face.

Most importantly, culture must provoke dialogue. Art has the unique ability to challenge biases subtly yet profoundly. A ballet, a play, a film, or even a single photograph can ignite empathy and spark a shift in mindset.

Closing the gender gap is a collective responsibility. The cultural sector holds the brush, the stage, the camera – tools to paint a more equal world. It’s time to wield them boldly.

Yana Peel, Global Head of Arts and Culture at CHANEL

Supporting women across the arts is not a luxury; it is essential. The World Economic Forum’s Global Gender Gap report says it will take 135 years to close the gender gap, but culture moves faster. Our capacity to value the importance of women in society will define The Intelligent Age. There is no doubt that when women thrive, the world thrives.

But we also know that in most sectors, culture among them, women’s contributions have often been dismissed or miscredited. The Burns Halperin Report found that just 11% of acquisitions at US museums in the last decade were of work by female-identifying artists. A recent Art Basel and UBS study also shed light on the market disparity: women artists accounted for only 2% of the global art auction market in recent years. (The most expensive work by a male artist –Leonard DaVinci’s Salvador Mundi at 450$ million was a multiple of ten to Georgia O’Keefe’s record-breaking Jimson Weed).

At CHANEL, we have celebrated trailblazing women for over a century; this founding principle defines our present and drives the future. We are a female-founded company, led by CEO Leena Nair, and we’re supported by a gender-balanced executive team. We partner on five continents with over fifty institutions on programmes that have supported work by thousands of female creatives through time.

We also have a number of targeted, proactive initiatives. The House Sustainability Ambition includes a focus on dignity and opportunity for all, particularly the autonomy of women. The Fondation CHANEL, where I serve as a board member, annually grants well over $100 million to ensure women and girls across the world can choose the destiny they want and deserve.

The CHANEL Culture Fund celebrates women’s achievements through targeted philanthropy and partnership. For example, it took just three years to double the presence of women as artists and sitters at London’s National Portrait Gallery and now the incoming 13^th director of the institution is – for the first time – female.

As the world moves further into the digital age, CHANEL is committed to equipping today’s artists with tomorrow’s tools, offering balanced access to technology. To that end, we are spotlighting visionaries in new media, like Cao Fei, Sarah Meyohas and LuYang, alongside allies like Refik Anadol, whose inclusive recognition of the contributions by women – such as pioneer Vera Molnar – helps highlight their essential roles in male-dominated fields like digital art and data science.