A recent Forbes article highlights a year of contrasts for women in political leadership. While historic milestones were achieved, including the election of Japan’s first female prime minister and Namibia’s first female president, progress towards gender parity remains fragile and uneven.
The article draws on findings from the Reykjavík Index for Leadership, which shows that perceptions of women’s leadership have stagnated across the G7, with confidence falling in the UK, Germany and the United States. Of particular concern is evidence that younger generations are becoming less supportive of women in leadership roles than previous generations.
Commenting on the findings, Verian's Global President, Michelle Harrison, said: "A decade ago, we were thinking that time would take care of this. That has not been the case. How do we continue to push forward with the institutional reforms required, so that once women have attained power, they are truly able to retain it?"
Harrison also points to a trend she describes as 'retraditionalization": "The decoupling of young people and progressiveness is an extraordinary thing. Since the 1950s, young cohorts, for decades, have been associated with progressive movements and attitudes. This is the first time we’ve seen that."
The article argues that barriers such as political violence, online harassment and resistance to diversity and inclusion efforts continue to hinder women’s representation in politics. While progress is still being made, the findings underline the need for continued action to ensure women can not only reach positions of power but thrive in them.
Source: Erin Spencer Sairam, Forbes, December 2025