Driving gender equality

International Women’s Day, celebrated annually on 8 March, calls for us to work towards “a world free of bias, stereotypes, and discrimination. A world that’s diverse, equitable, and inclusive”.

Here at Leeds University Business School, our commitment to advancing gender equality is demonstrated across disciplines, with our researchers shaping understanding, influencing policy, and generating practical solutions to strengthen representation, participation, and inclusion for women across the globe.

Below you will find examples of some of the research taking place across the School that seeks to address the challenges women face and help create more equitable systems.

Current and recent research projects

L-earning: rethinking young women’s working lives

This project explores the kinds of paid work young women do while still in education - from retail and hospitality jobs to earning money through digital platforms - and how these early experiences may shape their future careers. By combining national data with interviews and focus groups, the research aims to understand why gender gaps later in life persist and what support young women need to access fair, rewarding work as they grow older.

Visit the website and read the report.

Principal investigators: Professor Kim Allen (University of Leeds); Professor Rachel Cohen (City St. George's, University of London)
Co‑investigators: Professor Kate Hardy (Leeds University Business School); Professor Kirsty Finn (University of Manchester)
Postgraduate researcher: Dr Lilith Brouwers (University of Leeds)

Funded by the Economic and Social Research Council's ‘Transforming Working Lives’ initiative.

Can transnational education address female underrepresentation in Higher Education leadership?

This research examines how UK universities can share and adapt their gender‑equality practices through transnational education to support more women into leadership roles in universities in Ghana and Nigeria. Working with policymakers and university staff in all three countries, the team will examine existing policies, identify what works, and assess how these approaches can be effectively transferred to strengthen opportunities for women across African higher education.

Visit the webpage.

Principal investigator: Dr Gideon Azumah and Professor Yingqi Wei (Leeds University Business School)
Co-investigators: Dr Nafisat Olabisi (Loughborough Business School, Loughborough University, UK); Cynthia Itboh Abagre (University for Development Studies, Ghana); Professor Salihu Adelabu (Oyo State Education Commissioner, Nigeria); Honourable Lydia Akanvaraba (Member of Parliament, Ghana)

Funded by the British Council.

Women into Studying Economics (WiSE)

This project investigated why so few young women choose to study economics, despite the important benefits that come from having a more diverse group of economists. By surveying school and university students and speaking directly with young women, the research aimed to uncover what puts them off the subject and use those insights to encourage more women into the field.

Visit the webpage and listen to the podcast episode.

Principal investigator: Dr Peter Hughes, Dr Bianca Orsi, Dr Juliane Scheffel (Leeds University Business School)

Migrant women in business – A focus on West Yorkshire

This research looked at how to better support migrant women who want to start their own businesses, recognising that they face extra challenges such as childcare pressures, limited networks, or not knowing what help is available. By working with migrant women and local support organisations, the project aimed to improve access to business advice and finance, helping more women build successful, sustainable enterprises in West Yorkshire and beyond.

Visit the webpage and read the report.

Principal investigator: Ewa Lelontko (Migration Yorkshire)
Co-investigators: Dr Deema Refai (Leeds University Business School)

Funded by the West Yorkshire Combined Authority through the Enterprise West Yorkshire Development Fund.

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion

Gender is a key dimension of Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI), intersecting with factors such as ethnicity, socioeconomic background, disability, sexual orientation, and age. Understanding these intersections is essential for designing policies that account for the complexity of people’s lived experiences.

Here are two current projects, led by academics in the Business School, that explore aspects of EDI.

Improving performance through Diversity and Inclusion in National Highways’ supply Chain

This project looks at how improving equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI) within National Highways’ supply chain, and the wider construction sector, can help boost workforce performance and productivity. By testing real‑world EDI initiatives and analysing data on recruitment, skills and retention, the research aims to show how inclusive practices can strengthen both people and business outcomes across the industry.

Principal investigator: Professor Jennifer Tomlinson (University of Leeds)
Co-investigators: Dr Danat Valizade, Dr Kathryn Watson, Dr Jack Daly (University of Leeds) and Dr Cheryl Hurst (University of Reading)

Visit the webpage, read the report, use the toolbox.

Funded by National Highways and Innovation UK.

Rethinking EDI Practice and policy through evolutionary psychology (REDI)

This research examines how multinational enterprises can make their EDI commitments truly meaningful by looking at what actually drives inclusive behaviour and effective policies. By applying insights from evolutionary psychology, the research aims to help companies build EDI initiatives that genuinely improve workplace culture and deliver real benefits for employees and businesses alike.

Principal investigator: Dr Hanna Gajewska-De Mattos
Co-investigators: Dr Riikka Harikkala-Laihinen

Visit the webpage.

Funded by the European Union.

Other research and resources

• Blog post by Dr Sally Chan: How women’s martial arts imagery challenged stereotypes in British television, film and advertising

• Blog post by Dr Haya Al-Dajani, Dr Maysa Baroud and Dr Deema Refai: Between Survival and Empowerment: Refugee Women’s Entrepreneurship in Jordan and Lebanon

• Blog post by Dr Leila Gautham and Dr Ihsaan Bassier: Why are women paid less than men? New research in South Africa shows the company you work for makes the biggest difference

To stay up-to-date with our research that promotes inclusion in the workplace and society, visit our Insights page.