According to the 2025 Women in Media report, just 1% of women in the media industry believe their workplace is truly committed to gender equality. It’s a staggering indictment of a field that often champions progressive narratives while failing to embody them. Nearly 60% of women are dissatisfied with their careers, over one-third are considering leaving, and eight in ten say nothing has changed since the Respect@Work reforms.
Mid-Career Women Are Disillusioned—And It’s Costing the Industry
Especially disillusioned are mid-career women—juggling professional ambitions, caregiving responsibilities, and systemic inequities. This crisis isn’t just about morale; it’s about performance. When women are excluded or undervalued, the industry loses creativity, authenticity, and innovation. A culture that sidelines women also stifles storytelling potential. One agency founder learned this firsthand—after becoming a mother, her career trajectory collapsed despite her dedication. That experience led her to create Equality Media + Marketing, rooted in inclusion and cultural integrity. In 2022, they introduced “Equality Time”—a four-day workweek with full pay. The result? A 14% rise in gross profit, 85% staff retention, and a 23% increase in project volume. Proof that respect drives results.
But while some firms embrace reform, others regress. WPP’s decision to enforce four mandatory office days, for instance, disproportionately affects caregivers—primarily women. A major list of “top creatives” barely included any women at all. It’s not a matter of women lacking talent—it’s the system pushing them out, then questioning their absence.
The real question isn’t why women are leaving—it’s what the industry is losing when they do. Campaigns, ideas, leadership—all gone before they had a chance to take shape. Gender equality isn’t a moral bonus; it’s a business imperative. Respect and psychological safety are essential productivity tools.
So to agency leaders, clients, and award judges: don’t just ask where the women went. Ask what you did to make them stay. Visibility helps—but accountability changes the game.
