Seeing Women Clearly: Progress, Partnership and the Power of Change

As we move into spring, I’ve been reflecting on the momentum behind our ‘See Her’ campaign and the energy that so many of you across Women in Social Housing (WISH) have brought to it. The campaign began with a simple but powerful premise: if we want a fairer and better housing sector, we must ensure women are truly seen — in leadership, in decision-making, in policy, and in the everyday experiences of the people who live and work in our homes and communities.

Over the past few months, I have been encouraged by the response. Across our regions we have had thoughtful conversations, inspiring events and practical collaboration. It is clear that there is a real appetite in our sector to better understand women’s experiences and to make sure that the structures around housing – from workplace culture to customer services – reflect them.

One of the most visible ways we have explored these issues is through the latest series of the If I Had One WISH podcast focusing on the ‘See Her’ campaign. The series has brought together a number of remarkable leaders and thinkers to share the one WISH they would make to create a more equitable housing sector. These conversations have been honest, challenging and uplifting in equal measure.

A standout moment for me was the episode with housing and homelessness leader Polly Neate, past CEO of Shelter, whose reflections on leadership and visibility resonated deeply with the aims of the campaign. 

Her insight goes to the heart of what the See Her campaign is about. When we see data through the lens of women's experiences, the whole system benefits — colleagues, organisations and the communities we serve.

Alongside these conversations, we have been working hard behind the scenes to turn ideas into practical tools for the sector. One of the key developments is a new e-book resource currently in development, which will provide guidance on how to apply a gender-lensed approach in social housing.

The aim is simple: to help organisations consider how policies, services and workplace cultures can impact women differently. The resource will include practical tips, case studies and questions organisations can use to challenge their assumptions. From tenant engagement and safety considerations to leadership pathways and workplace policies, we want to help housing professionals ask a simple but transformative question: “How does this look through a gender lens?”

Importantly, this conversation is not only about internal culture. It also has implications for how the sector responds to tenants. As part of the campaign, we have written to both the Housing Ombudsman and the Regulator of Social Housing to explore how a gender-lens approach could be reflected in complaints handling and tenant satisfaction reporting.

Women experience housing services in very specific ways — whether safety in the home, domestic abuse, caregiving responsibilities or financial pressures. Recognising those realities in how complaints are assessed and how satisfaction data is analysed could help ensure the system works more fairly for everyone.

Of course, WISH is not alone in pushing this agenda forward. Across the wider employment landscape there are encouraging signs that organisations and networks are recognising the importance of visibility and fairness for women at work.

One example is the emerging Working Women’s Charter, being championed by the UNISON Women’s Network, which aims to strengthen commitments around equality, flexible working and workplace support for women. Initiatives like this demonstrate the growing momentum behind the idea that workplaces must evolve to meet the realities of modern working lives.

Yet there is still much to do. Despite decades of progress, structural inequality remains stubbornly persistent. According to the World Economic Forum’s Global Gender Gap Report, at the current pace it could take 123 years to achieve full global gender parity. 

Closer to home, analysis in the UK suggests the gender pay gap may still take around 30 years to close if progress continues at its current rate. 

These figures remind us that change does not happen automatically. It requires sustained attention, leadership and collective action.

That is why events like International Women’s Day remain so important. Across the WISH regions this year we saw a fantastic programme of events celebrating women’s achievements and sharing ideas for the future. From mentoring sessions and panel discussions to networking gatherings and learning events, the enthusiasm across the network was truly inspiring.

I had the privilege of attending the WISH North East International Women’s Day event, where I joined a panel discussion with other leaders from across the sector. The conversation ranged from career journeys and allyship to the structural changes needed to support the next generation of women leaders. What struck me most was the sense of solidarity in the room — a reminder that when women come together to share experiences, powerful things happen.

Looking ahead, the See Her campaign will continue to evolve. In the coming months we will be launching the ‘Here Come the Boys’ series of the If I Had One WISH podcast, inviting male allies from across the sector to share how they can help create workplaces where women thrive. Gender equality is not a women’s issue alone; it is a collective responsibility.

We will also be releasing the gender-lens e-book, providing organisations with the practical guidance they need to embed these ideas in their everyday work.

Ultimately, the goal of the campaign is simple but profound: to make sure women are seen — in our workplaces, in our leadership and in the communities we serve.

Because when we truly see and value women, everyone benefits. As one of my favourite reflections on equality reminds us:

“When women are visible, valued and empowered, workplaces grow stronger, communities become more resilient, and society moves forward together.”

Thank you to everyone across WISH who continues to champion this work. The progress we are making is a testament to the collective power of our network — and the belief that when we see her, we build a better future for all.

Crystal Hicks, WISH President