Diverse representation is an expectation, but as individuals no longer allow themselves to be defined in singular terms, there's mounting pressure on brands to understand and sensitively reflect how the intersections between race, gender, class, and ability impact people's everyday lives.

The past decade has seen political polarisation – accelerated by social media’s filter bubbles and echo chambers – deepen and mutate. An ominous era of a polycrisis has shattered any remaining societal consensus. Meanwhile, powerful anti-establishment voices have stepped into the void.

Reporting an imbalance in gender roles and evident gender bias, a survey has found that a majority of women in South Korea believe they’re treated unequally compared to men. So, there's room for brands to offer effective ways to close the inequality gap and make women feel seen.

An Olympian’s short hair added fuel to the fire of an ongoing gender war in South Korea. As South Korea sheds some of its ingrained gender norms, women are finding their voices in speaking up against patriarchal powers by advocating for gender equality.

From cutting their hair short and wearing glasses on TV to smashing their cosmetics, many South Korean women are rebelling against strict beauty standards. Online movement #escapethecorset is battling against the country’s traditional cultural ideals and highlighting other feminist issues.

The ‘death of the #girlboss’ has galvanised conversations about White feminism and how it fails to advocate for women from historically marginalised communities. Canvas8 spoke to author and journalist Koa Beck about her book White Feminism and why brand allyship should be intersectional.