Gender Washing? Examining the Effectiveness of Corporate Gender Equality Initiatives

Amid growing political backlash and the rollback of DEI initiatives in the US and abroad, we explore whether voluntary gender equality programs produce measurable reductions in workplace gender discrimination, and how the political context mediates these effects. We examine the theoretical tension regarding whether such agendas are primarily about window dressing or in genuine pursuit of organizational gender equity. Using a quasi‐natural experiment design, our findings suggest that DEI commitments, when embedded in credible global frameworks, can produce substantive improvements in organizational behavior. This evidence contributes to ongoing debates over the value of corporate DEI efforts.