Gender equality has dominated much of 2017's discourse, but we're still some way off to bridging that gap. Big businesses are weighing in and responding with campaigns that empower women, rather than employ stereotypes – something over 70% of women want from brands.

While nearly half of women say they prefer to buy from companies that challenge gender stereotypes, branded feminism in the form of pink-washed products and #girlpower hashtags is often seen as insensitive and unimpressive. So, how can marketers empower women in an authentic way?

Bodyform’s ‘Blood’ commercial is the first to tackle the physical manifestation of having a period. Vials of blue liquid and grinning, rollerblading models have been replaced with blood from powerful sportswomen. Does this advert represent real women’s attitudes to menstruation?

As more social media users develop an aversion to flawless feeds, while the #skinpositivity movement champions supposed ‘imperfections’, brands across sectors are facing calls to stop retouching reality. But why exactly are airbrushed images so problematic, and should they carry warning labels?