Some of the speakers at the leadership debate in London have been tweeting about the new connections they have made.

Marta Martínez Arellano says: "Studies prove that beauty attracts approval at school and in the family - and this would be integrated by the individual conditioning his/her own perspective about possible success and acceptance.

"On the other hand men are increasingly conditioned by their image.

"Feminine beauty can also attract other women rivalry."

Thanks for P Murray, a teacher in Barbados, for emailing in. He writes: "The majority of my sixth form chemistry students are female‎, the majority of students who go on to university in this region are female, the majority of students studying to be doctors are females.

"As educators, one of our concerns is the apparent decline of our boys. Having said all of this, however, the majority of leaders in our society are still male."

The so-called Gulabi Gang, or Pink Vigilantes, are taking part in a 100 Women debate in the city of Banda. “A good girl knows that her value is not defined by the opinion of people,” says Sampat Pal, the group’s leader, “but rather by who she is and the one who made her. There is no rare or glittering jewel or metal that could compare with her worth.”

More from the debate at Jedlik Ányos High School in Budapest, where they are now talking about appearance. “You don't have to dress up a woman as a man to give her authority," says one.

"Our society is very consumerist, and image is part of that" says Marta Martinez, from the Gather The Women group taking part in a discussion in Pamplona.

Actress and activist Swe Zin Htike is taking part in the BBC Burmese Google Hangout. She says: “There is male domination in Burmese society. But I resist that pressure. I will not change my lifestyle for them.”

Lida Minasyan, from the Society Without Violence NGO in Armenia, has sent in the following highlights from the debate there:

• Women are seen as sex objects

• Women are seen as having less intellect
• No equal opportunities and salaries
• Women are the "inside wall" of the family
• Maternity leave is violated

More from cartoonist David Lewis, external who is capturing the debate in London.

Image source, David Lewis

Thanks to those in Nara, Japan, who sent in this picture, featuring some seriously switched-on school girls.

She says they are "now thinking about problems related to our situation as high school girls".

Palestinian women have been taking part in a debate in the West Bank. “The individual and the collective belief and work by women is the way to advance their position," says one participant. "In our society the quota currently is the way to advance women in public positions. Quotas are the first step for women to enter public positions in our societies.”

Debates are also beginning at Insead Business School in France and Bhopal in India.

Image source, bbc

Debates led by the Society Without Violence, a non-governental organisation, are kicking off in Yerevan.

There are still groups joining the debate around the world. In the Netherlands, the development organisation Gender Concerns International is holding an event in The Hague (pictured) shortly, and there are more discussions starting in Hong Kong at the Kelly Yang Project, in Uganda and South Africa.

Talk is turning to fashion. “You have to dress for your audience. The way you dress is the way you'll be addressed. Follow your trend if it is not offending your community. Know what suits you and not necessarily the fashion trend.”

Martina Martinez says: "There it goes! We start our debate."

Stephen Caulfield, one of the founders of Dell's Men Advocating Real Change (MARC) programme, says: “Men have fear. Fear of breaking the norm. It’s about challenging mindsets, learning about them and embracing them.”

Cartoonist David Lewis, external has been capturing the debate at the BBC's Broadcasting House in London.

Image source, David Lewis

Allyson Zimmermann, executive director of Catalyst, says:

“Women are not at the top of the posts - they are not in leadership roles.

"This is because of unconscious bias. If you think leader, there is an automatic setting that you think male.”