Are Women Getting a Fair Deal?

The world is moving fast with urbanization and modernization reshaping our lives. Women across all walks of life are stepping into paid jobs more than ever before. In cities around the globe, access to education for women has skyrocketed compared to decades ago, opening fresh doors, sparking new awareness, and fueling ambitions for personal and career growth. But here’s the tea: economic pressures, especially since the post-liberalization era, mean that having two incomes in a household is no longer a luxury, it’s a necessity.

Most studies reveal that when married women work, economic independence tops the reasons list. And with that—women are juggling more than ever. They’re not just breadwinners but still shoulder most of the home and childcare duties, with little relief from partners. Society’s “ideal woman” is expected to be a devoted wife, a self-sacrificing mom, an obedient daughter-in-law, and an ambitious professional—all at once. It’s a vibe that often leads to stress and mental burnout, as no one can really ace all those roles perfectly at the same time.

Here’s the catch: the biggest stress spike happens because we’re running full speed on the modern track without stepping off the traditional one. While nuclear families dominate urban lifestyles, emotional ties to extended families remain strong—and so do the old expectations. Men’s roles often stay unchanged, and fear of not meeting childcare responsibilities weighs heavily on working women worldwide.

In India, women’s participation in the workforce is rising with rapid economic growth, but the feudal mindset hasn’t disappeared. Many men still expect women to manage the home front completely, making the “double burden” real and historic. This imbalance exists globally and needs urgent change.

Data from 2025 shows women make up about 41.2% of the global workforce, but progress on true equality is slow. The World Economic Forum’s Global Gender Gap Report 2025 reveals the overall gender gap is only 68.8% closed worldwide—and at the current pace, it could take 123 years to reach full parity. While women outnumber men in higher education enrollment, they remain underrepresented in leadership: only about 29.5% of senior managers are women, and in corporate C-suites, women hold just 29%.

In the UK, narrowing the gender pay gap and increasing women’s participation could boost GDP by billions by 2030, showing that closing the gender gap isn’t just fair, it’s smart economics.

Sadly, the “glass ceiling” is still glassy and intact. Women face stereotypes as fragile or ineffective, and the career climb gets steeper for those balancing family duties. The journey to parity in corporate leadership is projected to take 22 years for White women and 48 years for women of color in the U.S. alone. This isn’t just numbers, its real momentum lost and wasted potential.

What can we do? We need a cultural reboot at home, work, and society. Families need to share household responsibilities equally, and women must have equal voices in decisions—whether at home or in the boardroom. Governments and corporations should tackle stereotypes, dismantle barriers, and create policies that value women’s contributions fully.

So, here’s a little manifesto: Do what you gotta do. Be independent and own your journey. Use your strength, your arms and legs—for your dreams. Don’t overload your mom, sister, or friend with all the work. Share the load. Let each person live their best life.

Fair deal means equal deal. And 2025 is the year to turn that “fair” into reality.