Why Is Survival Still a Luxury for Women?

I recently came across a campaign by Forsman & Bodenfors London that deeply resonated with me. It posed a series of simple yet revealing questions:

Imagine a CEO—Is it a man?
Imagine someone crying at work—was it a woman?
Imagine an investor—who comes to mind?

And so on…..Read it here- International-Womens-Day-Imagine

Why do these stereotypes persist, shaping our perceptions of competence and strength? And more importantly, how do we change this narrative?

The truth is, these biases don’t just exist in our imagination—they dictate the way women experience the world every day.

The Reality of Womanhood

Growing up, I never knew a relaxed woman. Successful women? Yes. Productive women? Plenty. Anxious and afraid and apologetic women? Heaps of them. But relaxed women? At ease women? Women who could walk home safely at night without clutching their keys between their fingers? Women who could voice their opinions without worrying about being labeled "too emotional" or "too aggressive"? Women who didn’t have to second-guess what they wore based on where they were going? Women who could exist in public spaces without shrinking themselves, without constantly scanning their surroundings, without feeling like they had to apologize for simply being there?

I’m not sure I’ve ever met a woman like that. But I would like to become one. I would like all of us to become one.

The Uncomfortable Questions We Must Ask

Why do women still text their friends, “Made it home safe,” every night?
Why do women’s opinions still get dismissed in boardrooms?
Why is walking alone at night a calculated risk, not a simple decision?
Why do we still measure a woman’s worth by her marital status or appearance?
Why does a woman have to work twice as hard to prove she belongs?

The fight for women's rights is not just about annual celebrations or social media hashtags. It’s about ensuring that equality, safety, and opportunity are embedded into everyday life. 

The Reality of Gender Inequality in Numbers

While we celebrate Women’s Day, the fight for gender equality is far from over. The numbers tell a sobering story:

• Gender Pay Gap: Women globally earn 20% less than men on average for the same work (World Economic Forum, 2023).
• Workplace Inequality: Only 32% of managerial positions worldwide are held by women (ILO, 2023).
• Safety Concerns: A staggering 81% of women worldwide have experienced some form of sexual harassment or assault in their lifetime (UN Women, 2023).
• Mental Load & Unpaid Work: Women perform 76% of the world’s unpaid care work, from childcare to household labor (OECD, 2023).

What Needs to Change?

This year’s Women’s Day theme, "Accelerating the Action," serves as a crucial reminder that while we celebrate progress, we must push harder for real, systemic change.

Laws exist, initiatives are launched, and campaigns go viral. But what about the invisible struggles? The mental load of always being alert, the unspoken rules women follow to "stay safe," the biases that quietly dictate their career growth, safety, and economic opportunities? Who is measuring that? Beyond policies and programs, are these initiatives truly reaching the women who need them most?

The reality is progress is not evenly distributed. While urban working women may benefit from corporate policies, millions of women in rural areas and informal sectors lack access to even basic rights. To bridge this gap, change must be implemented at multiple levels—government, organizations, and society.

Key Areas for Urgent Change 

1. Safer Public Spaces

• 67% of women globally feel unsafe walking alone at night (Gallup, 2023).
• Many cities lack adequate street lighting, emergency response systems, and gender-sensitive policing.

Government should Implement smart surveillance systems with AI-powered monitoring in high-risk areas that should actually be in working condition and increase police patrols and response units. Strengthen public transport safety by deploying camouflaged personnel on buses and in metro stations.

Organizations & Communities should sponsor safe transport options for female employees coming from a long distance.

Residential societies must push for better street lighting and local security patrols.

2. Workplace Equality

• Women still earn 20% less than men on average for the same work (World Economic Forum, 2023).
• Many industries still lack salary transparency and gender-neutral hiring policies.
• Only 32% of managerial positions worldwide are held by women (ILO, 2023).
• Women are less likely to be promoted, especially after motherhood.

Organizations should make pay audits mandatory for all companies above a certain size and penalize workplaces with unjustified gender pay gaps. Conduct annual gender pay gap reviews and publish transparent salary structures. Implement blind hiring processes to reduce unconscious bias. Enforce mandatory parental leave for both parents to remove biases against hiring women. Require companies to report gender diversity statistics in leadership roles.

3. Ending Gender-Based Violence

• 1 in 3 women globally experience physical or sexual violence (WHO, 2023).
• Many survivors lack access to legal aid and support services.

Government should Set up fast-track courts for gender-based violence cases. Increase funding for survivor shelters, counseling, and legal aid.

Companies should Introduce zero-tolerance workplace policies for harassment, backed by strong reporting and implementation mechanisms. Provide self-defense and bystander intervention training as part of employee wellness programs.

4. Mental & Emotional Well-being

• Women are twice as likely as men to experience anxiety and depression (APA, 2023).
• Workplace burnout disproportionately affects women due to unpaid labor at home.

Solutions: Make mental health counseling services free and accessible in workplaces and communities. Provide grants for women entrepreneurs to support financial independence. Implement mental health days and access to therapy sessions for employees. Offer career re-entry programs for women returning after a career break.

What Can We Do as Individuals?

While systemic change requires government and corporate intervention, change also starts with us:

1. Challenge Biases in Daily Conversations

• If someone says, “She’s too aggressive,” ask, “Would you say that about a man?”
• Avoid gendered expectations—don’t assume a woman should take notes or manage emotional labor.
• Speak up when you notice sexist jokes or casual stereotyping. 
• Recommend and credit women's work—whether it's a colleague’s idea in a meeting or an artist’s work online.

2. Make Public Spaces Safer for Women

• If you see a woman being harassed in public, use the "Distract, Delegate, Direct" method to safely intervene.
• Walk female friends or colleagues to their transport at night.
• Report broken streetlights or unsafe areas to local authorities.
  
  

3. Educate & Empower the Next Generation

• Teach young boys and girls about consent, respect, and equality—it starts at home.
• Encourage young girls to pursue leadership roles, STEM careers, or entrepreneurship.

Not all change requires massive reforms—sometimes, it’s the small actions repeated by many that spark real transformation.

A Future Where This Is No Longer a Conversation

Women’s Day should not just be a date on the calendar. It should be a checkpoint—a reminder that progress isn’t just about big reforms but about small, continuous changes that make a real difference.

If we want a world where women don’t just survive but thrive, we must move beyond symbolic gestures. It’s time for action, accountability, and an unwavering commitment to making equality a lived reality.

The question is no longer "What do women deserve?"
The question is "When will we finally give it to them?"‍