I grew up in a very supportive and loving family in which my parents were equal, and I never felt I would experience anything different in the future. Our mother was the classic career-oriented woman, with her own business; she would work almost all day, without, however, making us feel neglected. She proved, through sheer force of will and organization, that you absolutely could be a devoted mother and a dedicated CEO.

I never heard my father say anything offensive or derogatory about women. He respected my mother’s professional life and supported her ambitions as effortlessly as she supported his. Because of this powerful, equal partnership, I thought that’s just life, and everything is set. I figured that if I, a young woman in the 21st century, had never experienced sexism firsthand, then feminism must be a relic of the past, a dusty topic for history books.

I had to grow more, to go to university, to “see the world” alone, to understand that my family wasn’t the rule; it was instead the exception.

Seeing the Patriarchy Everywhere

My sociology studies helped me a lot to realize that what I thought was the case was nothing. When I stepped outside the bubble of my home, I started to see the patriarchy everywhere—a system in which men hold the primary power and predominate in roles of political leadership, moral authority, social privilege, and control of property. It wasn't always loud or overt; sometimes it was subtle.

I started to see it at the university, in the workplace, and even in the subtle comments made by my male friends. It was in the professor who habitually complimented male students more directly; in the colleague who assumed I’d take the meeting notes; in the pervasive cultural narrative that expected me to prioritize my future family over my career ambition.

It was then that I started to realize how important feminism was.

Defining Modern Feminism

I have to make clear that I am not a supporter of radical feminism—the kind that is often misrepresented in headlines. I do not call for a radical reorganization of society by eliminating men from all social and economic contexts.

Instead, I sure believe that women, as much as I want to think the opposite, haven't achieved being treated as equals. Modern feminism, as I define it, is simply the movement for gender equality, seeking to establish the political, economic, personal, and social parity of the sexes. It's about equity, not dominance.

The Data Doesn't Lie: The Enduring Gender Gap

I have done extensive research and study on women's rights in the workplace, society, and family. I have understood that no matter how much we are trying, the gender gap has not been eliminated.

While we've made phenomenal strides since the Suffragettes, the reality is stark, even in the most developed nations:

1. The Economic Gap

Globally, women continue to earn less than men for the same work. The gender pay gap is not just an arbitrary number; it impacts a woman's lifetime earnings, her savings, her pension, and her financial independence. Furthermore, women are often disproportionately clustered in lower-paying industries or roles, and they face the "motherhood penalty," where their earnings dip permanently after having children, while fathers' earnings often rise.

2. The Leadership Gap

The higher you look in corporate, political, or academic structures, the fewer women you see. While women make up a significant share of the entry-level and mid-level management workforce, they rarely reach the highest echelons of power. This is often due to systemic barriers, lack of mentorship, and unconscious biases against female leadership styles. We still struggle to accept that a woman can be both compassionate and ruthlessly effective.

3. The Unpaid Labor Gap

Globally, women still perform the majority of unpaid care and domestic work. This "second shift" of mental load and physical labor severely limits the time and energy women have left to dedicate to paid work, professional development, or leisure, directly hindering their career progression. Until the workplace and the home equally recognize and compensate for this labor, the playing field remains tilted.

The Internalized Struggle: Stereotypes and Unconscious Bias

The most disappointing of all is that in many cases, we, women, sometimes, even unconsciously, fall victims to stereotypes. These are the deeply ingrained cultural narratives that dictate how we should look, behave, and prioritize. These stereotypes affect us in subtle, destructive ways:

• We hesitate to ask for a raise or to negotiate our salary because we've been conditioned to prioritize harmony over self-advocacy.
• We fear being labeled "bossy" or "aggressive" when we demonstrate clear leadership, forcing us to soften our communication.
• We struggle with Impostor Syndrome, often minimizing our own successes because we don't fit the stereotypical image of a powerful leader.

Not to mention that even though we are heading towards 2026, in many countries, women are still treated as objects, who, since the day they are born, belong to their father and then, when they get married, they belong to their husband. These extreme examples remind us that the fight for basic autonomy and rights is still fiercely necessary worldwide.

A System That Harms Everyone: Men and the Patriarchy

It's crucial to acknowledge that even men are victims of this so-called patriarchy. The system that gives them privilege also boxes them into narrow, restrictive roles.

They are grown in an environment full of stereotypes and sexism, which makes it very difficult for them to understand the importance of equality. They are taught that showing emotion is weakness, that asking for help is unmanly, and that prioritizing family over work makes them less of a provider.

This rigid gender coding is why:

• Men struggle with mental health because they're discouraged from showing vulnerability.
• Fathers are often penalized for taking parental leave because it conflicts with the "dedicated worker" male stereotype.
• Men in caregiving roles (like nursing or teaching) often face societal judgment.

Feminism seeks to liberate men from these suffocating constraints, recognizing that true gender equality benefits everyone by allowing all people to pursue their desires without the weight of harmful stereotypes.

The Continuing Conversation

I still struggle to get rid of all the stereotypes I internalized growing up; nevertheless, I’m trying to deal with them and not let them affect my life choices. This journey of self-awareness and unlearning is something every modern woman must undertake.

So, all in all, in the society in which we live, when everything is fluid and the role models change quickly, feminism is more important than ever. We need those voices to understand them and realize that gender equality is not granted and sure is not guaranteed for everyone worldwide.

Feminism isn't about blaming; it's about building a better, more equitable world for every person, regardless of their gender. It's about ensuring that the loving, equal home I grew up in truly becomes the rule, not the exception.

References:

Why We Need Feminism

A Fight For All: Why Feminism Is Still Necessary For The 21st Century

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