Not too long ago, I was getting to know a boy and I brought up the fact that I’m a feminist. He started thinking for a minute, and turned to me saying, “How can you be a feminist if gender inequality doesn’t exist anymore?”. I froze, in shock, so I asked him, “Do you think men and women are equal?”. With all certainty, he responded, “Yes, of course, it’s 2025.”

Weeks later, after this conversation, I still thought, do people really think gender inequality just vanished overnight? I soon realized a vast group of people, particularly teenage boys, did in fact have this idea.

The Reality Of Gender Inequality

Gender inequality is more than present in our everyday lives, even in the most advanced societies. The thing is, it’s not always an easy thing to see or understand if it isn’t faced directly.

The question is, why has society made it so easy for us to believe this phenomenon has disappeared?

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Statistics Tell the Truth

Although it may seem gender inequality is something of the past, global statistics don’t say the same. Today women enjoy less than two-thirds of the legal rights available to men. One in three women globally have already suffered physical and/or sexual intimate partner violence, non-partner sexual violence, or both.

Every 11 minutes, a woman or girl is killed by a member of her own family. The list goes on and on. These are real numbers. Real women. How many more lives will it take for us to be listened to? Feminism isn’t something that can be silenced, it’s a unity, a fight.

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Why Has It Been Forgotten?

One of the primary reasons people who live in privileged societies have forgotten about gender inequality is because the most “obvious” problems have been resolved. Yes, girls go to school and have an education. Yes, women can vote. Sometimes it’s the invisible things.

The extra stare when you decide to wear something a little more revealing, the instant alert mode when you’re alone on the street and it starts getting dark out, mom’s “be careful” before you leave to go out with your friends. I'm pretty sure all the girls reading this can agree these are all common examples of what we live on a daily basis.

The Role of Social Media

Social media doesn’t help either. These platforms often spread the belief that feminism has gone “too far” or that men are now the true victims of gender discrimination. This isn’t just a coincidence.

Social media’s algorithms promote engaging content, often favoring controversy and outrage. Many young men who are struggling with job insecurity, dating difficulties, and social expectations blame it on feminism or women’s empowerment.

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What Can We Do?

So, you might ask, where do we start? What measures need to be implemented so that everyone is aware of the current state of society? What do we have to do so that people start taking us seriously?

How can we get rid of it once and for all? It’s simple. Reading this very article is a start. Exposing this type of content on teenage platforms is a great way to raise awareness, especially for the upcoming generations.

We are the future, so we need to be the first ones to take initiative on this matter. Education is another great way too. Schools are something present in absolutely every teenager’s life.

It’s the place where we grow as people. It’s the place where we learn how to be people. Activities such as assemblies, assignments, and projects can be an engaging way to make sure young people are well informed and educated on this topic.

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Conclusion

In conclusion, it is critical we remind ourselves that gender inequality still exists, and that we take action to make sure the upcoming generations are well aware of it. Inequality isn’t something we are going to be able to get rid of easily, but I believe that if we start taking the initiative now and making an effort to change and evolve together, with luck, we won’t have to explain the concept of “inequality” to our grandchildren.