“Unfortunately, even in the 21st century, there is still a lot of inequality. I won't name the company, but in 2023, before finishing my degree, I worked in a company that did not hire women with children, as they said the only priority had to be the company. The few of us who managed to get in couldn't get emergency leave. I'm a single mother and it got complicated when they asked me to stay late. I think that many women even have to omit mentioning that they have a child if they want to get a job and to be able to raise their children.
I didn't stay very long in that company. Thank God I got a better offer. In the workplace, women are seen as the weaker sex, but I think we are becoming more empowered, we are fighting to earn respect and jobs to bring up our children with a lot of effort and sacrifice. I am raising a boy who, when he becomes a man, will be able to give women the place they deserve. We are on an equal footing; we may not have the same physical strength, but we have the courage and the desire to be a game changer.” - Leyla, 32 years old
Gender justice is not a privilege—it is a fundamental right. Yet, as Leyla’s testimony reveals, women across the world continue to face systemic barriers in the workplace and beyond. The discrimination against working mothers, the expectation that women must choose between career and family, and the lack of institutional support for caregivers are clear manifestations of gender injustice. These inequalities are deeply rooted in patriarchal structures that limit women's autonomy, economic independence, and participation in society.
Leyla’s experience is not an exception but a reflection of a global reality where women are judged not on their skills or potential, but on outdated gender roles. When companies refuse to hire women with children or deny them emergency leave, they reinforce a system that penalizes caregiving—a role disproportionately carried by women. When working mothers feel compelled to hide their parental status to access job opportunities, it is a sign of a broken system that prioritizes profits over people.
The Urgent Need for Gender Justice
Gender justice is about dismantling the structures that sustain inequality and ensuring that all women—regardless of their parental status, socioeconomic background, or profession—have access to the same rights and opportunities as men. This requires systemic change in labor policies, workplace cultures, and social protections.
On this International Women’s Day, we demand:
Equal Employment Opportunities: Employers must be held accountable for discriminatory hiring practices that exclude women, especially mothers, from the workforce.
Workplace Protections and Flexibility: Governments and businesses must implement policies that support women, including paid parental leave, emergency leave, and flexible work arrangements.
Recognition of Care Work as Essential Labor: Caregiving, whether paid or unpaid, must be valued as essential to the economy, and those who provide it should not be penalized.
Cultural and Institutional Change: Gender biases that label women as weak or uncommitted workers must be dismantled through education, legal frameworks, and proactive company policies.
Leyla’s hope for her son—to grow up in a world where women are treated as equals—must become a collective commitment. Gender justice is not just about empowering women; it is about transforming societies to be more inclusive, equitable, and just for everyone.
The fight for gender justice is the fight for a better future.
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