Creating a just and equitable world for all is the goal of gender equality, not simply women’s rights. However, ingrained prejudices still exist in spite of decades of advancement. Social norms that define how women and other oppressed genders should look, act, and live continue to affect them, as do wage disparities, a lack of representation in leadership roles, and gender-based violence.

Since things have gotten better, it’s simple to believe that feminism has “done its job.” However, equality is actually a long way off. Understanding the scope of the problem is the first step towards contributing to the ongoing battle for gender justice. This entails confronting outmoded conventions, hearing voices that have been silenced, and unlearning prejudices that have been engrained in us for many generations.

The Struggle for True Equality

For people who encounter gender prejudice, it’s a daily reality rather than merely an abstract idea. It includes being ignored in meetings, experiencing harassment on the street, receiving criticism for prioritizing one’s profession over one’s family (or vice versa), or struggling to reach unachievable beauty standards. It’s the never-ending struggle for equality, visibility, and respect.

It’s simple for people who haven’t experienced these hardships directly to write them off as inflated or out of date. However, gender inequality affects not only women but also men, non-binary people, and everyone in between in every community. We all gain from true equality because it creates more equitable societies, stronger economies, and healthier relationships.

What Can We Do?

Though it starts with knowledge, change never stops. We must pay attention, pick up knowledge, and act. This entails identifying instances of sexism in daily life, denouncing prejudice, and supporting laws that advance gender equality. It entails teaching our kids, regardless of gender, to value justice and decency. Above all, it entails elevating the voices of people who have been engaged in this struggle for many generations.

Books are among the most effective means of self-education. Books provide us with the knowledge to advocate for change, challenge our viewpoints, and expose us to various lived experiences.

Books to Deepen Your Understanding

We Should All Be Feminists – Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie (Buy Here)
Adichie’s well-known TED Talk served as the inspiration for this brief but impactful article. She explains why feminism is still relevant today and why everyone should support the fight for gender equality using personal tales and cultural analysis.

The Second Sex – Simone de Beauvoir (Unfortunately I am not getting its link in Amazon, showing sold out, I had bought it from a local store)

This ground-breaking feminist work examines how society has shaped women’s roles and the historical oppression of women. Beauvoir explores the ways in which women have been characterized as “the other” in a world dominated by men and advocates for their emancipation by self-awareness and education.

Men Explain Things to Me– Rebecca Solnit (Buy Here)
This collection of articles sheds light on how women’s voices are frequently disregarded, ignored, or silenced—particularly in professional and social contexts. The title piece, which went viral, takes a hilarious and pointed look at the experience of being “mansplained” to.

Invisible Women: Data Bias in a World Designed for Men– Caroline Criado Perez (Buy Here)
This eye-opening book dives at how data and systems across industries—from healthcare to transportation—fail to account for women’s demands. Criado Perez reveals how gender bias in design and research has practical repercussions for women and other oppressed genders.

Bad Feminist– Roxane Gay (Buy Here)
A deeply personal and witty collection of essays, Gay explores the contradictions and complexities of feminism in modern society. She reflects on pop culture, race, and politics while embracing the idea that feminism isn’t about perfection—it’s about striving for a better world.

Change Starts With Us

Feminism isn’t about women vs. men—it’s about dismantling systems that oppress and limit us all. It’s about making space for everyone to thrive, free from outdated gender expectations.

So, ask yourself: What biases do I hold? How can I be a better ally? What small actions can I take today to support equality?

Because gender equality isn’t just a women’s issue—it’s a human issue. And it starts with each of us deciding to be part of the change.