Workplace Challenges and Changing Gender Roles
Gender stereotypes still influence hiring, promotions, and workplace expectations. Women might be seen as less committed or capable for leadership roles, especially after having children. Sexual harassment, unequal pay, and limited advancement opportunities remain real issues.
Parenthood hits women's careers harder than men's. Many women take career breaks or switch to part-time work for childcare, whilst men rarely face the same expectations or career penalties. Society still expects women to be the primary caregivers, despite recent moves towards shared parental leave.
Traditional gender roles are slowly shifting - more men are taking on caring responsibilities, and more women are entering traditionally male sectors. However, progress remains frustratingly slow, and women still do the majority of unpaid domestic work.
Reality Check: Even when women work full-time, they typically come home to a 'second shift' of housework and childcare that men often don't share equally.