How Gender Equity Benefits Everyone (And What You Can Do to Advocate for It)

With the rise of far-right influencers and ultra-conservative leaders, women all over the world are under attack. But there are simple, everyday measures you can take to help them.

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2025-03-31T08:30:08.977Z

Gender equity remains elusive in many parts of the world because it is opposed by the very people who may benefit from it.

This isn’t just referring to highly conservative women (the kind who support policies, values, and personalities collectively aiming to limit their roles to breeder, housekeeper, and caretaker.) This also isn’t just for queer people, the right-leaning ones who court the approval of the dominant by supporting ideologies that diminish if not harm them. This also goes for the historical beneficiaries of inequity: the cisgender, heteronormative men. Chief opponents of gender inequity come from this demographic but various studies show that they too can benefit from it.

According to research conducted by the International Monetary Fund, equity through inclusiveness can be good for the economy which, in turn, can lead to both stability and a better quality of life for the general public. In the study (discussed by the European Investment Bank,) it is concluded that the narrowing of the gender gap in labor markets can increase the gross domestic product (GDP) in developing economies like the Philippines by around 8 percent. It added that the gains from fully closing this gap would be even higher since that can lift the GDP in those countries by 23 percent on average.

This can happen because of something basic: by giving women the same opportunities men have while making it safe and healthy for them to pursue those opportunities, a country can potentially maximize its employable population.

“Simply put,” the bank stated, “mobilizing all available talent maximizes productivity and competitiveness.” This appears to be true even on smaller scales.

A study by the management consulting firm McKinsey & Company titled “Diversity Wins” examined a data set of more than 1,000 large companies in 15 countries. After doing so, it came to the conclusion that groups in the top quartile for gender diversity “were 25 percent more likely to have above-average profitability than companies in the fourth quartile.” In other words, the more diverse a company, the better it performs.

Various firms attest to this. Chief among them is Johnson & Johnson—the famed pharmaceutical commonly recognized for positive fiscal performance. According to the firm, diversity helps with problem-solving since it allows the firm access to unique perspectives and ideas. It can tap this by being non-discriminatory in its hiring process and creating a healthy working environment for all. Then there’s Cisco, the tech company repeatedly earning the top spot in Fortune’s “Best 100 Companies to Work For.” The group sees its openness to diversity as a key to hiring and retaining the best talent.

But despite the advantages of diversity, particularly through gender equity, various forces have intensified their efforts to push back against it.

The work of researchers Brenda Major and Cheryl Kaiser suggests that this could be partly due to “identity threats.” The progress of minority groups can supposedly induce threat responses from the majority because of the idea that such a change would disrupt status hierarchies that favor them. Men primarily occupied multiple levels of the “breadwinning” class due to traditions that confined women mostly to their homes. But the continuous rise of employed women in various industries—chiefly due to the erosion of archaic norms—makes them feel as though their positions are being compromised.

Furthermore, cultural shifts that empower women, queer people, and other minorities have made many men unsure of themselves and their place in society. This is especially true for those who fall within the once-enshrined status of the white cisgender heterosexual man. Such insecurities drew them towards manosphere influencers projecting as self-help gurus; they who constantly reinforce and exaggerate the concerns of these troubled men who think that most if not all of their difficulties in life are caused by people who are no longer held back by traditional values and beliefs. Such influencers court these men by championing male supremacy, validating misogynistic entitlement, and presenting themselves as supposed free-thinkers who refuse to be controlled by the so-called “woke” propaganda.

The radicalization of some men through the vitriol of such influencers has led to the increased harassment of women and other minorities both online and offline. It is also partially responsible for the election of various ultra-conservative leaders now sating them by rolling back measures toward equity and societal progress.

In the United States, for example, Donald Trump put an end to diversity, equity, and inclusion measures. Ironically, that led to the unemployment of many white women who voted for him under the impression that his war against equity would elevate them by undermining people of color. They “fucked around and found out,” as the Internet would say.

Seeing many of such cases unfold in various parts of the world, the United Nations (UN) has raised an alarm in 2025 while celebrating Women’s Month.

“Women’s and girls’ rights are facing unprecedented growing threats worldwide,” the group said. These come in the form of higher levels of discrimination, weaker legal protections, and less funding for programs and institutions that support and protect women.

But while an obvious solution lies in the polls, experts believe that this can only be tapped by employing other everyday measures that people can make to genuinely push back. These aren’t only meant to protect women from increasingly hostile situations and provide for them a place to thrive; they’re also meant to affect the viewpoints of people who have the tendency to vote against women and, ironically, themselves.

Should You call out or call in? Learn the difference and choose.

In an age when sexism is becoming more and more rampant both online and offline, people are encouraged to stand with women and call out words and behavior deemed harmful to them. But there are those who believe that this is only part of what’s necessary.

According to a guide published by Harvard University, there are at least two ways to directly engage sexist behavior. And both may have a place in the fight for the rights and safety of women.

The first one is indeed calling out, which the document defined as the act of “bringing public attention to an individual, group, or organization’s harmful words or behavior.” According to Harvard, this is ideally done when there is an urgent need to show support, express disagreement, or stop someone or something from doing more harm.

For the Ubyssey, the University of British Columbia’s student-run paper, there are ways to properly do this. The paper suggests focusing on the offending action or words instead of the person; they also suggest being specific with what is being called out. Futhermore, they suggest framing the call out in a way that does not make the recipient feel as though they’re being talked down to.

Summarizing all of these is an example. Instead of saying “you’re a racist,” the publication suggests saying something akin to this: “That statement about [X] was racist — here’s why.”

Through this phrasing, the person may feel less attacked and they’d be given a clear profile of what went wrong.

But while calling out does have its merits, there are those who are aware of its consequences and its potential to be misused. In her TedTalk, activist and professor, Loretta J. Ross, discussed this method and its weaknesses.

“Some people actually think call-outs should be used to hold powerful people accountable, and there’s a lot to that,” she said. “I mean, that’s what the human rights movement has always done. But most people are calling others out out of fear. Or they’re feeling that they need to belong to something. And some people think that they’ll feel better about themselves if they put somebody else down. And then there’s too many people, in my opinion, who think that they can become famous by defaming somebody else.”

She then quoted one of her students by stating that a “call-out” is not an invitation for growth; “it’s the expectation that you’ve already grown.”

“With this approach,” she said, “you’ve guaranteed one thing: with this blaming and shaming, you just invited them to a fight, not a conversation, because you’re publicly humiliating them.”

And Kim Ades, an executive coach, said that this can lead to unwanted side effects.

She said that it can create a rift between the one who is doing the calling out and the one who is being called out. This can compound the already difficult goal of getting the recipient to be open to change. Secondly, she believes that this also “triggers an internal sense of cognitive dissonance for the person that has been called out that reduces development and growth.”

This is partly why the Harvard document recommends another less well-known option: calling-in; it is the act of privately engaging an individual or a group to discuss unwanted words or behaviors. Unlike a call-out which is ideally done with immediacy to stop something, call-ins ideally take the time to create a safer environment to discuss the perceived offense privately. It is a less combative approach, a method that may assist those pursuing the other ways by which people can support women.

Listen to women

When people say “believe survivors,” they’re not necessarily saying that a woman’s accusation of abuse is an unimpeachable fact. They’re not calling for the immediate punishment of the accused. They’re also not calling on authorities to ignore due process. However, they are encouraging due process to happen by getting people to take accusations seriously.

According to a study posted on the National Library of Medicine, 122 cases of sexual abuse (noted through the online trend #WhyIDidntReport) didn’t get reported because those who experienced them were afraid of being blamed. They were also fearful of retaliation, or of disbelief.

This is in line with one of the many barriers women face: they are often dismissed and disbelieved for various reasons even in matters as serious as sexual abuse.

For women to thrive, they must be heard and they’re ability to speak must be protected—especially when they are sharing their difficulties.

This is why UN Women suggests that when people tell their stories of sexual violence, they must be given space to be heard and be validated; not blamed.

“It is important to remember that when discussing cases of sexual violence, a victim’s sobriety, clothes, and sexuality are irrelevant,” the group stated. “The perpetrator is the sole reason for assault and must bear the responsibility alone.”

Critics of this say their usual clap backs: “men should not be tempted,” “if you want respect, you should be respectable,” and other responses meant to shift the blame to the victim. But these should not be tolerated—especially from straight men, a demographic that takes pride in supposedly having the strength of body and mind that entitles them to rule.

“Call out victim-blaming,” the UN said. “Counter the idea that it is on women to avoid situations that might be seen as ‘dangerous’ by traditional standards.”

Help women be heard

It isn’t enough for people to hear women out. In this world that continues to experience gendered power imbalances, various bodies believe it is important for people to also advocate for a woman’s voice—that which is often silenced in many situations.

According to a report by McKinsey & Company and the non-profit group LeanIn.org, a survey involving more than 15,000 employees revealed that 39 percent of women in 2024 still felt that they were being interrupted or talked over in the workplace. This is less than the 50 percent who felt that way in 2019. However, it is still more than the 20 percent of men who felt they were treated in a similar fashion in 2024.

In an article by Verywell Mind, an online resource dealing with matters of mental health, it is stated that people who are interrupted often feel disrespected or undermined. And, those who interrupt—whether they’re aware of it or not—assert their power in ways that may be unhealthy.

“Interrupting is often a tactic used by emotionally abusive people who use it as a way to assert dominance and control,” the article stated. “For this reason, it’s important to know how to handle interruptions with grace and dignity and still be able to get your point across.”

At the presence of people who constantly interrupt, the site suggests stipulating a time for questions or comments. It would also be helpful, the publication said, to discuss such interruptions in greater detail later on at a “neutral time,” when all parties involved are calm and objective. Call them in, basically. And, the goal isn’t to humiliate the interrupter. This is to be done so that the offender is made aware of their actions and why it isn’t welcome in most situations.

Understand sexism and challenge it

When sexism is represented in the media, it often comes in the form of a man undermining a woman simply because she’s believed to be of “a weaker sex.” But this is just one form of it. In reality, sexism has at least two.

The first is hostile sexism which, according to Medical News Today refers to “beliefs and behaviors that are openly hostile toward a group of people based on their sex or gender.” Misogyny, the publication says, falls within this category. The second form is less obvious and it is called “benevolent sexism.” The Oxford Review defines it as “attitudes and beliefs that appear positive or well-intentioned towards women, but ultimately reinforce traditional gender roles and maintain male dominance.” This happens in many situations. An example is when a woman is not given leadership roles because, as a woman, she is seen as “compassionate” and “nurturing” when what’s needed from a leader is “toughness” and “assertiveness.” It can also happen when a woman is not given responsibilities under the premise that she must be “cherished” and “respected.”

Regardless of what form sexism takes, however, both are harmful and they need to be addressed through policies or measures to call in or call out. Both, after all, impose baseless limits on women even when motivated by well-meaning intentions.

Support women-led endeavors

When women manage to put themselves out there, chances are they already went through a lot.

This is true, especially for women who run their own businesses.

According to a report by Forbes, businesses owned by women tend to face more barriers than their male-owned counterparts. Securing funding, is among the challenges. According to the report, women—especially women of color—are less likely to get access to capital for their businesses.

“Perhaps the most sobering statistic is that in all of 2018,” the report stated, “women had a meager 2.2 percent share of the $130 billion given out in venture capital. And that was a $1 billion improvement over the prior year.”

Adding to that are challenges such as gender bias and the limits women tend to face in terms of finding supportive networks and mentors.

According to the University of Colorado Boulder, there is gender segregation within mentorship networks for entrepreneurs. This was revealed by a working paper made by Ethan Poskanzer, an assistant professor at the Leeds School of Business, and Minjae Kim, an assistant professor of management at Rice University Business School. According to the Colorado university, the paper looked into a northeast US entrepreneurship accelerator program in 2023 and tracked the interactions between mentees (startup founders) and potential mentors (seasoned entrepreneurs.)

The study discovered that while men and women entrepreneurs did reach out to mentors, the mentors who were men were disproportionately in favor of outreaches from male mentees.

“Men have an easier time getting access to valuable mentorship and resources through social networks,” Poskanzer said. And this becomes an impediment for women because mentorships help establish connections and provides necessary practical learnings that may help them get their endeavors to work.

This is why it has become crucial to support women-led endeavors whenever they do get off the ground. Is it a virtue of equality to consider the sex of the owner as a plus? Not entirely. However, it is a virtue of equity since it acknowledges that men and women do not start off from the same place.

Celebrate the achievements of women

Part of the reason why sexism persists is the idea that women are generally not as capable as men.

And this was an idea that was sustained by the way society treated women.

In a world that has long tried to undermine them, silence them, and even demonize them for pursuing interests outside the care of their homes and families, women don’t always get the credit they deserve. And, in some cases, their accomplishments are even attributed to men. Eunice Foote, for example, was a scientist and a women’s rights activist who discovered the greenhouse effect that now drives conversations concerning climate change. But, for a time, that discovery was attributed to a man. Esther Lederberg was the first person to segregate the bacteria lambda phage. She and her husband managed to discover replica plating. But he was the only one given a Nobel Prize.

Instances like these contribute to a woman’s struggles in society. They perpetuate the idea that women should just get married and stay at home to raise their children and support their husbands even if they can do more and they want to do more.

According to registered psychologist Dr. Gloria Lee, “celebrating women’s achievements not only recognizes their individual accomplishments, but it also serves as a reminder of the collective contributions that women have made to society.”

“By celebrating women’s achievements,” she added, “we can inspire future generations of girls to pursue their passions and make their mark on the world.”

Help out at home

A woman can “wash out 44 pairs of socks and have ’em hangin out on the line… starch & iron two dozens shirts [before] you can count from one to nine. [She can] scoop up a great big dipper full of lard from the drippins can. Throw it in the skillet, go out, [do shopping and] be back before it melts in the pan…” because she’s a woman.

At least that’s the flex in a song about a woman written by two men. And while she is impressive, should she be doing all of that on her own if she also has a career and other interests that give her fulfillment?

According to research published by the European Institute for Gender Equality Index, about 93 percent of employed women in 2021 regularly undertake unpaid housework (daily or several times a week.) This is a large number compared to the only 53 percent of employed men who do the same thing. This opens up another venue for people to genuinely support women.

While it is true that some women also find valid fulfillment doing household work and nothing else, there are also those who do them simply out of necessity or the socio-cultural pressures that compel them to. Helping them complete these tasks don’t just allow them to pursue other interests; it also gives them enough time to work on such interests and increase their chances of excelling. And that’s not just good for them, as history has shown.

Let women rise

Throughout various points in time, in many parts of the world, women have played pivotal roles in the advancement of society. Through ideas and actions, they’ve pushed for progress, promoted justice and brought about change leading to all the comforts, conveniences, and rights people now enjoy—some even did so at the expense of their own lives.

Marie Curie is a perfect example of this. Her pioneering work on radioactivity was, in theory, the cause of her demise but it also led to the development of radiation therapy, mobile X-ray units, and nuclear medicine.

Women leaders and professionals all over the world have brought hope and change to people in need. And mothers, sisters and daughters have been there to lift up their loved ones, keep them in line, and help them be better. And many of them were able to do that in spite of the limits society has placed upon them. One can only imagine what more women can do if those limits no longer exist.

As the old feminist saying goes “when women rise, we all rise,” and that appears to be true even for those who insist on bringing women down.

How Gender Equity Benefits Everyone (And What You Can Do to Advocate for It)

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