Does Bias Still Hold Women Back? It’s Time to Accelerate Action
Can you believe that the first International Women’s Day was in 1911? It has been 114 years since then.
Let’s take a quick trip down memory lane of all the achievements since then:
- 1918-1920
- Women gained the right to vote in several countries including the UK (1918) and the US (1920)
- 1945
- The UN Charter recognised gender equality as a fundamental right
- 1960
- Sirimavo Bandaranaike became the World’s first female Prime Minister (Sri Lanka)
- 1963
- The UN adopted the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW).
- 1994
- South Africa granted women of all races full voting rights
- 2011
- The UN established UN Women to promote gender equality worldwide
- 2018-2023
- Saudi Arabia allowed women to drive (2018), and women in various countries gained more legal protections.
Now let’s look at what’s not yet happened…
- Equal Pay – Women globally still earn less than men on average
- Leadership Representation: Women still remain underrepresented in politics and business leadership
- Violence & Safety: Gender-based violence is still a major issue worldwide
- Reproductive rights: Access to healthcare and abortion rights still remain restricted in some places
- Workplace Equality: Women still face discrimination in hiring, promotions, and maternity rights.
So with all that being said do you think we are truly accelerating change?
The theme for this year’s International Women’s Day is “Accelerate Action”. It is estimated that at the rate at which we are going to achieve full gender parity it will be 2158. That is 133 years from now! Imagine, you reading this right now will not be alive when this is achieved.
Deeply ingrained societal norms and bias is a major reason for why gender parity has not been fully achieved.
The Double Standards Women Face
It’s 2025 but unfortunately women still face and are negatively affected by double standards in a variety of different ways.
Appearance:
How many times have you heard the following about women:
- “If she’s that dressed up, she must be seeking attention”
- “Real beauty doesn’t need all that effort– she’s just being fake”
- “She must be insecure if she puts that much effort into her looks”
- “Women spend too much time on makeup instead of focusing on important things”
- “She’s so vain; all she cares about is her appearance”
However, how many times have you also heard the following:
- “She looks so lazy–why doesn’t she put in more effort?”
- “No wonder she’s single; she doesn’t even try to look good”
- “She would be so pretty if she wore some make up”
- “Does she even care about how she presents herself”
- “She’s let herself go”
If a person is criticised for caring too much about how they look but then also criticised for not focusing enough on how they look — where’s the middle ground. It’s almost like you can’t win. Now imagine being qualified, skilled, well educated but due to choosing to present yourself well you’re dismissed, judged and not taken seriously.
Leadership & Assertiveness:
Does this sound familiar to you:
You’re in a meeting, and your female manager confidently pushes back on an idea, insisting on a better approach. Afterward, whispers start—”She’s so difficult.” “Why is she always so aggressive?” “She could’ve said that nicer.”
Later, a male manager makes an even firmer statement, shutting down a suggestion outright. Instead of criticism, people nod—”He’s a strong leader.” “He knows what he wants.” “That’s the kind of decisiveness we need.”
Same behaviour, different reactions.
The bitter truth is that women are on one hand praised for confidence but on the other hand penalised for the same traits celebrated in men.
Motherhood & Careers:
Women are expected to juggle motherhood and career yet however are still criticised for doing this – they are seen as struggling to balance. Those that are full-time mums are sometimes seen as lacking ambition, lazy, financially dependent on their partner, they’re stuck in outdated gender roles, they’re not setting a good example for our kids.
However, on the other hand women who strive to balance work and motherhood they’re often met with the following criticism:
- “She’s neglecting her children”
- “She’s being selfish”
- “She’s too ambitious and not maternal enough”
- “She’s not doing enough at home”
Men on the other hand do not face the same level of scrutiny, they are praised for doing the bare minimum.
- “He’s such a dedicated dad”
- “He’s providing for his family”
- “He’s making time for his family despite his job”
The double standard is very clear!
Why Bias is So Deeply Rooted
Bias has become second nature without realising it. We teach it to our children, we teach it to our students, we banter about it with our friends and family and we allow it to come to our workplace. Sadly, we sometimes find that it’s not only men that have perpetuated these bias but women have also perpetuated and internalised these bias.
Though this is a sad reality it doesn’t have to end like this – if men and women can both play a role in maintaining these biases then both men and women can challenge themselves biases as well! Hope is not lost
How We Can Accelerate Change
- SPEAK UP!
- When we see double standards many times it doesn’t sit well with us, we feel uncomfortable, we find it unjust but more often than not we do nothing. We silently accept. When we do this we’re basically saying that these double standards are ok. It’s not about being confrontational in order to get a point across but it is a matter of standing up for what is right, and calling out what is wrong.
- EDUCATION AND EMPOWERMENT
- It’s important for women to have access to education and to have knowledge, qualifications and skills so that they can gain a voice and seize opportunities.
- CHALLENGING THE BIAS
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- Encourage balanced conversations about parenting, leadership and careers
- Push for equal parental leave for both parents
- Recognise women’s expertise without tying it to Gender-based expectations
- Lead by example
How London Learning Consortium Supports Change
- At London Learning Consortium, we provide training and qualifications that help individuals become more informed, skilled, and empowered.
- Education is a powerful tool for breaking barriers, creating opportunities, and challenging outdated norms.
- Call to action: Find out how our courses can help you take control of your future.
Conclusion:
- Real change starts with action—from re-examining biases to creating more opportunities for women.
- This #IWD2025, let’s commit to breaking the bias and accelerating progress.
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