Please, stop trying to empower women

Anyone else sick of hearing about women's empowerment? We are not meek little children that need empowerment to reach our potential. The only thing that keeps us back is an unfair system.

For years, the narrative surrounding women's careers has been dominated by a single word: empowerment. We are encouraged to be more assertive, confident, and proactive—to "lean in," negotiate more effectively, and cultivate a 'growth mindset'.

However, the challenges women face in their professional lives are not due to a lack of empowerment; they are systemic.

By perpetuating the notion that women need empowerment, the responsibility is unfairly placed on us, the individual women. This implies that if a woman struggles in her career, it's due to her own shortcomings—not because of systemic discrimination, workplace structures that disadvantage her, or outdated societal expectations.

This narrative is not only misleading but also patronising.

The Facts Speak for Themselves

Women are neither underqualified nor underprepared for professional success. In fact, they often outperform men in education. According to Eurostat, in 2021, women accounted for 54% of tertiary education graduates in the European Union (EU). Despite this academic achievement, the gender pay gap persists. In 2022, women in the EU earned 12.7% less per hour than men. Source

Focusing on Cyprus, the situation is similar. Women make up 60.9% of the workforce, yet they earn 10.2% less per hour than men. Source

Motherhood: The Career Stagnation Point

A significant factor (although the main factor is gender) contributing to this disparity is the impact of motherhood on women's careers. Research indicates that women's professional progression often stalls after having children, while men's careers continue to advance. This isn't about women choosing to work less; rather, they are penalised for taking maternity leave, requesting flexible work arrangements, or simply existing in a workplace that equates long hours with commitment and ambition.

It's the System, Not Women

When women are told they need empowerment, the underlying message is that they are the problem. In reality, it is the system that requires change.

• Equal pay should be standard, not something women have to advocate for.

• Parental leave policies should support both parents, challenging the notion that caregiving is solely a woman's responsibility.

• Workplaces should embrace flexibility, recognising that productivity is measured by results, not by time spent at a desk.

• Promotion criteria should be based on merit, not outdated perceptions of 'leadership presence' that often favour men.

Women don't need empowerment; We need a system that does not discriminate against us.

Let's stop advising women to 'be more confident', 'speak up more', or 'negotiate harder." Instead, let's demand that workplaces, policies, and societal structures evolve—because that is where the real issue lies.

Enough with the patronising narratives. It's time to address the real problem.