From Then to Now: What’s Next for Women?

Its March 2025. Today I’m taking you on a personal journey through the world of women’s empowerment. Buckle up, because we’re about to travel through four decades of progress, pitfalls, and everything in between!

Picture this: It’s 1981, and I’ve just made my grand entrance into the world. Little did I know that I was born into an era of significant change for women. As I was learning to crawl, the United Nations was busy organizing world conferences on women, setting the stage for a global push towards gender equality. The UN Decade for Women (1976-1985) was in full swing, focusing on equality, development, and peace. It was a time of growing awareness and action, with conferences in Copenhagen in 1980 and Nairobi in 1985 bringing women’s issues to the forefront of international discussions.

Fast forward to my school days in the ’90s. While I was stressing over math tests and playground politics, something big was happening. In 1995, when I was just a wide-eyed 13-year-old, the Fourth World Conference on Women took place in Beijing. This wasn’t just another boring meeting – it was a game-changer, folks! The Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action became the blueprint for women’s empowerment worldwide. It set strategic objectives for advancing women’s rights in 12 critical areas, from poverty and education to health and decision-making.  Little did I know then how this would shape the world I’d grow up in.

As I entered my twenties in the early 2000s, I started noticing changes around me. More women were breaking into traditionally male-dominated fields, and conversations about gender equality were becoming louder. The UN was holding five-year reviews of the Beijing Platform for Action, keeping the momentum going. In 2000, the special session “Women 2000” in New York reaffirmed global commitment to gender equality. I remember feeling a mix of hope and frustration – progress was happening, but it felt like we were taking baby steps when we needed giant leaps.

The 2010s brought new challenges and opportunities. As I hit my thirties, social media exploded, giving women new platforms to share their stories and advocate for change. The #MeToo movement went viral, exposing the pervasiveness of sexual harassment and assault. It was a wake-up call for many and sparked difficult but necessary conversations in workplaces and homes around the world.

Now, here we are in 2025, and I’m 43 (don’t you dare do the math!). Looking back, it’s amazing to see how far we’ve come. Legal reforms have given women about three-quarters of the legal rights of men, up from less than half in 1970. We’ve seen massive improvements in workplace protections and parental rights. The theme for this year’s International Women’s Day, “March Forward,” couldn’t be more fitting. It’s a call to action, reminding us that progress isn’t just about reflection – it’s about taking bold steps to turn our commitments into reality.

But hold your horses, because we’re not done yet! At the current snail’s pace, it’ll take a whopping 300 years to end child marriage and 140 years for women to be equally represented in workplace leadership. Yikes! The World Economic Forum estimates that at our current rate, we won’t reach full gender parity until 2158 – that’s five generations from now. Talk about a reality check!

So, what do I want to see in the future? Well, for starters, I’d love to see that gender pay gap shrink faster than my favorite jeans after a holiday feast. I dream of a world where women’s safety isn’t a constant concern, and where both paid and unpaid care work are valued equally. But let’s get specific.

Here’s my wishlist for the next 40 years:

1. Universal Digital Access: Ensure all women and girls have access to digital technologies, bridging the gender digital divide.
2. Equal Representation in Tech Leadership: Achieve equal representation of women in tech leadership roles and STEM careers.
3. Bias-Free AI Systems: Develop AI and machine learning systems free from gender bias, with diverse teams leading their development.
4. Advanced Safety Technologies: Implement technologies to protect women from online harassment and violence.
5. AI-Driven Hiring Tools: Widespread adoption of AI-driven tools to eliminate gender bias in hiring and promotion processes.
6. Technology-Enabled Entrepreneurship: Provide entrepreneurship opportunities for women in both urban and rural areas through technology.
7. Digital Health Solutions: Develop AI and digital health solutions tailored to women’s specific health needs.
8. Ethical AI Frameworks: Establish ethical AI frameworks prioritizing gender equality and women’s rights.
9. Digital Literacy Programs: Implement digital literacy programs ensuring all women can fully participate in the digital economy.
10. Automation of Domestic Tasks: Develop technology-driven solutions to automate domestic tasks, promoting more equitable distribution of unpaid care work.
11. Equal Representation in Government: Achieve equal representation of women in all levels of government and corporate leadership.
12. Elimination of the Gender Pay Gap: Close the gender pay gap across all industries worldwide.
13. Universal Access to Quality Education: Ensure universal access to quality education for girls worldwide.
14. Comprehensive Childcare Systems: Establish comprehensive, affordable childcare systems in every country.
15. Eradication of Gender-Based Violence: Eradicate gender-based violence and harassment globally, with strong legal protections and support systems in place.

This year’s International Women’s Day theme is “March Forward,” and boy, do we need to! It’s time to pick up the pace, break down those persistent barriers, and create a future where all women and girls can thrive. We’re celebrating 30 years since the Beijing Declaration, but we can’t just pat ourselves on the back – we need to use this milestone as a launching pad for accelerated action.

But, our work is far from finished. As we ‘March Forward’, we must redouble our efforts to dismantle the persistent barriers to gender equality”. Most importantly, let’s talk about the elephant in the room – the current political situation in America regarding DEI. It’s like we’ve taken a step back in time, folks. With President Trump’s recent executive orders to eliminate DEI initiatives in federal agencies, we’re seeing a domino effect across the private sector too. Big names like Amazon, Google, and Meta are rolling back their DEI policies. But here’s the kicker – this isn’t just an American issue. The ripples are being felt worldwide, with global businesses reassessing their DEI strategies. It’s a stark reminder that progress isn’t always linear, and that’s why it’s more crucial than ever for women across the globe to stand united. We need to be the counterweight to this pushback, to show that diversity, equity, and inclusion aren’t just buzzwords – they’re the bedrock of a fair and prosperous society. In the face of this challenge, our solidarity becomes our strength. We need to amplify our voices, share our stories, and support each other across borders. Because when women unite, we’re an unstoppable force for positive change.

To all my fellow SheSight readers, let’s make some noise! Whether it’s in our homes, workplaces, or communities, every step forward counts. We’ve come a long way in four decades, but there’s still a road ahead. So, let’s lace up our comfiest shoes (or those killer heels if that’s your thing) and march forward together!

Remember, change doesn’t happen in a vacuum. It takes all of us – women, men, non-binary folks, everyone – working together to create a truly equal world. We need to challenge stereotypes, call out discrimination, and celebrate every victory, no matter how small.

As we look to the future, I’m filled with a mix of impatience and hope. Impatient because change isn’t happening fast enough, but hopeful because I see the passion and determination in the next generation of feminists. They’re not waiting for permission to change the world – they’re doing it right now, one tweet, one protest, one policy change at a time.

So, my dear readers, let’s channel that energy. Let’s support each other, lift each other up, and keep pushing forward. Whether you’re a CEO or a stay-at-home parent, a student or a retiree, you have a role to play in this march towards equality.

As we celebrate International Women’s Day this year, let’s not just reflect on how far we’ve come – let’s recommit ourselves to the work ahead. Let’s make the next 40 years a time of unprecedented progress. Because when women rise, we all rise.

Until next time, keep shining and striving!

And yes, Wish you a Happy Women’s Month!

Universal Love and Abundance,

Dr. CeeVee

(Dr. CeeVee is the pen name of Dr. Chandra Vadhana R, Founder of Prayaana Labs and Managing Editor, of  SheSight  Magazine)