Achieving Equality By Embracing Femininity

The foundational concept of equality has risen to global relevance in these recent years. The cries for basic fundamental rights for women have been going on for many decades all around the globe. With the high popularity of the internet and social media platforms, people, especially women from all over the world, have been sharing their persistent struggles arising from the denial of essential human rights. Religion and culture profoundly impact how basic human rights are understood and upheld across societies. With education and awareness, we have been effective in implementing transformative changes that promote women’s liberty and equal status. But aside from the battle for basic human rights, as a society, are we really heading to the utopian world of gender equality?

Each gender has its own qualities that are seen in the majority of the people. While some differences in traits between men and women are biologically rooted, but many are caused or made bigger by culture and how people are raised.

Common traits linked with femininity are

• Gentleness
• Empathy
• Nurturing
• Grace
• Sensitivity
• Emotional expressiveness
• Elegance or softness

In contrast,

Common Traits Often Linked with Masculinity:

• Strength
• Assertiveness
• Independence
• Leadership
• Emotional restraint
• Competitiveness
• Protectiveness

When living together as a family or society, these characteristics have a powerful impact on our daily lives, influencing how we interact, support one another, and build relationships. Modern movements push for recognizing individual abilities beyond gender stereotypes, promoting more equal opportunities.

Trying to fit in others' shoes isn't what equality is about. Many women and men nowadays believe women is capable of doing what men can do and that's what equality stands for. But that’s not what equality truly stands for. Being able to live in a world as what you are is the basic fundamental right we have to fight for.

The fight for equality should not require us to suppress our nature. If you're born empathetic, why must success demand that you abandon that empathy? In a world where traits like toughness or detachment are often equated with success—especially in men—should women have to shed their kindness or nurturing mind just to be seen as equally capable? That’s not equality. That’s conformity. Equality is real when being empathetic doesn’t stand in the way of success—but walks beside it, powered by hard work and skills. Embracing femininity isn't and shouldn't be the challenge . Being as successful as a man with your femininity should be the challenge.

As compared to olden days many women have the opportunity to and freedom to work outside their house. The business world is build up with in a man's point of view. Workflows, expectations, and success metrics often reflect traditionally masculine traits. A woman employee working there may find emotional stress more that a man. As she climbs the ladders it will be more challenging for her. She’s often measured against her male colleagues, not for her unique leadership style, but for how closely she can mimic theirs. On the surface when we look both man and woman are getting equal chances here .But does that ensure equality? The company policies are made in a man point of view which a female sometimes doesn't find logical or appropriate or practical. Today, a working woman often tries to fit into a man's shoes and perform tasks the way he does. True equality comes when a woman could be in her own shoes yet stand in position where man does.

Equality isn’t about sameness. It’s about honoring differences while ensuring fairness.

Femininity has long been boxed into appearances—beauty, charm, fashion—but it is so much more than that. Lots of female centric movies around the world with the main character having a make over usually focuses of changing her costume and fashion sense and becoming more confident. But in all those movie plots its always the girl or woman is going through the change. If she is correct and genuine why she have to change? Femininity isn't just about being beautiful or attractive it also is about how strong , compassionate, empathetic and resilient you are inside. Giving care ,being sensitive, to be nurturing aren't weakness they are your strengths.

Take motherhood, for example. Most women who become mothers have natural instinct of taking care of the baby. They are born with it. So should we argue that a father should be able to take care of the baby same way as a mom do? Not really, Of course there are some fathers who can take care of their kids more than mom do. But rather than expecting equality to look like identical behavior, we should support each parent in showing up in the ways they’re best equipped to—and encourage fathers to grow into the caregiving role with presence and purpose, not pressure.

Equality is not about making everyone the same. It's about valuing different strengths equally.
So instead of asking women to change to fit a mold, maybe it’s time we reshape the mold entirely. True empowerment doesn't come from forcing women to change who they are—it comes from accepting and celebrating the qualities they naturally possess. We must stop equating equality with imitation. A woman doesn’t need to act like a man to be considered equal, and a father doesn’t need to parent exactly like a mother to be considered present.

Equality is not about sameness—it’s about mutual respect, shared responsibility, and valuing the unique strengths each person brings.

When we begin to honor traits like care, sensitivity, and emotional intelligence as strengths—not weaknesses—we move closer to a world where no one has to change their essence just to be seen, heard, or valued. That is the kind of equality worth fighting for.

Equality should not require women to mimic men or suppress their natural strengths. It lies in respecting and celebrating individual qualities—whether nurturing or assertive—and creating a world where success is defined by ability and authenticity, not gender. Only then can we achieve a society that is truly fair, inclusive, and equal.