As we approach a pivotal moment in history, the call for gender equality in 2025 is louder than ever. Yet, the stark reality shows that we remain far from achieving this fundamental goal. Systemic issues and outdated norms continue to hold women and girls back worldwide.
In her recent TEDx talk, Chloe Laws, journalist, poet, and gender-equality advocate, put forward a few questions. Can you name a country where young boys are legally allowed to marry adult women? Where 1 in 3 men are sexually assaulted by women, and where the majority of men are murdered by women, not by men? Where can men not wear what they like, and where can men not leave their homes without a woman chaperone? Also, where do women dictate what jobs men can and cannot do?
The answer to all these questions is NO. However, when you reverse the genders in those questions, the answer turns into a grim and undeniable YES.
A violation of women’s reproductive autonomy
Around 40% of women globally live in countries with restrictive abortion laws. In 2024, abortion on demand is legal in 77 countries, but it remains illegal or heavily restricted in 112 others, affecting around 753 million women of reproductive age. Even in places where abortion is legalised, it can still be threatened, as seen in the U.S. when the Supreme Court reversed Roe v. Wade in 2022, leading to abortion bans in 14 states.
The WHO reports that 800 women die each day from complications related to pregnancy and childbirth. Furthermore, 270 million women worldwide lack access to modern contraception. Each year, 74 million women in low- and middle-income countries face unintended pregnancies, and 25 million abortions occur under unsafe conditions. These procedures cause at least 39,000 deaths and result in the hospitalisation of millions of women due to complications.
12,000 girls at the risk of FGM every day
Female genital mutilation (FGM) involves the partial or total removal of a woman’s external genitalia or other injury to the genital area for non-medical reasons. While FGM cases are reported worldwide, the practice is most common in 31 countries, primarily in sub-Saharan Africa, the Middle East, and certain Asian countries like Indonesia.
According to UNFPA, over 12,000 girls face the risk of FGM every day in 2024. This procedure, which has no medical justification, violates the fundamental rights of women and girls and causes severe physical and mental harm. In some cases, it can even lead to death.
Women’s rights: The long road to gender equality in 2025
As of 2024, only 10% of the world’s Heads of State are women, according to UN Women. Women still have less than two-thirds of the legal rights that men enjoy, which is less than what was previously thought, says the World Bank. The gender pay gap also continues to be a problem, remaining at only 20% worldwide.
At the current rate, it will take 286 years to close gender gaps in legal protection. It will also take 140 years for women to hold equal positions of power and leadership and 47 years to achieve equal representation in national parliaments. The World Economic Forum predicts that if progress continues at the same pace as from 2006 to 2023, it will take 169 years to close the gender gap in economic participation and opportunity.
51,100 lives lost to femicide in 2023 alone
Gender-based violence (GBV) remains a severe form of gender inequality. Nearly one in three women and girls face physical or sexual violence at some point in their lives. In 2023 alone, this violence led to the femicide of at least 51,100 women, with over half of these murders committed by intimate partners or family members.
Unpaid care work is a barrier to gender equality in 2025
Women in every country shoulder more unpaid domestic and care work than men, which has far-reaching effects. This burden limits their time for paid work, skill development, or starting businesses, trapping many in low-paying or informal jobs or keeping them out of the workforce entirely.
Unpaid care work prevents 708 million women from entering the labour market. Girls aged 5-14 spend 160 million more hours daily on such tasks than boys, and these disparities worsen as they age.
Gender equality in 2025: The final thoughts
New reports and survey results are released year after year, but the problems faced by women and girls worldwide remain the same and are not improving. Instead of making progress, 2024 felt like a step backwards in gender equality. The future now appears increasingly uncertain and concerning.
At Changeincontent, we believe that the vision for gender equality in 2025 must go beyond discussions to actionable solutions. It is about dismantling barriers, challenging societal norms, and ensuring that policies reflect the urgency of this change. Achieving gender equality is not just a moral obligation but a pathway to creating a more inclusive and progressive world. We stand committed to amplifying voices and building a global movement toward this shared goal.
References
UN News: One in three women experiences gender-based violence
International Women’s Day 2024: Five insightful charts on gender (in)equality around the world
Focus 2030: Overview of gender inequality AROUND the world
The data-informed path to bridging the gender gap in trade
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are based on the writer’s insights, supported by data and resources available both online and offline, as applicable. Changeincontent.com is committed to promoting inclusivity across all forms of content, which we define broadly to include media, policies, law, and history—encompassing all elements that influence the lives of women and gender-queer individuals. Our goal is to promote understanding and advocate for comprehensive inclusivity.
