The argument that it’s a woman’s world is definitely a novelty concept. It’s been 46 years since Violet Newstead (played by Lily Tomlin) famously told her misogynistic boss Mr. Hart, “I am your employee and, as such, I expect to be treated equally, with a little dignity and a little respect!” in the movie 9 to 5. The movie was a smash success because in 1980, women everywhere resonated with its message: women have to fight for equal recognition and respect in the workplace and beyond it. Today, some argue that it’s now a woman’s world, since women’s successes seem to reign. But is this true? Is our world really female-dominated?
where women are winning
Looking at the news, or our social media feeds, it’s easy to believe that our markets are favouring women. In higher education across the globe, UNESCO reports that women have outnumbered men since 2024. As St Andreans, we’re lucky enough to live this reality by attending a university where women make up 60% of the undergraduate population.
In the world of sports, female athletes competing in endurance sports are projected to soon achieve parity with men, as researchers have suggested the female body is better at enduring and adapting over time. Even in creative spaces, it may seem to be a woman’s world. Many of the most popular books in our generation have female authors — think Sarah J. Maas, Suzanne Collins, and Abby Jimenez.
Bookstores aren’t the only place where women are dominating popular culture. Just recently Olivia Rodrigo organized, funded, and performed at the first annual Daisy Chains Fields Music Festival, a one-day music festival with a lineup of entirely female artists. The festival went beyond music by donating all net proceeds towards nonprofits “dedicated to advancing and advocating for women and girls”, which was also boosted by a $10 million donation from Olivia Rodrigo and a matched amount by Melinda French Gates. This is just a small sample of areas around the world where women have begun to take the reigns.
Numbers vs. Reality: Why not a Woman’s World?
Although women may have a certain domination in Western popular cultures, the truth is that women’s lived experiences demonstrate how patriarchy is still alive and well everywhere. The gender pay gap is still a real, persistent issue. In the UK, in 85% of professions men are getting paid more. Outside of pay, women in the workforce are presented with less advancement opportunities and many corporations are rolling back women’s career advancement programs.
Even in my own life, I’ve worked at a golf course (which is a male-centred environment), and in a team of more than 15 counselors, only 3 women were hired. We weren’t asked to participate in bonding events, and many inside jokes left us on the outside. And if you’ve ever wondered how men talk about women (both their girlfriends and strangers!) when there’s few around, come talk to me.
Most importantly, these conversations about a woman’s world are often western-centric and leave out the ongoing oppression of women around the world. In Afghanistan, Meryl Streep famously said that “cats have more freedom than women”, since women are banned from attending secondary school or higher, working, speaking in public, looking at most men, or holding public office. In countries like Liberia, female genital mutation is still seen as a traditional practice that its survivors are trying to end.
Since we women at St Andrews are privileged to be the majority, where we get to hold many leadership roles and support our female authors, singers, and businesses, we may find it easy to think that the global attitude has shifted and we live in a woman’s world. However, we shouldn’t lose sight that both in our own culture, and those beyond ours, women have to overcome many obstacles set by the patriarchy. It’s (still) a Man’s Man’s Man’s World, there’s just a growing realization that it would be nothing without a woman or a girl.