The Future of Gender Inequality "there is nothing inherent in the biological makeup of men that

James Baldwin famously said, “I can't believe what you say, because I see what you do.” When we say that there should be more women in positions of power, the glass ceiling should be broken, women should have control over their own bodies, girls should have access to the same educational opportunities given to boys... are we doing enough to ensure that these things happen?

Often the difference between change and stagnation boils down to making a decision. Whether we want to admit it or not, gender inequality is a deliberate and conscious decision, it is part of a social contract we have collectively chosen to accept. The fact that gender inequality is experienced differently across cultures is a clear indication that it is socially/culturally constructed. We participate in maintaining the status quo by failing to question socially constructed rules that clearly continue to benefit people with the power to make the rules that govern our lives.

While gender inequality is real, there is nothing inherent in the biological makeup of men that automatically makes them better leaders, decision makers, or more intelligent than women. Each time someone decides that an educated boy is worth more than an educated girl, they have made a decision that contributes to gender inequality. When it is decided that men should be paid more than women who perform the same job, that contributes to gender inequality. When we decide to buy into the narrative that girls are just not interested in science, technology, engineering and math, that contributes to gender inequality. All of these decisions are based on mindsets that can be transformed by consciously choosing to make a change. In this age of connectivity so many decisions are made for us that we should be more aware of how we control the decisions we make for and about ourselves.

The full and equitable inclusion of diverse women in areas of decision-making is long overdue. The word inclusion means a lot of things, but to me, it is the absence of barriers to my success. If I am truly included I can be assessed like everyone else, on my objective merits rather than your subjective opinion. If I am truly included, you not only welcome me but expect me to be here. If I am truly included I shouldn’t have to convince you that I belong.

It is my belief that each of us is, for lack of a better term, a “consciousness” wearing a human form. At birth, none of us got to choose our race, sex, or country of origin yet these things are often used to define us, to tell us where we fit and whether we belong. Women's Empowerment will benefit human empowerment, when we face that reality, the better off our species will be.

Editor’s Note: Carla John, MEd, is the manager of Equity, Human Rights, and Accessibility at Cambrian College of Applied Arts and Technology, Ontario. The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of the author. Follow her on Twitter @CarlaJ007