I opened my phone the other day and nearly spilled my drink. A New York Times article, boldly titled “Did Women Ruin the Workplace?”, stared back at me. To say I was taken aback would be an understatement. I took my own advice, read it several times and then took a very long pause.
While I was gathering my thoughts, they quietly changed the title to “Did Liberal Feminism Ruin the Workplace?”
A slight rebranding that did nothing to soften the sting, or the ridicule they received.
Let me be blunt: women did not ruin the workplace.
We inherited it. We stepped into chaotic, inequitable systems and work tirelessly to make them safer, fairer, and more inclusive.
And somehow, now, our presence and advocacy are being framed as the problem.
I’ve navigated male-dominated spaces, faced toxic leadership, and seen brilliant women overlooked, silenced, or told to “pick their battles.” And yet, despite all the challenges, we show up. We fight. We mentor. We build.
The real problem has never been women or feminism. It’s outdated structures, inequitable hierarchies, and leadership that clings to the status quo. Workplaces have always been messy.
What’s happening now isn’t “ruin.” It’s evolution. Calls for equity, fairness, and respect aren’t chaos. They are progress.
I remember sitting in a room many years ago, advocating for a project I believed would benefit clients and teams alike. I was passionate, persistent, and meticulous.
Yet later, colleagues whispered that I was too aggressive and too ambitious.
Imagine that simply doing the work, asking for fairness, and standing my ground was framed as the problem.
Women are still building. Every policy we champion, every program we implement, every mentorship we provide is part of shaping workplaces that actually work for everyone. And yes, progress can be uncomfortable, especially for those who’ve benefited from systems that exclude others.
Refuse the premise. Reject the blame. Recognize the real dysfunction. And above all, keep building.
The work isn’t done. Challenge the narrative. Let’s build a workplace that’s inclusive, equitable, and thriving. For EVERYONE.