The Illusion of Progress: How Feminism Put Women on Men’s Time

At some point, feminism took a turn. We fought to be equal to men, and in doing so, we stepped onto a path built by and for them. We entered their workforce, adapted to their schedules, and structured our lives around their systems. But in this pursuit of equality, did we really win anything—or did we just inherit the right to be overworked and underappreciated?

Men have long dictated the pace of the world. Work from 9 to 5. Retire at 65. Push through exhaustion. Show up, no matter what. This timeline was never designed for the female body or experience. It leaves no space for pregnancy, no consideration for the unpredictability of motherhood, no allowance for the upheaval of menopause. Instead, we are expected to fold these realities into the margins, cramming them into schedules that were never made to hold them.

And what did we gain for it? The right to do too much for too little.

We secured the freedom to pursue careers while still bearing the weight of domestic expectations. We broke glass ceilings only to find ourselves drowning in the shards—balancing full-time jobs, caregiving, and the emotional labor that still disproportionately falls on us. The wage gap remains, the motherhood penalty persists, and “having it all” often translates to having no rest.

This isn’t to say that feminism has failed. The right to vote, access to education, and legal protections against discrimination are undeniable victories. But the framework of equality we pursued was built on a flawed foundation. We asked for a seat at the table, but we never questioned why the table was set the way it was.

Real progress won’t come from squeezing women into a system that wasn’t designed for us. It will come from dismantling the expectations that force us to fit into it. From reimagining work schedules, caregiving responsibilities, and success itself—not just for women, but for everyone.

Because true equality isn’t about living on men’s time. It’s about creating a world where women’s time, women’s rhythms, and women’s lives are valued just as much as men’s. And we’re not there yet.

What do you think? Have we gained true progress, or just a heavier workload?