I am writing this article whilst rubbing my forehead in disappointment in order to make a change. A change that should never have even needed to be a “goal” in the sustainable development of our society. A change that we need to make NOW. 

Gender inequality is becoming a largely emerging issue that we need to abolish, and this article is here to remind you why. Did you know that one in three women from the age of 15 have been exposed to sexual violence at least once, or that several thousands of women spend approximately two and a half times as many hours as men working for unpaid domestic and care occupations? The nine targets that have been set by the UN to remove gender inequality altogether e.g. ‘end discrimination against females’ and ‘promote empowerment of women through technology’ have barely made progress so far, and I am sure that many female readers flicking their eyes over this paper may have faced some sort of prejudice, and yet, we say we live in an increasingly modern world.

 One notable evidence of growth, however, is the presence of women online and the #MeToo movement, where women who have been victims of sexual harassment of any kind, speak out and share their life-changing stories. This has been a great influence where women globally can open up and take a stand together, especially as social media is clearly a quintessential part of the current day lifestyle of quite literally everyone, whether they be an unquestioning toddler being tossed the phone as a distraction or the elderly who are yet to learn how to ‘like’ a post on Facebook. So far it seems as though NEEs (Newly Emerging Economies) or HICs (High Income Countries) are going to be showing us similar modifications sooner because of the slightly less (note the use of the word ‘slightly’) misogynistic mentality towards women. In LICs (Low Income Countries) such as Afghanistan, the Taliban have restricted women’s clothing and most married Afghan females are forced to endure abuse whilst it being considered a norm, while in countries such as the United Kingdom, women have the right to live free from violence, slavery, and discrimination and to be educated. 

To ensure this goal is foreseeably completed by 2030, we should all continue to create important campaigns like the #MeToo movement which allows it to be accessible with multiple platforms available, and also further urge the government and even transnational gatherings as a collective (despite the fact that there never should have been the obligation to do this) to eradicate the pay gap, which is still such a disturbingly common practice and yet so trivialised. We could also have anonymous national surveys and assessments to compare different aspects of life for men and women of a variety of classes, and then prioritise those differences to convert them into changes. Gender should also not be asked on most websites, apps or job applications so they don’t create bias in the way people are treated unless truly required. I hope this article is one small step for woman, one giant leap for humankind.