Once upon a time, feminism was about choice, the right to work, the right to vote, and the right to be heard. It was about giving women a seat at the table. But somewhere along the way, it stopped being about choice. Now, women are stuck trying to juggle the impossible: balancing motherhood and climbing the corporate ladder.
An Unfair Trade-Off
Becoming a mother often changes how a woman is perceived in the workplace. Opportunities for promotions slow down, leadership roles become harder to attain, and her credibility is subtly questioned, not because of her abilities but because of the assumption that her priorities have shifted. On the other hand, if she chooses to delay or refuse to have children, she faces a different set of challenges.
The biological clock remains a reality, societal expectations don’t disappear, and the risk of missing out on marriage or family life weighs heavily on many women. No matter her path, she is met with scrutiny and trade-offs that men rarely encounter.
Colleagues might say, “She’s too distracted with her kids to take on big projects,” or “We can’t rely on her for late meetings anymore.” Meanwhile, women without children often face their judgments: “She’s too career-obsessed ever to settle down,” or “She doesn’t understand responsibility as a mother does.” These societal narratives make it impossible for women to win.
We can’t “Have It All”
Feminism promised women they could have everything: career, family, and independence. But the harsh truth is that having it all comes at a steep price. The reality is that living on one income is nearly impossible in today’s world, forcing most women to work even if they don’t want to. The financial strain on families means that staying home is no longer a choice but a luxury few can afford.
Even worse, giving up a career to become a full-time mother can leave women dangerously vulnerable. If a marriage ends, whether through divorce, death, or abandonment, she is left with no financial security, no job experience, and no safety net. The government will not step in to save her. Society will not reward her years of unpaid labor as a mother. She will simply be left behind.
A Society That Punishes Women No Matter What
The pressure doesn’t stop with career and finances. Women who choose work over family are shamed for being “bad mothers.” Those who stay home are labeled “lazy” or “unambitious.” The double standards are endless. Meanwhile, fathers are rarely held to the same expectations. A man with a career is “responsible,” while a woman doing the same is “neglectful.”
Motherhood itself becomes a professional liability. Women who take maternity leave risk falling behind or losing their jobs altogether. Out of fear, some return to work a few weeks after giving birth despite the severe physical and emotional toll on both the mother and baby. The mother will most likely face extreme exhaustion, stress, and potential health risks from an insufficient recovery period and separation.
At the same time, the expectation that she alone is responsible for the well-being of the children persists, even when juggling both career and home life. The pressure is relentless, and the cost is immeasurable.
Even husbands are impacted. With both partners forced to work, family dynamics suffer. Children are left in daycare or raised by nannies. Marriages become transactional partnerships rather than emotional bonds. Society, in its quest for equality, has created a reality where neither men nor women are truly content.
New Power Moves Against “Having It All”
A new executive order rolling back diversity and equal opportunity policies has led major companies to cut back on DEI programs, making it even harder for women, especially mothers, to advance in the workplace. Meanwhile, some leaders have reignited outdated stereotypes, demonizing women and calling for more “masculine energy” in leadership. Those rigid ideologies will make it harder to “have it all,” affecting talent retention and productivity and ultimately impacting the future of our society. It will come to an end when women are forced to choose between their biological roles and their financial survival.
If the goal is to return to more family-focused and traditional values, why isn’t the government offering more maternity leave for women? Why is there pushback on remote or hybrid work, which could help couples take better care of their kids? Why is there no financial support for women who want to be stay-at-home moms without risking financial instability? And why isn’t education free, which could ease the financial burden on families? Why is reproductive healthcare still out of reach for so many? After all, plenty of other countries have made these things work, so why can’t the world’s superpower do the same?
Feminism Went Too Far, And Now We’re Stuck!
Feminism began with good intentions, but it has pushed women into a corner. The movement that once fought for choice has now erased it. Women are expected to work, excel, and sacrifice themselves without complaining since they asked for it. There is no off-ramp or way to undo the damage. The path has been set, and for most women, it’s too late to turn back.
The solution starts with honesty, away from delusion and an unrealistic mindset. Society must recognize that true equality means giving women real choices instead of expecting them to do it all. Above all, we must acknowledge that the current system is broken. Right now, women aren’t empowered. They’re just exhausted.
Is this what we wanted? Has society and its systems failed to evolve and haven’t adapted to make those choices easier or more balanced?
