“It isn’t what we say or think that defines us, but what we do.” - Jane Austen, Sense and Sensibility

This week while preparing for an upcoming webinar, I came across more than one reference to the fact that Covid-19 has adversely affected women on a variety of fronts – from their ability to participate in the workforce, to the shouldering of a disproportionate amount of child rearing, to the outright erosion of women’s rights in various countries around the world.

What makes me most sad about these statistics is that it is yet another example of the complacent attitude that many people have towards any form of inequality in this day and age.

Whether they are adversely affected by a particular situation or not, why does it remain so easy for people to dismiss such reports? A common way of thinking: “Oh well, that’s just how things are. There’s nothing I can do about this.”

The irony is that we have evolved as a species technologically to the point that we can send people into space, but we are still so primitive socially that we cannot accept the simple fact that all people are created equal; And until we truly embrace this fact, we will all experience nothing but pain.

Let me be clear, regardless of whether you are male, female, transgender, pangender, fluid or undecided, the question you ought to be asking yourself is why?

Why does any form of gender bias still exist in 2021?

Why can’t we get over this?

Why are we OK with this?

Why are we not doing something about this?

Reading this you might get the mistaken impression that I have suddenly become some sort of a radical activist, but that’s not the case. I am simply pointing out the obvious – a society that is structured to favour any one group of people (for any reason), works that way because the people in that society continue to allow it to function that way.

Nor am I being naive. There are places in the world today where those in power have very little regard for human life and will go to any length to protect their perceived “right” of privilege. But the uncomfortable question again becomes why do we as a species continue to tolerate this outdated and ignorant behaviour when we can feel how wrong it is?

“But I can’t change what is happening on the other side of the planet!” you protest.

Ok, maybe you can’t change the whole world by yourself, but what about your interactions with the people immediately around you – in the workplace, in your family, in the street?

What’s your excuse for not accepting all of these people as equals?

Better yet, how can you expect anyone to treat you decently if you are unwilling to do the same for them?

If none of us is willing to evolve beyond the old ways how do things ever improve?

Robin Trimingham is the chief operating officer of The Olderhood Group Ltd and a virtual presenter, journalist, podcaster and thought leader in the fields of life transition and change management. Connect with Robin at https://www.linkedin.com/in/olderhoodgroup1/ or robin@olderhood.com