I do not wish women to have power over men; but over themselves. – Mary Shelley
Background
International Women’s Day falls on March 8 each year. Since time immemorial, the role of women in shaping civilization has been both profound and indispensable. Recognizing this, the United Nations designated 8 March as International Women’s Day in 1975, coinciding with International Women’s Year. This observance was later reinforced in December 1977, when the General Assembly adopted a resolution calling for a United Nations Day for Women’s Rights and International Peace. Member States were encouraged to commemorate this occasion in accordance with their unique historical and national traditions.
For the United Nations, International Women’s Day has remained a vital annual observance since 1975, traditionally marked by a statement from the Secretary-General. The theme for International Women’s Day 2025—Marching Forward – underscores the indivisible link between the advancement of women and the broader progress of humanity.
In 2025, the international community will commemorate a significant milestone—the thirtieth anniversary of the Fourth World Conference on Women and the adoption of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, a transformative framework that remains the most comprehensive global agenda for gender equality and the empowerment of women.
Against this backdrop, the sixty-ninth session of the Commission on the Status of Women will convene at the United Nations Headquarters in New York from 10 to 21 March 2025. This session will bring together representatives of Member States, UN entities, and non-governmental organizations accredited by the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) from across all regions of the world, reflecting the broad and inclusive nature of the global commitment to advancing women’s rights.
The primary objective of this session will be a thorough review and appraisal of the implementation of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, along with an evaluation of the outcomes of the 23rd special session of the General Assembly. This review will critically assess the persistent and emerging challenges that continue to hinder the full realization of gender equality and the empowerment of women. Furthermore, it will examine the impact of these efforts on the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, underscoring the intrinsic link between gender parity and the achievement of a just, inclusive, and sustainable world.
The rationale behind dedicating a day exclusively to the recognition of women is twofold. Firstly, peace, social progress, and the realization of fundamental human rights cannot be achieved without the full participation of women in all spheres of life. Secondly, it is an occasion to acknowledge the indelible contribution of women in reinforcing international peace and security. More broadly, this day serves as a global forum for reflection—an opportunity to evaluate the strides made toward gender equality, to consolidate networks of advocacy, and to mobilize collective action for substantive and lasting change.
Women and Philosophy
Throughout history, philosophers and psychologists have grappled with the intricate subject of understanding women, a task that has proven as elusive as it is fascinating. The discourse has evolved across centuries, shaped by the prevailing cultural, intellectual, and scientific paradigms of different eras. From Aristotle to Simone de Beauvoir, from Freud to Carol Gilligan, perspectives on women’s psychology and nature have oscillated between attempts at objective analysis and deeply ingrained biases. The inquiry into understanding women is not merely an intellectual pursuit but a reflection of broader societal structures, power dynamics, and shifting paradigms of gender roles.
Philosophy, being the progenitor of intellectual inquiry, has approached the subject of women with varying degrees of profundity and prejudice. Aristotle, for instance, perceived women as inherently deficient in rationality compared to men, relegating them to a secondary status in his framework of natural hierarchy. His view was emblematic of an era that saw women as passive beings defined primarily by their reproductive roles. The Stoics, on the other hand, argued for the rational capabilities of all human beings, including women, advocating for a more egalitarian approach to human nature. These conflicting perspectives laid the foundation for centuries of debate regarding the cognitive and moral agency of women.
Immanuel Kant, while instrumental in shaping modern ethical thought, was less than generous in his views on women. He regarded them as governed more by sentiment than reason, believing that their moral virtue lay in their capacity for feeling rather than in the exercise of rational autonomy. In contrast, John Stuart Mill, in his seminal work The Subjection of Women, argued for the intellectual and moral equality of women, positing that their perceived inferiority was a product of social conditioning rather than any innate deficiency. Mill’s perspective was groundbreaking in that it challenged deeply entrenched norms, calling for an egalitarian restructuring of society to allow women full participation in intellectual and moral pursuits.
The existentialist tradition, particularly through the works of Simone de Beauvoir, brought a paradigm shift to the discourse. In The Second Sex, de Beauvoir argued that women had been historically relegated to the status of the “Other,” defined in relation to men rather than as autonomous beings. She famously stated that one is not born, but rather becomes, a woman, emphasizing that gender identity is constructed through socialization. Her analysis illuminated the ways in which societal norms and expectations shape women’s lives, offering a crucial insight into the broader psychological and existential challenges they face.
Parallel to philosophical inquiries, psychological discourse has provided an empirical lens through which to examine the complexities of understanding women. Sigmund Freud’s psychoanalytic theory, though influential, has been criticized for its androcentric biases. Freud’s notion of “penis envy” as a central aspect of female psychological development reflected the limitations of a framework that viewed male experience as the default. Nonetheless, his emphasis on early childhood experiences in shaping personality development laid the groundwork for future explorations into gender identity and psychological development.
Carl Jung offered an alternative perspective through his concept of the anima and animus, suggesting that both men and women possess aspects of the opposite sex within their unconscious. He posited that the anima, the feminine aspect in men, represents intuition, emotion, and receptivity, while the animus, the masculine aspect in women, embodies logic, assertiveness, and rationality. While Jung’s framework sought to balance gendered traits within the psyche, it still operated within a dichotomy that some later theorists found limiting.
A Different Approach
A significant departure from these early psychological models came with the rise of feminist psychology, particularly through the work of Karen Horney and Carol Gilligan. Horney challenged Freud’s concept of penis envy, asserting that it was not women who envied men but rather society that denied them opportunities for self-actualization. She introduced the notion of “womb envy,” suggesting that men’s subjugation of women might stem from a deep-seated envy of women’s capacity for childbirth and creation. Her work marked an essential shift toward understanding women’s psychology on its own terms rather than through the lens of male-centered theories.
Carol Gilligan’s research in moral development further dismantled the biases of traditional psychological theories. In her book In a Different Voice, she argued that men and women approach moral reasoning differently, not as a matter of inferiority or superiority, but as a difference in ethical perspective. While traditional moral development theories, such as those proposed by Lawrence Kohlberg, emphasized justice and abstract principles—traits typically associated with masculine reasoning—Gilligan found that women’s moral reasoning often centered around relationships, care, and context-specific considerations. Her work illuminated how the psychological experience of women could not be fully understood through frameworks that prioritized male-centric notions of ethics and cognition.
Beyond academic discourse, contemporary neuroscience and social psychology have contributed significantly to our understanding of women’s psychology. Research in neurobiology suggests that while there are some differences in brain structure between men and women, these do not translate into deterministic differences in cognitive ability or emotional intelligence. Instead, many psychological differences observed between men and women stem from cultural and social conditioning rather than inherent biological disparities. Social psychologists have further examined the impact of stereotypes and societal expectations on women’s behavior and self-perception, demonstrating how these external factors shape identity and decision-making.
In the broader context of understanding women, one must also consider the role of intersectionality, a concept articulated by Kimberlé Crenshaw. Women’s experiences are not monolithic; they are shaped by race, class, culture, and other social identities. This framework underscores the necessity of moving beyond universalizing narratives about women’s psychology and recognizing the diversity of experiences that shape individual and collective identities.
My Take
Ultimately, the endeavor to understand women is as much about deconstructing inherited biases as it is about gaining genuine insight into human nature. The contributions of philosophers and psychologists across centuries illustrate a journey from reductive stereotypes to more nuanced and egalitarian perspectives. Understanding women requires a synthesis of philosophical inquiry, psychological research, and social awareness—an approach that acknowledges both historical legacies and contemporary realities. The evolving discourse serves not merely as an academic exercise but as a foundation for fostering greater empathy, equity, and a deeper appreciation of the complexity of human experience.
In the realm of neuroscience and psychology, considerable attention has been devoted to understanding the cognitive and behavioral distinctions between women and men. Empirical evidence suggests that women often exhibit superior verbal abilities, excelling in reading comprehension and writing skills. They also demonstrate enhanced fine-motor coordination and perceptual speed, coupled with a heightened capacity for retrieving information from long-term memory.
A pivotal study involving over 650,000 participants revealed that women are generally more empathetic, displaying a greater interest in people and emotions. This aligns with the empathizing-systemizing theory, which posits that women are more attuned to feelings, whereas men are more focused on systems and things.
Further research indicates that women possess a heightened ability to infer others’ thoughts and emotions, a skill known as mentalizing. This aptitude enables them to pick up on subtle behavioral cues, facilitating a deeper understanding of social interactions.
These cognitive and behavioral differences are not solely a product of socialization but are also rooted in biological variations. Studies have shown that women undergo significant neurological changes during pregnancy, including alterations in brain regions associated with memory and emotions. These changes enhance maternal responsiveness and empathy, underscoring the intricate interplay between biology and behavior.
In summary, neuroscientific and psychological research underscores that women’s cognitive functions and behaviors are influenced by a complex interplay of biological and social factors. Their enhanced verbal abilities, empathy, and mentalizing skills contribute to their adeptness in social interactions and caregiving roles.
The evolution of women’s status from antiquity to the present reflects a complex interplay of ideology, culture, and resistance. From Euripides’ tragic heroines to Mill’s eloquent advocacy, the struggle for equality has been a relentless pursuit against deeply ingrained prejudices. While significant progress has been made, with women securing rights and opportunities unimaginable in earlier eras, the remnants of historical oppression still linger. The trajectory of gender equality continues to evolve, guided by the enduring spirit of those who have dared to challenge convention and assert the intrinsic dignity of all human beings
Therefore, as the late Justice Ruth Bader Ginsberg said “Women belong in all places where decisions are being made. It shouldn’t be that women are the exception”.
