On the same day, in the same city, two children are born. One will grow up with books to read, doctors to visit, and doors that open easily. The other will learn early that the world does not owe her anything—that some doors stay closed no matter how hard she knocks.
Years later, they enter the professional world. One walks in with confidence, education, and opportunity. The other walks in carrying the weight of a childhood spent catching up. The outcome is not mysterious. It was written long before.
This is the story of women in professional life. From the beginning, they are given less—less education, less encouragement, less access to the networks and resources that build careers. By the time they reach the workplace, the gap is already there. They are fewer in number, lower in position, and paid less for the same work. They face harassment that goes unreported and biases that go unnamed.
Some will say this picture is outdated. They will point to women in agriculture, to female prime ministers, to laws that promise equal pay and safe workplaces. They will argue that the battle is won.
But look closer. Outside agriculture, women disappear from the workforce. For every woman who becomes a CEO, hundreds are stuck in jobs with no future. Equal pay laws exist on paper, but the wage gap remains stubbornly wide. Harassment laws are strong, but most victims still suffer in silence.
Progress has been made. That much is true. But progress is not the same as victory. This essay argues that despite the gains, women remain on the losing side in professional life
Why Women Remain on the Losing Side
1. Low Participation in Labor Force
Women’s participation in the labor force remains significantly lower than men in most countries. According to international labor organizations, the global female labor force participation rate is around 47 percent compared to 72 percent for men. This gap is even wider in developing countries like Pakistan, where cultural barriers, lack of education, and household responsibilities keep women out of the workforce.
2. Underrepresentation in Leadership Positions
Women are rarely seen in leadership roles. In corporate boards, executive positions, and senior management, the numbers tell a disappointing story. A McKinsey report found that women hold only 10 percent of executive positions in S&P 500 companies. This is not because women lack ability, but because systemic barriers and biases prevent them from rising to the top.
3. Low Representation in Parliaments
Politics is another area where women are underrepresented. Globally, women hold only about 26 percent of parliamentary seats. While this has improved over time, it is still far from equal representation. In Pakistan, despite reserved seats for women, their political participation remains limited.
4. Gender Pay Gap
Women earn less than men for the same work. According to the International Labour Organization, the gender wage gap in Pakistan is estimated to be 34 percent, much higher than the global average of 23 percent. This gap persists even when women have the same qualifications and experience as men.
5. Workplace Harassment
Harassment at workplace is a common reality for many women. According to a survey by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, over 85 percent of people who experience sexual harassment never file a formal legal charge, and approximately 70 percent never complain internally. Fear of job loss, lack of trust in reporting process, and fear of retaliation keep women silent.
The Counter Argument: Progress Cannot Be Denied
Some argue that the situation of women has improved significantly, and discrimination is now exaggerated.
1. Women in Agriculture
In agriculture sector, women’s participation is actually higher than men in many developing countries. They work alongside men in fields, contributing equally to food production and rural economy.
2. Merit-Based Selection
Women have reached top positions based on merit. Leaders like Sheikh Hasina of Bangladesh and Benazir Bhutto of Pakistan show that women can rise to the highest offices when given the chance.
3. Political Participation
Women get equal chance to contest elections from any constituency. Laws have been introduced to remove traditional barriers. For instance, in Pakistan, if the turnout of women voters is less than ten percent of the total votes polled in a constituency, the election can be declared null and void (Section 9, Election Act 2017). This encourages women’s participation.
4. Equal Pay Commitments
Many industries follow equal pay policies. International commitments and national laws encourage countries to take concrete actions. In formal sectors, the difference in pay has significantly reduced.
5. Laws Against Harassment
Strong laws exist to protect women from harassment. Workplace harassment laws have been enacted in many countries, including Pakistan’s Protection Against Harassment of Women at the Workplace Act 2010.
The Reality: Progress is Real But Not Enough
Despite these positive developments, discrimination still persists in professional life.
1. Agriculture is the Exception, Not the Rule
Except agriculture, all other sectors have less female participation. Women remain concentrated in low-paying, informal sectors while men dominate formal, high-paying industries.
2. Merit is Not Always the Reality
While some women reach top positions through merit, competitive seats are still dominated by men. The exceptions prove the rule—they are exceptions, not the norm.
3. Educational Opportunities Remain Unequal
Girls still have less access to education than boys in many parts of the world. UNESCO estimates that two-thirds of the world’s illiterate adults are women. Without education, professional success is nearly impossible.
4. Pay Gap Persists in Informal Sector
In formal sectors, equal pay has improved. But in informal sectors—where most women work—women with the same skills as men receive different pay. According to ILO, the gender wage gap in Pakistan is 34 percent, much higher than the global average of 23 percent. This shows the gap is still wide.
5. Harassment is Underreported
While laws exist to protect women, many cases still go unreported. The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission survey found that over 85 percent of harassment victims never file a formal charge. Fear of retaliation, job loss, and lack of trust in the system keep women silent. This affects their performance and mental health.
Conclusion
This discussion has shown how women remain on the losing side in professional life due to discrimination they face. These discriminations are demonstrated with facts such as low participation of women in labor force, underrepresentation of women in leadership positions and parliaments, gender pay gap, and harassment at workplace.
It is true that some positive developments have occurred—greater presence of women in agriculture, merit-based selection of some women leaders, election participation of women, equal pay commitments at national and international levels, and existence of strong laws to protect women.
However, despite these positive developments, discrimination still persists in professional life. Outside agriculture, female participation drops sharply. Merit-based selection, though real in some cases, remains the exception. Equal pay commitments exist on paper but are not always enforced in practice. And strong laws, where they exist, are poorly implemented—leaving most harassment victims silent.
Progress is real, but it is incomplete. Women will only win when opportunity is not a lottery, but a right. Until then, they remain on the losing side
