Women: Why We’re Still Doing It All – And What We Can Do About It

Let’s take a moment to celebrate you, me, and every incredible woman out there juggling, thriving, and navigating life in a world that, despite all our progress, still expects us to do it all.

I want to acknowledge just how far we’ve come. Fifty years ago, women couldn’t even get a mortgage or open a bank account without a man’s signature. Imagine that. You could be a fully capable, ambitious woman earning your own money, yet still need a husband, father, or brother to vouch for you before the bank would take you seriously. 

It wasn’t until the Sex Discrimination Act in 1975 that women could access financial independence in the way men always had. And the Equal Pay Act in 1970? That was supposed to make pay equal between men and women, yet here we are, still fighting for that reality.

So yes, progress has been made. We’re running businesses, leading companies, and shaping industries. But, let’s be real. The invisible workload? The emotional labour? The endless to-do list that keeps our families, homes, and businesses running? That still falls largely on us.

Even now, in many households, women are still the ones carrying the mental and emotional load. We are the ones keeping track of school emails, birthday parties, shopping lists, playdates, dentist appointments, and whether there’s enough milk in the fridge. 

We are the ones making sure everyone in the house is okay, emotionally and physically. And when we become mothers? It’s still mostly on us to make sure our children’s wellbeing is taken care of, while also keeping our own dreams alive.

And if we work from home? Let’s talk about interruptions. Have you ever been deep in focus, finally getting somewhere with work, and then, boom, someone needs you? A child, a partner, a knock at the door, a phone call, a ‘quick question’. Research shows that every single interruption costs us around 23 minutes to get back into full focus. Now multiply that by the number of times a day we get interrupted, and it's no wonder so many of us feel like we are constantly playing catch-up.

Women are not just multitaskers, we are visionaries. We are the backbone of our families and the driving force in our businesses and careers. And the answer is not for us to burn ourselves out trying to be everything to everyone. It’s about redefining success on our own terms and making sure the next generation, especially our daughters, don’t grow up believing they have to carry the weight of the world on their shoulders.

One of the best things we can do is model boundaries for our children. That means showing them that our work matters, our dreams matter, and we are not just here to make everything easy for everyone else. Teaching our children, especially our daughters, that their contributions to the family, whether that’s helping with chores, respecting quiet time, or learning to manage their own emotions, is just as valuable as the work we do to provide for them.

And let’s not forget, empowering women does not mean disempowering men. This isn’t about ‘us versus them’. Women need men, and men need women. We live, work, and thrive together. Many of us are raising sons who we want to grow up as partners, leaders, and teammates in their homes and workplaces. We want them to see strength in women as something to respect, not as something to challenge or feel threatened by.

We also need to keep pushing for real workplace change. The ‘motherhood penalty’ is still very real. Women are still being overlooked, underpaid, or forced to choose between career progression and being present for their children. 

Meanwhile, flexible working is still often seen as a ‘perk’ rather than a necessity. It’s no wonder so many women choose to build their own businesses instead, creating the balance and success they couldn’t find in traditional employment.

So as I write this on the day we celebrate International Women’s Day, I want you to know this… 

You are seen. You are doing more than enough. And if you ever feel like you are stretched too thin, like you are carrying too much, know that you are not alone. 

We can change things, not by taking on more, but by recognising our worth, owning our time, and teaching the next generation that women’s success isn’t about sacrifice, but about alignment, purpose, and shared responsibility.

Because when women thrive, families thrive. And when families thrive, the whole world benefits.

Happy International Women’s Day. 💜

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