I’ve just finished Lessons in Chemistry. I know, I’m probably the last person to read it.
But it stayed with me and not just because of the story, but because of what it gently, powerfully reminded me.
The book explores themes of women’s roles in society, the barriers they’ve faced, and the quiet ways they’ve had to push back against being underestimated.
And while I’m grateful that the world I live in today looks very different from the one in the book where women vote, lead, build businesses, and shape the world, it’s also true that the journey isn’t over.
The World Economic Forum still puts the global gender pay gap at 68%. In the UK, it’s closer to 87%, which is progress but not parity. So yes, we’ve come far.
But there’s still work to do.
And some of that work starts with us.
With not waiting for someone else to take care of it. With not stepping back when it comes to our careers, our money, our decisions. With being confident about taking up space where women haven’t always been invited.
I’ve been thinking a lot about the stories we grow up with, Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty, all the ones where the happy ending arrives in the form of someone else showing up to rescue us.
Even new stories still carry that undertone.
I read a review of Anora, describing it as “a modern Cinderella.” It made me pause.
Because there’s a subtle message tucked into those narratives: that help, change, happiness, will come from outside.
But I believe more and more that real empowerment comes from within.
The trend is heading in the right direction. But it’s also on us to keep it moving. To stay involved. To speak up. And to take ownership especially when it comes to money and the roles we play in shaping our futures.
This isn’t a book review. It’s just a reminder of how far we’ve come and how much further we can go, together.
It's a wake-up call.
I’ve just finished Lessons in Chemistry.
I know, I’m probably the last person to read it.
But it stayed with me and not just because of the story, but because of what it gently, powerfully reminded me.
The book explores themes of women’s roles in society, the barriers they’ve faced, and the quiet ways they’ve had to push back against being underestimated.
And while I’m grateful that the world I live in today looks very different from the one in the book where women vote, lead, build businesses, and shape the world, it’s also true that the journey isn’t over.
The World Economic Forum still puts the global gender pay gap at 68%.
In the UK, it’s closer to 87%, which is progress but not parity.
So yes, we’ve come far.
But there’s still work to do.
And some of that work starts with us.
With not waiting for someone else to take care of it.
With not stepping back when it comes to our careers, our money, our decisions.
With being confident about taking up space where women haven’t always been invited.
I’ve been thinking a lot about the stories we grow up with, Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty, all the ones where the happy ending arrives in the form of someone else showing up to rescue us.
Even new stories still carry that undertone.
I read a review of Anora, describing it as “a modern Cinderella.” It made me pause.
Because there’s a subtle message tucked into those narratives: that help, change, happiness, will come from outside.
But I believe more and more that real empowerment comes from within.
The trend is heading in the right direction.
But it’s also on us to keep it moving.
To stay involved.
To speak up.
And to take ownership especially when it comes to money and the roles we play in shaping our futures.
This isn’t a book review.
It’s just a reminder of how far we’ve come and how much further we can go, together.