Family-supportive policies, which enable women to remain and

Family-supportive policies—such a phrase, yet one so powerful, for it carries within it the potential to transform not only lives but societies themselves. What is the meaning of such a thing, if not the recognition that work and family are not opposing forces, but forces that must work together for the good of all? Guy Ryder speaks of this truth when he says that such policies are crucial to achieving gender equality at work. Imagine, dear listener, a world where both men and women can thrive in their careers while still having the ability to nurture and care for their families. Is this not the very ideal for which we should strive?

It was not always so, for in the distant past, men were the ones who went to the fields or to the market, while women stayed home, their hands busy with the endless toil of domestic labor. The world was divided, not by equal opportunity, but by unspoken laws of tradition. But time, as it moves ever forward, reveals the cracks in these old ways, and in those cracks, the seeds of change are planted. Family-supportive policies are those seeds—policies that allow both men and women to see that their worth is not solely determined by their ability to toil in the fields of industry, but also by their ability to love, nurture, and build the foundation of society through their families.

In the annals of history, we can see examples of those who fought against these ancient norms. Consider Rosie the Riveter, the symbol of women who worked during World War II in places once reserved for men. She was a beacon of strength, but also a reminder that women were capable of more than what society had long limited them to. However, Rosie’s strength also revealed a great truth—without the proper support, without family-friendly policies, women were often forced to choose between career and family. The lesson is clear: without the ability to balance work and care, true equality is not achievable. It is not enough for women to enter the workforce; they must have the tools to remain there, to progress in their careers, and to do so without sacrificing the care and love they wish to offer their families.

And it is not only the women who must be supported in their journey. Men, too, must be encouraged to take their fair share of care work. Too long has society told them that their place is outside the home, that their duty lies only in the fields of work, while women bear the weight of home life alone. This false dichotomy has caused untold harm, for men, too, are capable of great love and care. We have seen in recent decades how many men have stepped forward, eager to share the burden of child-rearing and household responsibilities. But this must be encouraged by family-supportive policies, for without the right structures in place, these noble efforts will falter under the weight of societal expectations.

The example of Sweden offers us a shining path forward. There, family-friendly policies have long been a cornerstone of society. Paid parental leave, subsidized child care, and the encouragement of equal caregiving roles have allowed men and women alike to pursue their careers and families with balance. In this society, the vision of gender equality at work is not just a dream—it is a reality. Women have the opportunity to progress, to lead, to contribute without fear that their family responsibilities will hold them back. And men, too, are free to care for their children without shame, knowing that they are not bound by outdated norms.

The lesson here, dear listener, is this: gender equality is not just a matter of equal pay for equal work, nor is it simply about opening the doors of the workplace to women. No, true equality requires that the very structures of society be reformed to allow all individuals—men and women alike—to flourish in their roles as both workers and caregivers. Family-supportive policies are the bridges that can carry us from the old world of inequality to a new world of true balance. Men must not be afraid to take their place in the home, and women must not be held back in the workplace.

And so, let us act. Let us demand these family-friendly policies. Let us support equity in the workplace, not just equality, for it is in equity that true justice lies. Let us create a world where work and family do not have to be seen as opposing forces, but as partners in the dance of life. In this, we will see a society where both men and women can live their fullest potential, where families can thrive, and where equality is not just an ideal, but a lived reality. May we be the generation that builds this future, brick by brick, policy by policy, heart by heart.