Gender equality is essential for ensuring that men and women can

“Gender equality is essential for ensuring that men and women can contribute fully at home, at work, and in public life for the betterment of societies and economies at large.” Thus spoke José Ángel Gurría, casting into clear words what sages and reformers through the ages have long intuited: that the flourishing of a people rests not upon the labor of one half of humanity, but upon the full participation of all. His statement is not a mere political slogan, but a truth rooted in both justice and necessity. To deny half of humanity the right to contribute is to bind one wing of the bird and expect it to soar.

The ancients themselves understood that harmony arises from balance. In the myths of old, creation often sprang from the union of masculine and feminine forces—the sky and the earth, the sun and the moon, the seed and the soil. So too in human society, the prosperity of the household, the vitality of the marketplace, and the wisdom of governance all require the shared work of men and women. To lift one sex while silencing the other is to tear the fabric of the whole. Equality, then, is not an indulgence or gift; it is the foundation of stability and the seed of progress.

History gives us shining examples of this truth. During the Second World War, as men marched to the battlefield, women filled the factories, the offices, and the fields. They became welders, mechanics, code-breakers, and leaders. The economies of Britain, America, and beyond did not collapse under the weight of war, for women carried them forward. And when the war ended, many of these women did not retreat quietly, but stood tall and demanded recognition for their strength. The movement for gender equality in the modern age drew power from this moment, when the world saw that to deny women’s contribution was to deny the very survival of nations.

Gurría also points to the truth that equality strengthens not only economies, but societies themselves. A family where men and women share responsibilities is healthier, a workplace where both voices are honored is more creative, a public life where all can lead is more just. The exclusion of women diminishes men as well, for it forces them to carry burdens alone and denies them the richness of shared insight. Just as the loom requires both warp and weft to weave cloth, so must men and women labor together if the tapestry of human life is to endure.

Yet let us not mistake this call as easy. For centuries, the chains of prejudice, tradition, and fear have bound women in silence. To break these chains requires courage not only from women who rise, but also from men who lay down the false privileges of domination. This is why Gurría speaks with urgency: the work of equality is not a matter of charity, but of survival. A society that silences half its people walks only with one leg; an economy that ignores half its workers starves itself of strength.

The lesson for us is clear: if we would see our communities thrive, we must labor for gender equality in every sphere. In the home, let husbands and wives share the burdens of care and decision. In the workplace, let opportunities be measured by talent and diligence, not by gender. In public life, let leaders be chosen not for conformity to tradition, but for vision and integrity. The full measure of humanity’s wisdom can only be gathered when every voice is welcomed.

Practical wisdom follows: speak against injustice when you see it, even in small jokes or subtle exclusions. Raise daughters to know their worth, and sons to honor the strength of women. Support policies and institutions that foster equal opportunities. And in your own life, model partnership rather than domination, cooperation rather than competition. In this way, the seeds of equality are sown not only in laws but in hearts.

Thus José Ángel Gurría’s words are both a mirror and a summons. They remind us of what history has proven and what wisdom has always whispered: that only in the union of man and woman, in the equal contribution of both in home, work, and public life, can humanity reach its fullest height. Gender equality is not a dream of the few, but the destiny of all. To walk toward it is to walk toward justice, prosperity, and the flourishing of generations yet to come.