I believe women still face a glass ceiling that must be

The words of Andrew Cuomo, “I believe women still face a glass ceiling that must be shattered,” resound like a challenge cast across the ages. The phrase speaks not of chains visible to the eye, but of barriers invisible and treacherous, crafted by prejudice and tradition, holding back the rise of women though their wings are strong. This glass ceiling gleams deceptively clear—women may see the heavens above, yet unseen walls bar their ascent.

Its origin lies in centuries where women’s worth was measured not by their wisdom or strength, but by their silence and service. Even as laws changed and opportunities opened, subtle forces remained—bias in the chambers of power, inequity in wages, doubt in the hearts of those who judge women less capable. The shattering of this barrier requires not only courage from women but also justice from all of humanity, for it is not merely their struggle, but a struggle for the soul of fairness itself.

Consider the story of Indira Gandhi, who rose to lead India as its first female prime minister. Despite wielding authority over a nation of millions, she was often described not as a stateswoman but in terms of her gender, her demeanor, her likeness to a father’s shadow. The ceiling above her bent but did not vanish; her leadership revealed both the possibilities and the obstacles that remained. Her triumphs, and the trials she endured, stand as a testament to the resilience required of every woman who dares to step into realms where she is told she does not belong.

The call to shatter this barrier is not merely for women seeking thrones or high office. It is for the teacher denied promotion, the scientist whose discoveries are overlooked, the soldier whose valor is doubted, the mother whose labor at home is dismissed as lesser. Each act of resistance, each claim of dignity, is a blow against the invisible wall, a crack that widens until one day the barrier falls in shards at humanity’s feet.

Cuomo’s words remind us that progress, though mighty, is not yet complete. The vision of equality is not a gift bestowed but a truth earned, fought for, and guarded. The glass ceiling must not remain a monument of injustice—it must be shattered so thoroughly that no hand can rebuild it.

To those who come after, let these words be both warning and inspiration. Do not grow weary in the struggle. Remember that the ceiling, though high and hard, is not eternal. With courage, unity, and unrelenting resolve, its glittering prison will give way to a sky where every woman may soar, unhindered, into the fullness of her destiny.