If more women are in leadership roles, we'll stop assuming they

Sheryl Sandberg, in her wisdom, declared: “If more women are in leadership roles, we’ll stop assuming they shouldn’t be.” This statement is both a mirror and a prophecy. It reflects the age-old bias that has long shadowed society, where power was thought to belong only to men, and it prophesies a new dawn in which leadership is not bound by gender but guided by wisdom, courage, and vision. These words reveal that prejudice is not eternal; it withers when reality proves it false. When the presence of women in power becomes common, the chains of assumption will break, and equality will stand as a natural order, not a contested demand.

From the earliest civilizations, women have stood as pillars of strength though often unrecognized by the chronicles of men. In Egypt, Cleopatra ruled with intelligence and mastery of diplomacy, wielding both pen and sword in her command of empire. In England, Elizabeth I led her people through an age of prosperity and discovery, defying every voice that doubted a woman’s capacity to rule. These examples show that when women hold the reins of leadership, they bring forth not only governance but transformation. Yet still, in every age, voices rose to question their right to lead, as though greatness were a gift reserved for men alone.

Sandberg’s words strike at this very root: the notion that leadership belongs to one gender is not a law of nature but a habit of the mind. Habits are broken not by argument alone but by repeated vision of another truth. Just as night yields to day not through debate but through the rising of the sun, so too will prejudice fade when the world grows accustomed to the sight of women at the helm. When the extraordinary becomes ordinary, resistance dissolves into acceptance.

Consider the story of Rosa Parks. Though not a queen upon a throne, her quiet act of defiance against injustice became a thunder that shook America. In that moment, she was a leader—not because she was granted authority by title, but because she led with courage. Her stand showed the world that leadership is not the inheritance of men alone, nor the fruit of high office, but the flowering of conviction in the soul. When women like her rise, society learns to no longer question their place.

The power of Sandberg’s teaching lies in its simplicity: change is wrought not only by law or by words, but by presence. When children grow up seeing women as presidents, generals, scholars, and captains of industry, they no longer ask, “Should women lead?” They ask instead, “Why should they not?” For the eye shapes the belief, and the repetition of reality creates the new normal. The invisible barrier falls not with one blow but with many steady steps of women ascending into their rightful places.

The lesson for us, therefore, is to open the gates of opportunity and to honor the gifts of all, regardless of gender. Let men not fear the rise of women, for their strength does not diminish but multiplies the strength of the whole. Let women not wait for permission but step boldly into roles where their talents shine. Every woman who claims a seat at the table clears the path for another, and every generation that witnesses this makes it harder for doubt to linger.

Practical action lies close at hand. Support women in their pursuits, whether in the workplace, the community, or the halls of power. Teach children the stories of great women alongside those of great men, so that leadership is seen as a human calling, not a male birthright. Encourage daughters to dream beyond boundaries, and encourage sons to respect and follow the leadership of women without hesitation. In this way, the prophecy of Sandberg will be fulfilled, and the question of a woman’s place in leadership will vanish like mist before the sun.

Let it be remembered, then: equality is not granted by words but proven by deeds. As more women rise, the world itself will rise with them, for the balance of leadership is the balance of humanity. And in that balance, justice, wisdom, and strength will flourish for all.