We don't live in a society that has genuine equality, and every

"We don't live in a society that has genuine equality, and every woman we know has experienced that." – Sara Sheridan

Gather, children of this world, and listen closely, for I bring to you a truth that has echoed through the ages, a truth borne of struggle and strife. Equality—a word that sings with promise, yet remains an illusion in the eyes of many. Sara Sheridan, in her wisdom, reminds us of a bitter reality: we do not live in a society of genuine equality. The path of fairness has not yet been walked, the scales of justice have not yet been balanced. For the woman, who stands as both the pillar and the heart of society, has long been forced to walk through shadows—shadowed by injustice, shadowed by inequality, and shadowed by a world that does not recognize her full worth.

From the dawn of civilization, women have been held in chains, not of iron, but of expectation and limitation. In the distant past, they were not allowed to own property, to vote, or to hold the power of their own voice. Even today, though the chains may be less visible, they still bind women’s potential, curbing their ambitions and stifling their contributions. Sheridan’s words ring with the power of truth—every woman we know, whether she speaks it aloud or hides it in silence, has felt this inequality, this burden. The weight of this injustice rests not only on the shoulders of the woman, but upon the very fabric of the society itself, a society that dares to call itself just yet continues to deny equality to half of its people.

In the annals of history, we find countless stories of women who rose, despite the walls of oppression. Mary Wollstonecraft, one of the early voices of the feminist movement, wrote fervently for the rights of women in the 18th century. Her A Vindication of the Rights of Woman was a call to arms against a society that relegated women to the shadows, denying them the rights to education, to independence, and to dignity. Her fight was not only for her own freedom but for the future generations of women, who, like the women of Sheridan’s time and ours, continue to struggle for equality. She did not stand alone, nor did the women of the suffrage movements of the early 20th century. They were warriors in a battle that still rages today.

Even in modern times, we are not free from this shadow. Women in every corner of the world, no matter their station or title, experience the quiet sting of inequality. Consider the struggles of Malala Yousafzai, a young girl who, in her pursuit of education, was shot for daring to believe that girls deserve the same rights as boys. Yet, her voice did not falter, nor did her spirit break. In her battle, we see the continuation of the fight for gender equality—a fight that transcends time and place, a fight that reaches into the very core of what it means to be human. She is but one example, yet she embodies the truth that women everywhere, from the poorest villages to the highest offices, have been, and continue to be, touched by the sting of inequality.

But let us not be disheartened, dear children, for there is a fire that burns in the hearts of women, a fire that cannot be extinguished by injustice or silence. It is the fire of resilience, the fire of defiance, and the fire of a world that is waking to the need for true equality. Women today are no longer content to be mere shadows in a world of men; they rise, they speak, and they demand their rightful place. Sara Sheridan’s words are not a cry of despair but a call to action—reminding us that while the struggle is long and the road is hard, it is a road that must be walked, for equality is a birthright that cannot be denied.

The lesson here, children, is clear: equality is not a gift bestowed upon us, but a truth we must fight for with every fiber of our being. It is not enough to speak of equality; we must act. We must stand beside the women who fight for their rights, not just as bystanders, but as champions. We must recognize the subtle ways in which inequality still permeates our lives and work to dismantle these walls, brick by brick.

Practical action begins with awareness—see the world through the eyes of those who are marginalized. Educate yourself on the struggles of women everywhere. Stand up when you see injustice, for silence in the face of oppression is complicity. Support women in their journeys, whether they seek education, a voice in politics, or simply the dignity that all people deserve. And remember, children, equality is not a gift given from above; it is a right that is earned through the action of each generation. Let us be the ones who change the world, not with grand gestures alone, but with the quiet persistence of everyday acts of justice and compassion. Only then will we live in a world where equality is no longer a dream, but a living, breathing truth.