Is the fight for gender equality still relevant?

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The fight for gender equality largely took place in the twentieth century. It was during these years that the vote was accorded to women in most countries around the world and feminism came to the fore. The opportunities that the twenty-first century woman enjoys are the direct result of the numerous battles that these feminists waged and won against the chauvinistic mindsets of the time. It can thus be said that in the modern twenty-first century, it is no longer necessary for women to resort to the radical methods of early feminists to realize their potential and achieve their ambitions.

Gone are the days when women could not inherit and own property in their own name. Today, thanks to equal educational opportunities, women are able to pursue careers of their own in fields of their choice: regardless of how unorthodox. There are now more female engineers (engineering is a traditionally male-dominated field) than ever before while the National University of Singapore recently scrapped the quota on female enrolment in medical school. Evidently, society had recognized the right of women to choices in the career. Consequently, women have utilized these opportunities to their fullest and dual-income families are prevalent as women are often no longer willing to relinquish their successes in the workplace and financial independence upon marriage. With increasing numbers of number of women in high managerial positions, of which Ho Ching, CEO of Temasek Holdings is a prime example; one can truly say that the gender discrimination of the past that kept women at home tending to the hearth has fortunately given way to equality of opportunity in education and within the working world.

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Increasingly, women have been establishing themselves within the realm of politics. This is highly significant given that women now have an equal voice in the running of their country that they are that they are able to compete on equal standing with men in one of the most demanding arena. Recently, Hillary Clinton came close to creating history when she ran for president of the United States. Already a role model, her campaign was a symbol of the extent to which women have become politically empowered in this day and age. This is a reality that early suffragettes could ...

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