It’s 2009: I’ve just graced the floors of my rural Galway junior infants classroom. Lady Gaga’s “Poker Face” is on the radio, and Rory Treanor is blessing the pages of the Misc with his acerbic article “Pheminism.” A personal rant against women—based heavily on Treanor’s grievances with the price of car insurance—this piece provides a baffling reflection on how some people viewed the feminist movement at the time.

Fifteen years later we get to reflect on all that society has achieved for gender equality. The Istanbul convention has come into effect, increasing legal protection against gender-based violence. The MeToo movement acted as a catalyst for survivors of sexual abuse to speak out, and here in Ireland abortion rights were granted as the 8th amendment was repealed. There is, despite uneven progress and systemic challenges, undoubtedly no better time to be a woman than today, in a world where blatant sexism ‘seems’ a thing of the past. 

Yet, while Treanor’s article feels like a relic, some of its observations remain uncomfortably relevant. Women still occupy fewer seats than men in the Dáil. In the latest election, while 53% more women ran for government, only seven more were elected compared to 2020 numbers. Across the pond, Kamala Harris’s presidential bid faced a bitter defeat, prompting collective disappointment from women everywhere. The issue isn’t that women aren’t advocating or running for office; it’s that people still don’t vote for women – women included! Women are often perceived as less capable or authoritative than men with equivalent qualifications. Apparently, the ability to grow a baby inside one’s body just screams “incompetent and weak”.

Considering how little progress has been made globally for gender equality, it is unsurprising to witness the persistent social regression that shapes attitudes toward women. In Afghanistan, women face severe restrictions, from being barred from education to lacking access to healthcare and protection from violence. Most Western countries aren’t faring well either, with the legal protections in place being disregarded time and time again. The Gisèle Pelicot case in France revealed how violence against women remains a crisis even in countries that ostensibly champion equality. Despite each of the 51 men being convicted of aggravated rape, none of them were sentenced to above 20 years, perpetuating a culture that blames victims instead of holding perpetrators accountable, reminding us that even when it appears accountability is being reached, it’s still not sufficient. 

Western feminist movements have a critical role to play in addressing these issues. By amplifying the voices of women in crisis regions, and by listening to the women around us, we can foster meaningful change. However, this requires moving beyond symbolic gestures and embracing sustained, intersectional advocacy. The global fight for gender equality must reflect the interconnected struggles of women everywhere.

Even as the feminist space becomes more intersectional and begins to include queer women and women of colour, the role of gender in student life offers a revealing microcosm of these broader shifts. At Trinity, for instance, the very existence of the Eavan Boland Library—named after a trailblazing Irish poet—stands as a powerful acknowledgement of women’s contributions. It’s a far cry from 1904, when women were first admitted to Trinity after decades of exclusion.

Today, outside the Arts Block, gender feels like a more fluid concept than it was in 2009. Students dress in ways that challenge traditional norms, openly exploring and expressing their identities. Yet, these signs of progress exist alongside lingering traces of inequality. I’ve been interrupted by male peers in tutorials more times than I can count, and I’ve heard whispers about certain professors being “sexist graders” who routinely grade female students lower than male counterparts. These experiences are small but telling, showing how systemic biases still shape women’s experiences, even in spaces designed to foster critical thought and equality.

Such contradictions mirror feminism’s broader journey, highlighting its successes while underscoring the work still to be done. But this is not work for women alone. While women and femininity are often celebrated, it is rarely done by men, in fact men still remain isolated from the feminist conversation. A summating remark from Treanor’s article: “Ladies.. Get off your arses. The trickle isn’t going to work. Your rugby-watching male friends may not seem all that comfortable with such a departure but if you want a movement towards greater equality, it’s certainly not going to emanate from that set”. Fifteen years on, it is still widely held that most women are not doing enough to achieve any feminist goal, and aren’t really sure what goals we are trying to reach or where to start,  while at the same time men are not consulted or critiqued on their role in the pursuit of equality. 

Some may think my point is naive –  why would men fight for or desire equal rights, when their position is and always has been the one which women seek to be equal to. In short, people think “what’s in Feminism for men?” But, this question should really be rephrased: “What will men miss out on?”. Women are now surpassing men in several key adult achievements, including college degree attainment, starting salaries and early financial independence. For instance, In the USA in the 2018-2019 academic year, over 1.1 million women earned bachelor’s degrees, compared to fewer than 860,000 men—roughly 74 men for every 100 women graduating. In the UK, women between the ages of 22 and 29 also earn slightly more than their male counterparts. However, this gap quickly reverses as many women in their 30s take on part-time work due to motherhood, while fathers are more likely to remain in full-time employment.

At the same time, societal changes have left many men grappling with their roles. 79% of millennial women have moved out of their parents’ homes compared to 56% of men. An image forms of an incel in a basement, which is an unhelpful generalisation, but it is not a stretch to recognise that an increasing number of young men have retreated into isolation, often consuming misogynistic content that misdirects their confusion and anger. Social media has  enabled men like Andrew Tate  to have a platform, their misogynistic views amassing attention and slowly becoming normalised among susceptible young men.  Though women have not caused the so-called “crisis of masculinity”, the evolving role of women as leaders who can ‘have it all’ (which itself is a reflection of systemic pressures rather than an innate trait) – balance work, childcare, and societal expectations—stands in stark contrast to the stagnation of traditional male roles. This disparity underscores the urgent need to address not only systemic inequalities but also the shifting dynamics of gender expectations. It is alarming to think of the example set by men in power, men like Elon Musk or Donald Trump. These power-hungry men who are peddling a kind of authoritative patriarchy are the ones setting the cultural reference for masculinity in the 21st century- and it’s not a feminist one.

Society finds itself in a contradictory state: on one hand, it celebrates powerful women and women-led achievements in culture and rhetoric; on the other, it consistently undermines women’s opportunities through societal norms that favour men. While society often describes aspects of masculinity as “toxic,” the very systems that uphold male dominance continue to thrive, perpetuating inequality under the guise of progress.

In 2025, feminism can easily feel disingenuous – printed “girl power” T-shirts made in sweatshops or 15% discounts on scented candles for International Women’s Day. But feminism isn’t futile just because it’s hard to define. In the Western world we have the luxury to think about what type of feminist we want to be while thousands of women and girls everyday face human rights abuses purely because of their gender. Treanor critiques feminism because it is not substantial enough to be considered a philosophy or political movement, yet he admits the diffused use of the term means that it certainly exists. But perhaps the ubiquity of feminism is enough – feminism has always existed as a lens to make society more equitable for all, and maybe that’s all it needs to be.

It seems we’ve gotten caught up in the need to fight for tangible goals, like the right for franchise in the past. However, approaching modern feminism in 2025 needs a different tack.  We must find practical ways to involve men in feminism or look at how society can redefine masculinity to align with modern values. Men play a crucial role in shaping conversations about gender equality. If discussions on feminism came from men themselves, it could make the subject more accessible and less polarizing. Reflecting on Treanor’s piece, I find myself admiring one aspect of his approach to feminism- at least he is talking about it.  Feminism should be a topic discussed by men, in casual settings like the Pav, not just something for women to carry alone. His remark, “Enlightenment has a face, and it’s the misogynist residing in Irish males” still rings true today. It’s these enlightened men who, by actively participating in the fight for equality, can help strengthen feminism—not just as a movement for women, but as one that advances fairness and opportunity for everyone.