Gloria Steinem opened the door. Now women need a seat at the table

Women have made significant gains in education and workforce entry, but persistent gaps in leadership and capital allocation remain a constraint on economic advancement. Per Fortune, women hold nearly 47% of entry-level jobs in America and earn nearly 60% of bachelor's degrees, yet occupy just 31% of senior leadership positions. The disparity widens dramatically for entrepreneurs: of roughly $265 billion in U.S. venture capital invested in 2025, just 1.2% went to companies with all-female founding teams, according to Fortune's reporting.

These disparities trace back to childhood. Girls begin questioning their abilities at age 6, per Fortune, and by age 14, their confidence has dropped 30%. The article notes that recruiters observe talented young women entering job interviews less likely to speak up and advocate for themselves—behaviors affecting everything from first job placement to lifetime earnings. Yet research shows women outperform men on 17 of 19 leadership capabilities, per Fortune, suggesting the gap reflects confidence and visibility rather than capability.

The article, written by Jennifer Openshaw and published on Fortune, frames the challenge as one of preparing the next generation to claim economic power, not merely access. Openshaw recounts the experience of a young woman starting her career in Chicago wealth management, often the only woman in meetings, and notes that women supporting other women—as mentors, sounding boards, and examples—shapes what younger women believe is possible for themselves. The piece emphasizes that the World Economic Forum estimates global gender parity remains more than a century away, with the U.S. ranking 42nd globally in economic and political leadership gaps.

The article argues that building women's confidence, business skills, networks, and technological fluency before they enter the workplace is essential—and increasingly urgent as AI reshapes entry-level jobs and career ladders. Openshaw contends this is not merely a women's issue but an American competitiveness problem: when women gain greater economic power, research shows they invest disproportionately in families and communities, strengthening financial resilience and the pipeline of future leaders. The piece concludes that Gloria Steinem's generation fought to open doors for women; the current task is to equip the next generation to walk through them with the confidence to lead.