The Indian Express editorial argues that women’s presence in workplaces and public institutions does not automatically translate into equal influence. Formal entry can coexist with exclusion from leadership, authority, and respect, which makes gender equality a question of power as well as access.

Women may be visible inside institutions while remaining outside key decision-making spaces. Equality therefore depends on changes in hiring, promotion, workplace culture, and wider social attitudes, not on representation alone.

Why the issue matters for UPSC