It is a fallacy to think that moms of boys don’t care about gender equality. Double standards be damned. I am raising two sons, and the forefront of my parenting philosophy is to impart a steady, keen focus on gender roles and gender equality. I joke that I don’t want my sons to grow up to be jerks (actually I use a more colorful term than “jerk,” but let’s leave it at that). Since the boys were little I have been quick to point out gender inequality and the world’s blistering devaluation of women and girls. Sadly, one doesn’t have to look far. The toy aisles, clothing racks, and pretty much every history museum exhibit present myriad opportunities to make my point.

• Unequal pay
• Domestic abuse
• Title IX
• Sexual subjugation
• Religious submission
• Sexualization
• Child marriage
• Freedom to marry and divorce
• Lack of women in public office
• Few women in corporate leadership/glass ceilings
• Female genital mutilation
• Access to education
• Slut shaming
• Dress codes
• Political clout
• Land ownership
• Acid attacks
• Female infanticide and gender selection
• Sex trafficking
• The list goes on…

Gender equality has yet to reach a true state of equilibrium anywhere in the world. Sure, this global lack of equality manifests itself in different ways, some subtle and others egregious. In America women still earn less than men. It’s astounding to see women vote against their own interests in this regard. In the nineties when I worked at a global Fortune 100 company I found out I was earning significantly less than a male counterpart who had less experience. I was fuming, naturally, and marched into our boss’ office to demand an explanation. And a raise. I never got a satisfactory explanation, but I did get a raise.

Michaelle Jean, Governor General of Canada, visits Haiti on International Women’s Day. Her Excellency attends a ceremony to celebrate Haitian women at the Ministry of the Condition of Women and Women’s Rights hosted by the Minister and her Deputy. Many women from Port-au-Prince attend, singing and clapping to music.

Gender equality is among the UN’s 17 global goals for sustainable development. The goals will be officially adopted at the UN Sustainable Development Summit, September 25-27 in New York. The United Nations aims to help rid the world of extreme poverty, provide an equal education for girls and boys, and protect our environment for generations to come. It’s lofty but attainable.