In November 2025, The New York Times published an interview opinion piece titled "Did Women Ruin the Workplace?" addressing enduring stereotypes about gender in professional settings. They interviewed two conservative women on feminism and the workplace.
The piece begins by dividing feminism into "woke" and conservative camps, creating a problematic and misleading equivalence, and assumes a universal understanding of the term "woke."
The article reviews how the workplace has changed as women have become a larger part of the workforce. It describes shifts such as the introduction of more inclusive policies, increased focus on harassment and discrimination, and emerging leadership styles that emphasize collaboration and emotional intelligence. The article suggests that these changes have led to a workplace environment that is described as fairer, more humane, and more supportive of diversity.
Response from Reshma Saujani: "No, Women Didn't Ruin the Workplace"
Reshma Saujani, founder of Girls Who Code and advocate for women's equality, responded forcefully to the NYT piece in her Substack article, "No, Women Didn't Ruin the Workplace." Saujani rejects the idea that women cause workplace discontent or dysfunction. She argues these critiques come from nostalgia for a time when workplaces served only a select few. The discomfort today stems from long-overdue change. She notes the pandemic revealed the failures of traditional work culture, especially for working mothers. Demands for flexibility, empathy, and fairness are not "ruining" work. Instead, they help make it more sustainable and humane for all. Saujani asserts that rather than blaming women, we should focus on transforming workplaces to support every employee, regardless of gender.
To gain a fuller perspective, the article's commentary can be compared with the data-driven LeanIn.org "Women in the Workplace" report. Produced with McKinsey & Company, this annual study is the largest of its kind in corporate America and repeatedly highlights both progress and persistent challenges. For example, the 2023 report documents important gains for women, especially at senior levels, but also significant obstacles that remain.
Key findings from the McKinsey report include:
- Fewer women are promoted to management than men: The biggest barrier for women remains at the first step up to manager. For every 100 men promoted to manager, only 87 women are promoted, and for women of colour, the number is even lower.
- Fewer women in higher-level management positions: As a result, there are fewer women at each subsequent leadership level, culminating in the persistent underrepresentation of women in C-suite positions.
- While there are fewer blatant instances of discriminatory behaviour, women still lack support to move them to management than men: women, particularly women of colour, continue to experience bias and a lack of mentorship at higher rates than their male colleagues.
- Additionally, the report indicates that women are more likely to experience burnout. This is partly due to greater responsibilities at home, combined with the pressures of performing in workplaces that may offer less support.
Together, these perspectives reveal a complex reality. While critics may claim that women have "ruined" the workplace by pushing for changes, and advocates like Saujani counter that these changes are necessary for progress, the data underscores that women continue to face real setbacks. The modern workplace is still not fully equitable: structural inequalities, biased promotion practices, and cultural resistance persist. Rather than blaming women for workplace challenges, their ongoing struggles point to the need for system-wide change.
Yes, this is an American opinion on how American companies are treating women. Canadians, however, work for many American companies, and their decisions about their workforce often ripple through the Canadian workforce as well.
True equity makes things easier and fairer for everyone. The debate sparked by the NYT piece, as voiced by figures like Reshma Saujani and supported by the McKinsey report, underscores that the evolution of workplace culture is both necessary and unfinished. Women have brought positive transformation to the workplace, but they still encounter significant obstacles. True progress requires not just inclusion, but also the dismantling of lingering barriers, persistent biases, and outdated norms. The conversation needs to move beyond blaming women for disruption and focus on building workplaces where everyone can thrive.
Resources:
https://www.nytimes.com/video/opinion/100000010490292/did-women-ruin-the-workplace.html
https://reshmasaujani.substack.com/p/no-women-didnt-ruin-the-workplace