Indra Nooyi famously said that no economy can truly succeed without tapping into women’s potential. While that seems like common sense, one wonders why the better part of the world has been attempting to move forward leaving half the population (of women)not fulfilling their professional dreams.

The year is 2022; with robust AI systems, on-point medical diagnosis that has increased the human lifespan by a fantastic 40 percent in 75 years, quick vaccinations for new illnesses, and fast travel and information, we are still debating gender equality. A fact that the human population does not want to challenge, it remains an academic debate. While scholars over the years have tried to explain why human society has evolved thus, almost no one is able to justify the reasons for remaining thus.

Beginning with primary and secondary education being gender inclusive-from sensitized teachers to separate toilets, from discouraging the ‘offensive male gaze’ to ensuring safety while commuting, from building professional aspirations to re-calibrating social expectations – much needs to be done before girls can even graduate from school. And then there is the challenge of higher education, which remains unaddressed, with not enough newsprint driving home the importance of gender inclusive education at the college and university level.

As a society, it relies upon us to recognize that a gender diverse classroom has impact beyond the enhanced quality of discussion in class. Not only does it foster richer thought, but it also allows the male in the class to ‘see’ females for their ability to think and problem solve beyond the strongly reinforced gender roles that they are typically hard-wired to expect. Extrapolating this to work-spaces, public transport, policy formation, service providers and government across all levels is when half our work will be done.

Only half. Because the other half is even harder. It is to challenge her ‘assumed’ role at home. But insurmountable though it may seem, its first and most crucial step is to encourage, foster and ensure gender inclusive education, across all levels. And as some of us continue to dream, we see nations like Norway and Iceland – lighthouses in this seemingly insurmountable ocean.

There maybe hope after all.