During my time at NYU, I was exposed to countless insights that forced me to reconsider how I see the world. Some of these lessons were deeply unsettling — not because they were necessarily new, but because they touched on everyday realities we rarely acknowledge. We’re lucky enough to live lives that often shield us from the harshness of these inequalities, and we tend to overlook the issues that persist beneath the surface.

Because of this, when we talk about gender inequality, we usually default to the same examples: the wage gap, corporate glass ceilings, and pervasive workplace stereotypes. 

These are all critical problems, of course. But the truth is inequality runs much deeper than these familiar struggles. It exists in places we barely notice, even in the most developed countries, where progress has supposedly been made.

Here are five instances of gender inequality that you might not have thought about — and that need our attention.

#1: Speech recognition technology

In 2016, linguist and researcher Rachael Tatman discovered that Google’s speech recognition system was far more accurate — at the tune of 70% — at understanding male speech than female voices. 

Consider that Google is a leader in the industry, with substantial resources devoted to product development. But rather than addressing the bias, manufacturers have turned a blind eye. In Caroline Criado Perez’s book, Invisible Women, she recounts a story of a woman whose car’s voice control system failed to understand her. When she contacted the manufacturer, they claimed there was nothing they could do and suggested she find “some man” to assist her. 

The issue, as Perez illustrates, is a systemic lack of gender-specific data. In the TIMIT speech corpus, for example, 69% of recordings feature male voices. In others, there is no separation of records by gender at all. These facts speak for themselves.

#2: Sports and fitness

Initially, it might seem like women’s exercise habits aren’t a significant gender issue, but the numbers tell a different story.

A recent survey found that only 33% of American women exercise regularly. What’s more striking, though, is that women’s participation in fitness is often not driven by enjoyment or self-care, but by social pressures to conform to an idealized body image.

Conversely, men tend to exercise for fun or personal health. The reasons behind these disparities are also tied to the fact that women are frequently burdened with household responsibilities. Working men typically have 13% more free time than working women. Add the fact that women often prioritize caring for others over their own well-being, and it makes it harder to find time for exercise, even when they want to.

#3: Unisex uniforms

While unisex uniforms were introduced in the late 20th century with the idea of being inclusive, they often don’t work as well for women. A common issue has arisen in professions like law enforcement, where women make up nearly a third of the workforce. 

In Spain, a female police officer was once fined for wearing a bulletproof vest she purchased herself because the standard vest was too large to properly protect her. Men face their own challenges, too. Uniforms aren’t designed to fit everyone, and often neither men nor women are given the proper attire to carry out their work effectively.

#4: Furniture

Even the most basic household items are designed with a male-centric view.

Let’s look at the example of furniture. Most household goods are created with the “average” adult in mind — someone who is about 175 cm tall, which is closer to the average male height than the average female height of 160 cm. The result is that many women struggle with basic tasks like reaching top shelves or using furniture comfortably. The same applies to items like oversized water glasses and smartphone models, which are often too large for smaller hands.

If this is not enough, think about the toiletries you find in hotels. Premium products often come with scents like wood, leather, and spices — smells traditionally associated with masculinity. The reason behind these assumptions? It’s an old-fashioned notion that these smells evoke wealth and sophistication, when in reality, they don’t reflect the preferences of the majority.

#5: The Pink Tax

There’s also the issue of pricing. Women often end up paying more for everyday products — whether it’s clothing, personal care items, or other household goods.

The “Pink Tax” is a well-known phenomenon where products marketed to women—razors, soap, lotions—are priced higher than their male equivalents, even when they’re essentially the same product.

According to data from the World Economic Forum, personal care products targeted at women in the U.S. can cost as much as 13% more than the same products aimed at men. This creates a systematic financial burden, especially troubling when inflation is already putting a strain on many consumers.

The bottom line

Some might argue that we’re overanalyzing these issues or nitpicking at aspects of life that have been shaped by decades, if not centuries, of tradition. 

But the reality is that women are beginning to find the courage to speak up about the inequality they’ve faced for so long. We are coming out of the shadows, sharing our stories, and demanding that these issues be addressed. And as we do, it’s becoming increasingly difficult for society to ignore us.

What’s clear from these examples is that gender inequality is embedded in our daily lives, in the technologies we use, the products we buy, and even the way we exercise. The more we shine a light on these hidden biases, the closer we get to creating a world where gender equality finally transcends an intangible idea and becomes a reality.