Is Feminism Broken or Did We Get it Wrong? It's time to rebrand.

Last week I met with an executive — sharp, capable, accomplished, and always “on” — who had just lost her position. We sat down, and she said something almost in passing but profoundly true:

“I am irreplaceable in my home.”

That moment changed the tone of our conversation from corporate metrics to human meaning. It reminded me that even the most visible roles don’t always capture the most vital ones.

In today’s cultural climate, the brand of feminism that so many know is locked into conflict, division, and professional competition. We might call this “toxic feminism” — defined by adversarial mindsets, zero-sum thinking, and a narrowing of womanhood to career-success alone.

It asks women: “How much will you sacrifice to climb?” rather than “How will we all thrive together?”

We also reflected on how much this pits women against one another; especially in an industry like STEM that is dominated by men, women seem to be even more competitive with one another. The opposite of what may actually help more women succeed and enter this industry. 

It’s time for a re-brand of feminism — one grounded in community, responsibility, mutual service, and the idea that women don’t just compete for space, they make space for one another across work, home and society.

The Feminism Reframe

1. Embrace motherhood, caregiving, and home life as vital contributions

The home is not secondary to the market: it is foundational. The labor of raising children, caring for family, or stewarding relationships, is not “less than” professional achievement — it is different, often more enduring. At TFC we support professional aspiration and family devotion.

2. Promote mutual support over adversarial rivalry

Too often feminism pits women against men, women against each other, or sets “career vs. home” as the only choice. At TFC we help one another align our priorities; we value varied roles; we honor caregiving as much as corporate leadership; we build networks of support rather than battlegrounds of critique.

3. Recenter Values

It’s time to move past the “boss-lady” era toward a calling to serve, nurture, and uplift together. When women weave career, community, and care into one purpose, success transforms from “I win” to “we flourish.” This is a new model of leadership—mentorship over hierarchy, caregiving over competition, and shared growth over individual gain.

Why This Matters

We live in a time when work and life have grown apart, when home and parenthood are too often undervalued. But when a woman steps back from her career, she may rediscover where her true strength lies — in her capacity to nurture, to lead morally, and to sustain the relationships that hold communities together.

A movement that makes space for every kind of woman, not just the CEO, but the caregiver, the mother, the friend — is one that will last.

What To Do Next

Join us in building a new kind of career story that honors ambition and authenticity.

Through The Female Catalysts’ career services, we help women design lives that feel whole, not divided. We offer mentorship, professional branding, and community. Whether you’re navigating a career pivot or simply craving more meaning in your work, we’re here to help you flourish in every season.