By mandating numbers rather than nurturing genuine talent, quotas suggest that women require external help to compete with men. This undermines the very principle of equality and risks portraying female leaders as token figures rather than competent professionals. When women are placed in positions without the full confidence of merit-based selection, any shortcomings are magnified, creating the impression that women as a whole are less capable. The business world provides telling examples.

Norway’s 2003 boardroom quota law mandated 40% female representation on company boards. While the legislation increased numbers, it did not substantially improve overall gender equality in the corporate pipeline. A small group of highly connected women occupied multiple board seats, creating what became known as the “golden skirts” phenomenon.

Meanwhile, opportunities for women at lower levels remained stagnant, showing that quotas elevated representation at the top without addressing systemic barriers below. In politics, similar patterns emerge.

Quotas in countries like India have increased the number of women in elected positions, yet this has not always translated into stronger female leadership. In some cases, female representatives were sidelined or overshadowed by male relatives, turning their roles into symbolic gestures rather than genuine platforms for change. Such outcomes reinforce harmful perceptions that women in power are unqualified or incapable, which is the opposite of what true feminism seeks to achieve. A more effective approach is to focus on building equal opportunities rather than imposing quotas. Women should be recognized for their abilities, given access to training, mentorship, and resources, and supported in environments that value merit.

When women reach leadership positions because they are the best candidates, not because a rule mandates it, their success strengthens the case for equality far more convincingly than any quota could. Quotas may appear progressive, but they are little more than a band-aid solution. The real path forward lies in dismantling systemic barriers and fostering environments where women succeed naturally on the basis of skill, ambition, and merit. True equality is not granted; it is earned