Invisible Chains: How Women Are Still Enslaved in a World That Should Know Better

Despite decades of progress, many women across the globe remain trapped in systems of exploitation, abuse, and oppression. These systems often operate in the shadows, hidden behind normalized societal expectations, cultural traditions, or economic disparities. For countless women, being treated as servants or slaves—unpaid or underpaid, abused and undervalued—is not a thing of the past; it’s a daily reality. This article explores how and why this happens, and what we can do to bring change.

1. The Invisible Shackles of Unpaid Labor

Women perform the majority of unpaid labor worldwide, from caregiving to household chores, often at the expense of their own financial independence and personal development. According to the United Nations, women perform more than 75% of unpaid domestic and caregiving work, an invisible economy worth billions yet unrecognized and uncompensated.

Why is this still normalized? Because society perpetuates the idea that caregiving and homemaking are “women’s responsibilities,” ignoring the fact that this unpaid work is foundational to economies and households.

Example: A stay-at-home mother works longer hours than most paid professionals but receives no income, social security benefits, or retirement savings. Meanwhile, her partner often reaps the benefits of her work without recognizing its value.

2. The Gender Wage Gap: Paid Less, Expected More

Even when women are paid, they are often undervalued and underpaid for their contributions. Globally, women earn 23% less than men for the same work. This wage gap is often justified by gender stereotypes, such as women being “less committed” to work due to family responsibilities.

Women also dominate industries that are severely underpaid, such as caregiving, hospitality, and domestic work, where exploitation is rampant. In many cases, women are expected to work harder to “prove” themselves in professional settings, while simultaneously juggling societal pressures to be primary caregivers at home.

Example: Female farmworkers, domestic workers, and garment factory workers are particularly vulnerable to exploitation, often working in inhumane conditions for pennies, with little legal protection.

3. Modern Slavery: Human Trafficking and Exploitation

According to the Global Slavery Index, over 40 million people are trapped in modern slavery, and 71% of them are women and girls. Women are disproportionately trafficked into forced labor and sexual exploitation, where their bodies and labor are sold as commodities.

In many parts of the world, women are trafficked under the guise of “job opportunities” or coerced into domestic servitude in private households, where they suffer abuse and have no means of escape.

Example: Domestic workers in wealthier countries, particularly migrant women, are often treated as property, denied their passports, and forced to work grueling hours for little to no pay.

4. Cultural and Societal Norms: The Root of Oppression

In many societies, cultural norms and traditions enforce women’s roles as subservient to men. These norms often strip women of autonomy, leaving them vulnerable to physical, emotional, and financial abuse.

For example, in some cultures, women are expected to prioritize family over everything else, even if it means tolerating abuse, sacrificing education, or working multiple jobs to support their families. Meanwhile, the concept of a woman wanting freedom or independence is stigmatized.

Example: Child marriages, still practiced in many countries, often condemn young girls to a lifetime of servitude, sexual violence, and lack of education. These practices are rooted in a belief that women’s lives should revolve around serving men.

5. The Normalization of Abuse

One of the most insidious ways women are kept enslaved is through the normalization of abuse—physical, emotional, and financial. In many cases, women are conditioned to believe that they must tolerate mistreatment, whether from a partner, employer, or family member, to fulfill their societal role.

Abuse is further normalized when systems fail to protect women. Courts, police, and lawmakers often turn a blind eye, leaving survivors without justice or safety.

Example: Domestic violence is one of the leading causes of homelessness for women, yet many survivors are told to “work things out” with their abusers.

6. How Do We Break the Chains?

Bringing awareness to these issues is the first step toward dismantling them. Here are actionable ways to help:

Educate Yourself and Others: Understanding these issues and talking about them openly helps challenge the normalization of women’s exploitation.

Support Women’s Organizations: Donate to or volunteer with organizations that fight for women’s rights and provide resources to survivors.

Advocate for Policy Change: Push for laws that ensure equal pay, protect domestic workers, and support survivors of abuse.

Challenge Cultural Norms: Speak out against sexism and outdated gender roles in your community.

Empower Women Economically: Support initiatives that provide women with education, training, and job opportunities to gain financial independence.

Conclusion

The systems that exploit women are deeply ingrained but not unchangeable. By raising awareness and challenging these norms, we can begin to dismantle the invisible chains that keep so many women trapped. It’s time to recognize and value the labor, voices, and humanity of women—not just as a moral imperative but as a necessity for a just and equitable world.