When Being Vulnerable is A Woman’s Burden

I don’t and may never agree with Rachel Reeves’s politics. There is not a single plank on her platform that aligns with my beliefs but what happened yesterday in the House of Commons goes beyond politics or public life. It was a moment that yet again laid bare the expectations placed on women in leadership and the collective failure of offering the most basic human empathy when it was needed the most.

The Scene: Grief in the Public Eye

Yesterday, as the cameras rolled and the nations watched, Rachel Reeves, Chancellor, leader and above all a woman was visibly overcome by emotion. The reason behind her tears and sullen face may have been personal. But the response from those around her was chilling in its absence. Not a single MP from the Government or opposition benches, including her boss and fellow senior Labour Cabinet members moved to shield her from the camera glare or offer her a moment of privacy to compose herself. She was instead left to wipe away her tears in full camera view, leaving her vulnerability on display for all to see.

A Century Since Suffrage, But Still Proving Ourselves
It has been over a century since the Suffragette movement, since women first fought for the right to be heard and counted. But here in 2025, women in leadership are still expected to prove their mettle every single day. To be seen and heard, we must be determined, ruthless and headstrong among other strong personality attributes. We must also be compassionate, nurturing and endlessly resilient. When we extend empathy to others, it is lauded as a strength, but when we need that same empathy, it is nowhere to be found.

The Double Standard of Vulnerability
Why do men and women still get treated differently, not above or below, but differently?
Imagine, for a moment, if instead yesterday Keir Starmer had shed a tear in the Commons. The headlines would likely have applauded his humanity, his emotional intelligence and his courage to show vulnerability. But when a woman’s composure cracks, the narrative shifts: she is “broken,” “unfit” or “overwhelmed.” The expectation is not just to lead, but in doing so, we must also not let the mask slip.

The Cost of Compassion Denied
This is not just about one woman or one political moment. It is about the culture we have built, where women in power are expected to be superhuman, doing the impossible and getting everything right the first time. Any signs that show us any less than extraordinary is almost always met with discomfort, derision or indifference. No wonder a lot of us don’t feel comfortable sharing our struggles with health or emotional challenges at work for fear of being considered or seen as less capable.

When the System Fails to Be Human
What happened yesterday was not just a personal failing of those present, but a systemic one. In a moment of utter personal grief, the absence of even a single gesture of solidarity or kindness was a stark reminder of how far we still have to go.
Women are still fighting for the right not just to lead, but to be seen as fully human who are capable of strength and vulnerability, determination and emotion, all at the same time.

Yesterday’s events were a stark reminder that true equality is still fraught with old prejudices and new challenges. There’s a lot that still needs to change but at bare minimum, lets start with making empathy universal, regardless of gender; create safe spaces at work where moments of personal grief are met with dignity, respect and privacy and last but not the least support women in leadership because true equality means not just opening the doors but standing alongside when the weight becomes heavy.