The invisible glass ceiling, one of the worst forms of gender discrimination in the 21st century, has developed cracks. It is no longer relevant or even true to say that certain preserves are exclusively for men.

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Two recent developments – one concerning the Indian Navy, the other at the 90th Oscars gala – underscore how women’s resilience and fortitude have inspired men-in-power to cast away gender stereotypes. The Navy is looking at enhancing the number of women in the force to deploy them at warships.

This means that once a critical number is reached, they can aspire to be part of combat operations at sea, which was earlier unthinkable. This, undoubtedly, would be a major breakthrough as few navies in the world have shown such openness in critical areas of national security.

In the same breath, one ought to mention Frances McDormand’s little rebellion at this year’s Oscars. The winner of the Best Actress took the opportunity to ask all female nominees at the award function to stand up and be counted.

Yes, times have changed and that too at a blitzkrieg pace. It has ruptured Hollywood’s traditional power equations. Men like Harvey Weinstein can no longer wield authority to degrade women. McDormand’s message has resonance far beyond the make-believe world of the movie industry. Women can no longer be expected to wait in the wings or yield to sexual exploitation to find their rightful places at the workplace.

Gender equality is real and palpable. Anything on the contrary will invite backlash and public-shaming. “Look around,” McDormand said, “ we all have stories to tell and projects to finance”. These stories will now dominate public discourse and shape human consciousness. And, what better way to make a start than inviting women to take charge — on the sea and the big screen, where grit meets glamour.