Discrimination against women is so deep-rooted because of its historical, cultural, and institutional nature. It has been centuries since the patriarchal structure dominated many societies, where men are the established authorities and the role of women is confined to a specified circumference. Such norms were perpetuated through traditions, laws, and orderly socialization processes, most of which placed men in a superior position.

These biases are further strengthened by stereotyping and cultural narratives that place women in limited roles and undervalue their contributions. The media, literature, and education systems have portrayed women throughout history as always performing some type of domesticated caregiving role, while their presence in leadership or technical fields is diminished.

This discrimination is structural and has been built into legal, economic, and political institutions as systemic inequalities. For instance, wage gaps, underrepresentation in leadership positions, and a lack of support for working mothers have been taken as societal norms.

This normalization is combined with implicit bias—unconscious attitudes and stereotypes that affect behavior and decision-making. These biases are often unrecognized, making discrimination subtle and therefore less likely to be contested. It is in these ways that these combined factors engender an environment in which discrimination becomes so deep-seated as to be very hard to even recognize, let alone address. Overcoming these deep-seated problems requires conscious effort, education, and systemic change.