A recent opinion piece in The New York Times has set off a storm of criticism on social media, forcing the publication to quickly change its headline. The article, written by NYT columnist Ross Douthat, was first published under the headline “Did Women Ruin the Workplace?". The phrasing immediately drew widespread backlash, with many accusing the newspaper of sexism and regressive thinking.
Within hours, after mounting criticism on Twitter, Instagram, and other platforms, The New York Times changed the headline to “Did Liberal Feminism Ruin the Workplace?" and added a subheading asking, “And if so, can conservative feminism fix it?" The revision, however, did little to ease the outrage. Critics argued that while the headline was softened, the article itself remained unchanged, showing what many saw as an attempt at cosmetic damage control rather than genuine accountability.
In the essay, Douthat argued that what he calls “liberal feminism” -- defined by equality, empathy, and workplace accountability -- has disrupted traditional corporate culture. He claimed that the rise of “woke” ideals, #MeToo activism, harassment awareness, maternity policies, and flexible work models have weakened established professional norms. As an alternative, he suggested “conservative feminism,” which he described as a return to family-centered values and traditional gender roles.
The argument triggered sharp criticism online and among gender equality advocates. Many said the suggestion that feminism had “ruined” the workplace was both offensive and inaccurate. Commentators pointed out that offices were never equitable to begin with and that women’s increased participation simply exposed long-existing biases. One social media user summed it up by saying, “The issue was not that women broke the system, but that they revealed its cracks.”
Others accused Douthat of reframing progress as a problem. “The workplace wasn’t ruined; it was revealed,” read a viral post on X. Another user wrote, “The New York Times asked if liberal feminism ruined the workplace. No, it ruined the era where men could talk over women, take credit for their ideas, and still call themselves ‘leaders’.”
Experts and activists argue that the controversy reflects a larger cultural discomfort with changing power dynamics in workplaces. For decades, women were excluded from decision-making positions, and their growing visibility and demands for accountability are now being portrayed by some as disruptive.
Recent data underscores how far the fight for gender equality still has to go. According to the International Labour Organisation’s 2025 report, women make up 40 percent of the global workforce but earn only 52 cents for every dollar earned by men. Women now hold 29 percent of senior management roles, up from 17 percent a decade ago, but the gap remains significant.
Workplace harassment also continues to be a serious concern around the world. In Iceland, one in three women report having faced sexual harassment at work. In India, complaints filed under the Prevention of Sexual Harassment (POSH) law have risen by 79 percent in the private sector over the past five years, a trend experts link to increasing awareness and more women coming forward. The Delhi High Court recently noted that harassment remains prevalent in government departments, observing that “men’s attitudes haven’t changed.” In Hong Kong, a survey by the South China Morning Post found that 34 percent of women had experienced harassment, but most never reported it.
So far, The New York Times has not issued an official statement addressing the backlash. The controversy, however, has reignited broader discussions about gender equality and the responsibility of influential media outlets in framing public debates.
As several commentators noted, social and workplace changes often make those benefiting from old hierarchies uncomfortable. The modern workplace is not falling apart, they say; it is evolving. For some, that evolution feels threatening. For others, it is long overdue progress toward fairness and accountability.
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