Globally, many women face lesser access to basic and higher education, economic participation, higher education. They also face greater health and safety risks, as well as less political representation. Ensuring the rights of women and giving them opportunities to reach their full potential is crucial not only for obtaining gender equality, but also for meeting a wide range of international development goals. Yayasan Hasanah’s MD Shahira Ahmed Bazari shares some of the challenges faced by Malaysian women, how race and culture plays a role in this, and thoughts on societal expectations of women at large.