This episode critiques superficial “girl-boss” empowerment narratives, arguing that flashy media representations of strong women mask the harsher realities many women face under capitalism—persistent pay gaps, gendered expectations, and widespread violence. Research on women’s advancement reveals a structural double bind: behaving in socially approved “feminine” ways may earn status but rarely real authority, while assertive behaviour can bring power at the cost of social acceptance. Feminist thinkers and historians are therefore drawn to questioning the roots of patriarchy, from debates about prehistoric societies to modern analyses of gender and property. Drawing on Angela Saini’s work, the piece highlights how patriarchal systems developed alongside expanding state power, militarisation, and rigid gender roles that channelled men into war and  ...