Belle&Yell is a feminist platform. Oooops. The word alone makes many people’s hair stand on end. Even women don’t want to be seen as feminists. Why is that?
Because the patriarchy has successfully persuaded us that feminism is radical. But let’s be honest: radical is not feminism – radical is a world in which women still earn less, have less power and are heard less.
Feminism is not about women placing themselves above men and excluding men. It’s about what kind of world you want to live in. Modern feminism aims for a system in which people have equal opportunities. It is about equality, equal treatment and cohesion in society. It is about a willingness to compromise, the ability to engage in dialog, empathy and solidarity – in other words, it is what our society urgently needs.
Women and men in comparison
- World population: Women make up 49.6 % of the world’s population, men 50.4 % (source: UN, 2023).
- Politics: Only 26% of parliamentary seats worldwide are held by women, while 74% are held by men (source: UN Women, 2024).
- Economy: Less than 10% of CEOs in Fortune 500 companies are women, while 90% of positions are held by men (source: Catalyst, 2024).
- Technology: Only around 28% of employees in the tech sector are women, while 72% are men (source: UNESCO, 2023).
- Media: Women make up only 24% of experts in news programs, while men make up 76% (source: Global Media Monitoring Project, 2024).
The five women behind Belle & Yell
Half of humanity is female, yet women are treated like a minority.
Regula Bathelt
Women make up 50% of the world’s population. We are a majority, not a minority. With Belle&Yell, we want to offer this majority a platform. We want to bring women across Europe together to empower, inspire and motivate each other. Anyone who feels like a woman is welcome here. Because what the world needs right now is more female energy. This is a challenge for men and women alike.
What is feminism?
The United Nations defines feminism as the movement for the political, economic and social equality of the sexes. According to UN Women, feminism is about ensuring that all people – regardless of their gender – should have equal rights and opportunities. It is a commitment to a world without discrimination, in which gender equality is a fundamental human right.
What does patriarchy mean?
Patriarchy is a social system in which men are structurally favored while women are systematically disadvantaged. This inequality manifests itself in political, economic and social structures that perpetuate male dominance. This system promotes unequal pay, a lack of women in leadership positions and stereotypical expectations of men and women. (Source: UN Women)
Knowledge is power and the key to change.
Stéphanie Gouchault
Knowledge is the basis for change. Those who are informed can make decisions more consciously and stand up for their own rights and equal opportunities. For women in particular, education is the key to independence and self-determination. At Belle&Yell, we want to share as much knowledge as possible so that every woman becomes stronger to create change together.
Men promote rope teams, women form networks.
Manuela Reibold-Rolinger
While men often rely on rope teams to open career doors for each other, women form networks based on support and exchange. These networks are not only important – they are essential for survival. Belle&Yell is such a network in which women strengthen each other and fight together against growing aggression and regression in equality.
Women are strong - but there is still a lot of untapped potential.
Dagmar Thiam
Women have been helping to shape society for centuries. They raise children, run households, they work and are care takers, have careers, run companies, drive innovation and fight for justice. Their strength and their impact on society are undeniable and of equal value – it is just not acknowledged enough. Belle&Yell supports women in making their strength visible and effective. And in believing in their power and capabilities.
Structural gaps that need to be closed
- Gender pay gap: On average, women worldwide earn 20 % less than men for the same work (source: World Economic Forum, 2024).
- Pension gap: On average, women receive 30% less pension than men, as they are more likely to work part-time or take on care work (source: OECD, 2023).
- Leadership gap: Only 10% of management positions in the world’s largest companies are held by women (source: Catalyst, 2024).
- Investment gap: Women invest significantly less than men, which results in financial disadvantages in the long term (source: Financial Times, 2024).
- Dream Gap: Girls begin to underestimate their own abilities as early as childhood, which affects their career opportunities in the long term (source: UNESCO, 2023).
Feminism: An Opportunity for Men.
Charlotte Quantin
We’ve been sold a lie: feminism vs. masculinity in its most rigid form. Patriarchy imposes its rules on men: “Be strong,” “Stay silent,” “Show nothing.” It drives competition over connection, locks men into endless performance, and isolates them in silence.
Feminism doesn’t take anything from men. It gives them back what was stolen from them: the freedom to be fully themselves.
The truth is, patriarchy serves neither men nor women—it only upholds the system. At Belle&Yell, we’re determined to disrupt that system. But we can’t do it alone. We need everyone to join us.
