Altitude vs. Achievement: The Farce of "Feminist" Space Flights

Sure, visibility matters. Yes, representation counts. But let's not confuse a billionaire-backed PR stunt with actual progress. This isn’t the first all-female crew in space, nor is it a groundbreaking achievement in aerospace. It's a marketing move that cheapens the hard-earned accomplishments of real pioneers.

Tokenism Wrapped in Empowerment

This also wasn’t about breaking new ground—it was a symbolic gesture. Labelling it as “female empowerment” when the women involved were it diminishes the true contributions of women in space. And yes, a few of the passengers, to be fair, brought serious credentials. But none were conducting science, piloting the vehicle, or contributing to exploration in the traditional sense.

Real Achievement vs. Optics

Women like Valentina Tereshkova, Sally Ride, Mae Jemison, and Christina Koch dedicated years to rigorous training, faced systemic barriers, and made real contributions to science and space exploration. The Blue Origin flight was an 11-minute hop with no research, no exploration, and no real risk. Comparing it to the achievements of these pioneers feels like an insult to their legacy.

Empowerment for Sale

When billionaires peddle empowerment, it rings hollow. These men profit from systems of inequality and yet package empowerment as a shiny product to sell. It's not a step forward, it’s a PR move disguised as progress.

Style Over Substance

This wasn’t a mission—it was a suborbital joyride, marketed as "inspirational" with no depth. The message? Being close to power (even just symbolically) is what counts, not actual training, contribution, or real education.

A PR Moment, Not a Movement

From the rocket’s design to the perfectly curated photo ops, it was clear this was built for the cameras, not for change. Empowerment became just another marketing tool, easily mocked and made into a meme, completely undermining the idea it was meant to promote.

Empowerment in Space = Performative Empowerment Everywhere

This wasn’t a milestone for women in space or science—it was a branding exercise for the wealthy, illustrating how performative empowerment spreads across industries like tech, trade, and beyond. The gap between visibility and real, systemic change is vast.

Just like in aerospace, women in trade often get visibility, but not the support they need. They’re applauded, but not equitably empowered. A seat on a rocket doesn’t compare to a seat at the decision-making table, and visibility doesn’t translate into influence.

The Reality of Women in Trade

In the past two decades, we’ve seen progress: more women entrepreneurs, the historic appointment of Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala at the World Trade Organisation. But lately, that progress seems to be stalling—especially with the rollback of international aid that supports women in trade, leaving them to fend for themselves in informal sectors.

When global donors pull back on funding that empowers women in developing economies, they’re sending a message: that gender equity isn’t essential.

Supporting women in trade isn’t just good for fairness; it’s smart economics. Women in trade strengthen supply chains, drive innovation, and boost local economies. But when symbolic gestures replace real structural support, we risk undoing hard-won gains.

The Bottom Line

If we keep confusing visibility with true influence or packaging with progress, we reinforce the very power dynamics we claim to challenge. And if empowerment is measured by proximity to power instead of genuine participation in it, we’ve missed the point entirely.