“I’m not an expert in that.” In over twenty years of journalism, I cannot tell you the number of times a talented, knowledgeable woman has turned down the opportunity to speak, write or share their knowledge. Even when talking about their own lived experience, the muscle memory to defer to someone else, usually a man, is well-worn. The truth is, it’s 2026; yet as an industry, we are still punishing women for taking up space.