women, in many countries around the world, women won the right to vote, to go to school, to study any career, to play sp
March 8, International Women’s Day: A Day of Celebration and Recognition of Women’s Achievements and Struggles for Gender Justice and Equality “What are the issues that appeal to the alpha males? We still live in a patriarchal society, we still live in a society where men don’t want to admit they’re sexist, but there is pervasive sexism,” she said. “I’ve never worked in a workplace as male-dominated and testosterone-flooded as the House of Commons.” (Green Party Leader Elizabeth May, News / Federal Election 2015) I would like to take this opportunity to extend my respect, gratitude and recognition to of all of the women around the world who have devoted their effort, time and energy to fight for women’s rights. Thanks to those women, in many countries around the world, women won the right to vote, to go to school, to study any career, to play sports, and to run for and hold elected office. The first International Women’s Day was celebrated on March 19, 1911, but this was not the beginning of the struggle for gender equity. After all, Mary Wollstonecraft published A Vindication of the Rights of Woman in 1792 and Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz challenged the male establishment in the 1600s. The struggle has been going on for centuries, perhaps millennia. However, despite the years of women’s struggles and achievements, there are still big issues that women must contend with all over the world:
Women and girls are denied fundamental human rights. In many countries girls are forced into marriages, are not sent to school, or they are forced to drop out early. In others, women continue to be paid less than men for doing the same work and restrictive laws prevent women from inheriting, and deny abortion rights. Many women and girls experience rape or domestic violence, or are subject to female genital mutilation. Many women are forced into early marriage and pregnancy, or to have repeated pregnancies. Women still are not treated equally in the workforce, have limited job opportunities and unequal pay. Women continue to be stereotyped and seen as weak, inferior to men and dependent on them. One in three women experiences violence at some point in her life.
Here on our Doorstep:
Aboriginal women have gone missing and have been murdered. Women have been shot to death in the streets. Shelters have reached their capacity to provide safe haven to women fleeing with their children to escape from domestic abuse. Of all the women murdered in the United States and Canada, about a third are killed by a husband or boyfriend. Murder by partner is a leading cause of death for pregnant women. Government and its institutions turn a blind eye to women’s issues and struggles Women around the world are still being raped, trafficked, violated and discriminated against. In the US, “One of the main issues of women discrimination today is unequal pay. If a man is paid $1, a woman with the same job will get only $0.77, an African American woman will get $0.68, and a Latina woman would receive $0.58.”
We need to open our eyes and see all the levels of sexism and discrimination against women, especially aboriginal women, women of colour, and women with disabilities. Women in society in general are not heard or respected because their ideas are not as valued as those of men or of the few women in positions of power and authority.
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Women face an epidemic of sexism and abuse of authority in the world. It is an issue of women’s rights when women feel oppressed and afraid of speaking out about the harassment and discrimination they face for fear of being laughed at, or not being listened to, or losing their jobs.
What is there to be Done to Achieve Female Parity? Misogyny around the world is a big problem and we have to come together to fight for women’s rights. Women have to come together as a feminist movement in each part of the world confronting issues from social, reproductive justice and racism to pay equity and motherhood. Women in the Americas have gained the right to vote, the right to work outside the home, and laws that make domestic violence illegal. However these changes in the law don't always change the reality of women's lives. They don't prevent women from being raped, trafficked, or assaulted or the continued legal discrimination against Aboriginal women, women of colour, disabled women, gay and transgender people. For centuries women have been standing up for equal rights to men in society. Feminist groups have achieved the right to study and work in any occupation they choose. But, there is so much more work to be done. The truth is, most women don't have the privilege of being able to look at gender inequality from a distance; they have no choice but to live it every day. Those of us who are lucky enough not to have to think about sexism, racism, poverty and homophobia on a daily basis have a responsibility to open our eyes to the misogyny right in front of us. And then to stop it.
Just imagine a world free of sexism, violence or discrimination against women. A world where…
All women are not subject to discrimination, stereotyping and abuse. All women are treated as equal to men in the workplace and receive equal pay for equal work. No women have to be characterized as sexual objects or marketing tools. Every woman is treated with respect and her voice is heard regardless of ethnicity, skin color, sexual orientation, social class, occupation, political ideology or religious belief. Women could walk alone anytime, anywhere without fear of verbal or physical assault. No women is a victim of war, poverty, sexual assault or domestic violence. Aboriginal women and women of color are treated equally to Caucasian women. Every woman is heard and respected in her community and workplace. Gender bias is eliminated to ensure women’s equal access to, and equal opportunities in, political and public life, education, health, and employment. All women and girls have access to education to make their own decisions about their lives, their bodies, their careers, and their sexual lives and identities. Women decide whether and when to have children. Women choose whether or not to marry and what type of family they want to create. Women live free from rape and other kinds of sexual or domestic violence. The government holds institutions to account when women’s rights are violated.
Despite certain achievements, control of our economy and our government still rests almost exclusively in the hands of men. For women to achieve full equality, they must have a real role in making the decisions that affect their lives. And that role requires real, and proportionate, representation -- something centuries of struggle for equality have yet to achieve. Women around the world cannot stop fighting until their goal of equality is reached. Teresa Arroliga-Piper FSA rep, Status of Women Committee 2
