RISE UP FOR GENDER EQUALITY

by Nathaly Guillemette, National Coordinator

We can move gender equality ahead, together, now.

Research has repeatedly shown that where there is less gender discrimination, greater respect for women's rights and better women's education, living and working conditions, not only do women benefit, but also, their families and entire communities. In fact, society as a whole benefits.

When women take their rightful place at the table to share their experience and ideas, they can change the world. The world is their family, and their workplace. The world is every person they encounter, every day. Women can create a fairer, more flexible world, starting with their neighbourhoods, their schools, their workplaces.

If we want a better society, we need to put forward equality-based, feminist solutions that reduce, not only the inequalities between women and men, but also those that affect women among themselves.

We need to balance work with family and education, guarantee access to daycare, challenge gender stereotypes, and eliminate violence against women. We also need to create conditions that favour women's access to responsible decision-making positions and support constructive power-sharing. That means promoting inclusive policies and practices in businesses and in our union organizations.

While much remains to be done, the effects of the pandemic and the labour shortage have not been all bad. People are starting to see and appreciate women's role in the labour market. They are starting to see that barriers to women's financial success do not harm only women but are large-scale economic and labour issues. This refocusing has allowed positive solutions to emerge and has brought people together to move them forward.

Together, affirming feminist claims in the workplace and in the rest of our lives, loud and strong, we can change the course of history and achieve a more diverse and equitable society for everyone.