Photos by Winona Waldron
EQUITY AND INCLUSION
See “Imagining a women’s parliament,” by Susan Fonseca, Teacher, May/June 2018, page 15.
Celebrate March 8th
Engage students to advance EQUALITY By Sonja van der Putten, Surrey teacher and member of the BCTF Status of Women Action Group When I talk to my students about gender equality and International Women’s Day, I often get responses such as “Well, when is International Men’s Day?” (November 9th, for the record), and “What about meninism?” These responses strike me as a reflection of a socioeconomic system that encourages students to be in a constant state of competition. BY SIMPLY introducing the topic of gender equality to my Social Justice 12 class recently, several students immediately began to emphasize their group distinctiveness (e.g., “but men and boys have problems too”) and minimize their similarities (e.g., “only girls do that”). It was important for these students to understand that gender equality does not mean that one group wins rights at the expense of another group. Instead, gender equality aims to ensure equal access to opportunities, regardless of the gender with which you identify. The class discussed how the social and economic dynamics within families, communities, institutions, ethnicities, and cultures, create gendered expectations. Human needs for safety and belonging are universal, yet systems affect our thoughts, beliefs, attitudes, and behaviours, and how we access these needs. We choose to identify with groups that most closely satisfy our needs for positive identity and self-worth.
It was important for these students to understand that gender equality does not mean that one group wins rights at the expense of another group.” 6 TEACHER March 2018
Last spring, I attended the Daughters of the Vote conference in Ottawa. Hundreds of young women and students from across Canada participated to mark the 100th year of formal participation of women in Canadian politics. The event reinforced that women’s issues are everyone’s issues. In addition to a variety of workshops and presentations, these young women testified at the House of Commons Standing Committee, voicing concerns and suggesting actions needed on key areas facing Canadians. Addressing domestic violence, sexual assault, and mental health issues benefits everyone. Closing the gender wage gap means more money in the household and more money in the economy. Women in political leadership positions results in more equitably distributed resources and structural policies that are more fairly negotiated. These impacts range from banking to natural resources industries. Gender equality has the potential to raise Canada’s GDP and improve the health of all Canadians. One result of Daughters of the Vote is the launch of the Legacy Project, with working groups to address key concerns, including mental health; gender-based violence;
decolonization and Indigenous rights; energy, climate, and the environment; and women’s paid work and leadership. The aim is to build political engagement through the development of advocacy toolkits including an analysis of issues affecting young women, policy options, innovation, and inclusion. International Women’s Day is an opportunity to celebrate the social, economic, cultural, and political achievements of women, while also acknowledging that gender equality has yet to be achieved. On March 8th, I encourage all teachers to engage their students in a relevant and needed conversation on gender equality.
Gender equality resources for teachers Daughters of the vote legacy initiatives www.daughtersofthevote.ca/dov_legacy Status of Women Canada resources to support gender equality and encourage students to participate in a conversation via #EqualityMatters. https://is.gd/teiHdE Women’s Rights lesson plans on the BCTF Status of Women Site bctf.ca/SocialJustice.aspx?id=19766 TeachBC Women’s Rights Portal https://is.gd/8yEEaV