Skip to content

LETTER: What can you do to alter the imbalance of power?

On International Women's Day, CFUW advocate encourages local women to find a way to get involved
IMG_1716
Karen Thorington pens a through-provoking letter about strides made and challenges remaining to mark International Women's Day.

OrilliaMatters received the following letter to the editor from Karen Thorington, Advocacy Chair of the Orillia chapter of Canadian Federation of University Women regarding International Women's Day:

Today is International Women’s Day. It is a day to celebrate women’s achievements as well as reflect on the barriers that continue to exist.

Since the day was first observed on March 8, 1909, great strides have been made toward realizing women’s economic, political and social equality.

Some women gained the right to vote federally in 1917, though it was not until 1960 when Indigenous women were included that all Canadian women had that right. 

During the Second World War, many middle class women took on roles in manufacturing – ammunition, planes, ships, parachutes, uniforms. After the war, these same women were expected to return to the home to be house wives and mothers.

Many women balked at this. They enjoyed being productive, having a role outside the home and earning money. Slowly, women working outside the home came to be accepted by Western society.

The legalization of the birth control pill and, later, the right of choice, further gave women control over their bodies.

In the 1990s, there was pay equity legislation which states that a women is to receive the same rate of pay as a man for work of equal value. The legislation exists, but the reality does not.

Women continue to earn about 75 cents to the dollar compared to a man. And violence against women continues to be a major problem. Unfortunately, our First Nations women suffer a disproportionally high rate of abuse.

While some of the old barriers no longer exist, we are not barrier free.

Women today are better educated. The enrolment of women in university exceeds men. There is pay equity legislation but affordable child care remains a challenge.

Often, managerial systems are inflexible to different modes of working.

Because few women crack that glass ceiling, there is little support and mentorship for women attempting to ascend to power.

Globe and Mail columnist Elizabeth Renzetti believes women’s ambition is further constrained by inherent biases that favour the promotion of people already in power – that is non-racialized men.

So how do we change the culture? Many believe that it needs to be changed from the inside out.

Women need to be the policy makers. But to be policy makers, women need to be elected to office at every level.

Research shows that women elected to office are better able to work across party lines than their male counterparts and are particularly effective in policy making.

So why do so few women throw their hat into the ring?

Tamara Small, Professor of Political Science at University of Guelph states, “The discourse around women in politics is that women
are still outsiders. Politics is a man’s world, and all of these people are interloping. The internet more broadly is not a particularly welcoming place for women.”

It is believed that women are less likely to put themselves forward due to concern over loss of privacy and fear of not being taken seriously. The Honourable Catherine McKenna, Minister of the Environment, certainly experienced this when she was dubbed “Climate Barbie” by Rebel
Media.

As Hilary Clinton has stated, “The only way to get sexism out of politics is to get more women into politics.”

Anne-Marie Slaughter, the first female policy director for the U.S. State Department, agrees. As she states, “Only when women wield power in sufficient numbers will we create a society that genuinely works for all women. That will be a society that works for everyone.”

So, on this 90 th anniversary of International Women’s Day, I would like to encourage all women to think about what they can do to alter this imbalance.

You may not be interested in pursuing election, but all candidates need the encouragement to put their name forward, the support to
launch a campaign, and everyone exercising their right to vote!

Equal Voice, a multi-partisan not-for-profit organization, is dedicated to getting women elected at all levels of government. Check out their website and see what is possible for you.

Karen Thorington, Advocacy Chair
Canadian Federation of University Women Orillia