Celebrating International Women’s Day

Greetings and welcome back to The Ontario Association of Distress Centres’ (operating as Distress and Crisis Ontario) blog! As mentioned in our first post last month, our blog will feature timely topics relevant to current events and/or monthly themes, articles that didn’t make it into our e-newsletter (which you can sign up for on our homepage), updates from the Association and our Members, and more. This month we would like to take a moment to celebrate International Women’s Day.

March 8th is annually recognized as International Women’s Day. This year, the Government of Canada titled the theme for 2024 as Invest in Women: Accelerate Progress. International Women’s Day serves as a reminder of the progress made in advancing gender equality while also recognizing the work that is yet to be done. It is a day to celebrate the global achievements of women, honour the contributions of innovators, and recommit ourselves to the ongoing movement for a more just and equitable world for all. By working together, we can create a future where every woman and girl has the opportunity to thrive and fulfil her potential.

Keeping this theme in mind, we would like to challenge ourselves and our readers to ask how we can invest in women and make sure we’re actively talking about issues like gender equality, reproductive rights, and violence against women well beyond March 8th. An investment in women is an investment for the future.

Gender Equality

Gender equality is one of the main points of the feminist movement and a key element in what International Women’s Day is promoting. There are multiple ways to define gender equality, but almost all sources distil gender equality down to the principle that all people, regardless of gender, should have equal opportunities to fulfil their potential, exercise their rights, and enjoy dignity in all aspects of life. It entails fair treatment and conditions regardless of gender, ensuring that individuals can contribute to and benefit from economic, social, cultural, and political development on an equal footing. Canada is considered a leader in global action for gender equality and, according to The Government of Canada, was “one of the first countries to sign and ratify the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW). The convention set international standards for eliminating gender discrimination”(Government).

This document, adopted by the United Nations General Assembly, outlines the meaning of equality and how it may be achieved. It ensures that women can be “equal decision-makers and agents of change in economic, social and political processes” (United). This document is one of many that move us forward in the empowerment of women and girls. By ensuring equal access to opportunities and resources for all genders, it promotes economic prosperity and productivity. Gender equality also contributes to sustainable development by addressing systemic barriers and promoting the full participation of women and marginalised genders in national, political, social, cultural, and economic spheres. Embracing gender equality as a core principle in our governments is not only a matter of justice but also imperative for building resilient and thriving communities.

What might this kind of equality and empowerment look like in our day-to-day relationships? We must ask ourselves how we are supporting or discouraging women. How are we speaking to our youth? What impact does saying, “he’s only being mean to you because he likes you”, have on a young girl? There are simple changes in everyday behaviour that make a huge impression on the progress towards gender equality everywhere. Though we have made strides forward in achieving gender equality, gender stereotypes still play a large role in how we shape societal expectations. It is our duty to create a world that our young women look forward to growing into through dialogue, education, and collective action.

Violence Against Women

Gender-based violence (GBV) is a deeply entrenched issue that impacts women globally. It is irrespective of age, ethnicity or socioeconomic status. GBV encompasses various forms of violence, including physical, sexual, emotional, and economic abuse. This type of violence is specifically inflicted on individuals based on their gender identity. GBV can happen anywhere; at work, school, home. between close friends, romantic partners or strangers. Though anyone can experience GBV, women and girls are disproportionately affected by it. According to the Canadian Centre for Justice and Community Safety Statistics, “a large majority (79%) of those reporting intimate partner violence to police are women. 67% of people who experience family violence are women and girls.” And the Canadian Femicide Observatory for Justice and Accountability notes that every 48 hours, one woman or girl is killed in Canada.

These statistics are startling, and require immediate action. By educating others about GBV and creating a dialogue, we will be able to help our community recognize when someone needs help, and promote resources to get help. If you believe someone is being abused or someone asks for help, the Canadian Women’s Foundation offers these points of support:

• Focus on the person being hurt. Your job is to support them. Make sure you are not putting your anger, shock, sadness, or fear first in the conversation.
• Remember that everyone copes with abuse differently. They may do things differently than you. That is okay. Be there to support them as they explore what works for them.
• Listen and let them lead. Instead of telling them what you would do or what they should do, ask them how you can best support them.
• Be judgement-free. Instead of saying “What did you do?”, “How did you make them mad?”, “Why don’t you leave?” or “You chose this relationship,” say: “It’s not your fault.” “I’m here for you.” “How are you doing right now?”
• Be patient and open-minded: abusive relationships are complicated, scary, confusing, and traumatic. Figuring things out takes time. You may need to have more conversations with this person. Don’t push. There is no one right answer, no quick fix, and everyone deals with these things differently.
• Refer them to relevant support services if they would like help.

(Gender)

Of course, if you or someone else is in immediate danger, call 911 or your local emergency number. Together we can promote a safer space for all and work to eliminate gender-based violence.

Women’s Health

It is common knowledge that women’s health is often overlooked. Women are constantly misdiagnosed, neglected and dismissed when it comes to healthcare. The World Economic Forum has found that this neglect seems to stem from “a deficiency of funding and, subsequently, a scarcity of clinical research and data on women’s health issues” (Khanna). For many years, women were not able to be subjects for clinical trials as men were deemed more fit for study. Of course, we know this is an issue as men do not have the same hormonal fluctuations as women. However, scientists believed this fluctuation would cause discrepancies in their studies and subsequent research findings. This lack of research in women has led to a lack of information on the effects of drugs on women and diagnoses for women (Khanna).

Dr. Patricia Farrell writes that women are almost twice as likely as men to have Alzheimer’s disease, and healthcare experts are lacking the information as to why. She explains that, “A strong gender bias shows up in autoimmune diseases, which are twice as common in women as they are in men. Many autoimmune diseases affect women more when they are under increased stress, such as during pregnancy, or when their hormones are changing a great deal” (Farrell). These increased stresses in women, may be a reason as to why women are more likely to develop Alzheimer’s. However, there are many studies that need to be conducted to figure out the core of the issue.

Women’s health is also a matter of intersectionality. We need to be looking at the larger scope of the issue in terms of race, sexual diversity, disability, income and identity. Women’s Health Collective has found that, “Racialized women, especially, face high levels of poverty: One in five racialized families lives in poverty, as does one in four Indigenous people. That compares to one in 20 non-racialized families. Fifteen percent of people with disabilities live in poverty—nearly two-thirds of whom are women” (Frangou). We need to advocate for more extensive research and to make women’s health a priority.

Starting Small & Looking to the Future

International Women’s Day can be a lot to digest. As one person, it can seem near impossible to support every facet of what gender equality looks like. There are a plethora of sources out there showing which foundations to donate to or how to write to your government for policy change. And while these are wonderful steps to take for change, it does not need to be complicated. 

Simply choosing to actively listen to one another, can validate women’s unique experiences. By allowing women to feel heard, we create safe spaces for questions and can acknowledge the importance of their voices and emotions. Creating connections within a small community creates large impacts.

Another way we can uplift women is mentorship. Sharing knowledge, experience, and guidance can help pave the way for success and fulfilment. Whether it’s offering career advice, sharing networking opportunities, or providing emotional support, mentorship creates a nurturing environment where women are not afraid to progress. Mentorship can look different to everyone! For some, it can be recommending a helpful article, or sharing job openings, or connecting others with their favourite mentors. Sharing knowledge and resources at any capacity empowers women to overcome obstacles and seize any and all opportunities for their growth and development.

Most importantly, it is kindness we should lean on. Being kind, compassionate, and empathetic towards each other is fundamental to building strong bonds of sisterhood and community. In times of adversity, a simple act of kindness can provide comfort and solace, reminding women that they are not alone in their struggles. In Shawn Achor’s book, “Before Happiness: The 5 hidden keys to achieving success, spreading happiness, and sustaining positive change,” he has a kindness rule, which many people and organisations have come to use, called the 10:5 Way. It is a simple, two-part rule:

• If you are within 10 feet of someone, you make eye contact and smile.
• If you are within 5 feet of someone, say “hello” or another friendly greeting. (Achor)

By showing compassion and empathy, we can all demonstrate solidarity with our fellow humans, nurturing a culture of care and support for all. Investments are meant to grow. Whether it is an investment of kindness, monetary value, or education, it is likely larger than you think. An investment in women is an investment for the future! Women hold the future…

Excerpt from Maira Kalman’s ‘What do Women Hold?’

Resources

Canadian Women’s Foundation

Canadian Foundation for Women’s Health

Women’s Health Collective Canada

Centre of Excellence for Women’s Health

Action Canada; Women’s Health Page

Check out our other resources here.

Sources

Achor, S. (2013). Before happiness: The 5 hidden keys to achieving success, spreading happiness, and sustaining positive change. Crown Business. 

Conroy, S. (2021, March 2). Family violence in Canada: A statistical profile, 2019. Canadian Centre for Justice and Community Safety Statistics. https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/pub/85-002-x/2021001/article/00001-eng.htm 

Farrell, P. (2024, February 21). Alzheimer’s is still hiding one more thing-why more women?  Medium. medium.com/beingwell/alzheimers-is-still-hiding-one-more-thing-why-more- women-bf2fbd4ea816 

Frangou, C. (2021, June 1). Women’s Health Collective Canada is addressing the gap in women’s health. Women’s Health Collective Canada whcc.ca/all-articles/womens-health -collective-canada-is-addressing-the-gap -in-womens-health/ 

Gender Based Violence in Canada: Learn the facts. Canadian Women’s Foundation. (2024, February 1). canadianwomen.org/the-facts/gender-based-violence/#:~:text=It%20costs %20lives%3A%20in%202022,on%20those%20around%20them%2C%20too.

Government of Canada / Gouvernement du Canada. (2023, September 1). Gender equality timeline. Women and Gender Equality Canada. women-gender-equality.canada.ca/en/ commemorations-celebrations/gender-equality-week/gender-equality-timeline.html 

Khanna, D. (2023, January 2). Why is women’s healthcare globally so often overlooked? World Economic Forum. www.weforum.org/agenda/2023/01/women-health-gap-davos-2023 /#:~:text=There%20remains%20gender%20inequality%20in,data%20on%20women’s%20health%20issues.

United Nations General Assembly. (n.d.). Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women. United Nations. https://www.ohchr.org/en/instruments-mechanisms/instruments/convention-elimination-all-forms-discrimination-against-women