All-women forum not a threat to men, democracy
The Daily News (Nanaimo)
September 29, 2008 
By: Cindy Lowry

RE: 'Women-only forum is tragically misguided' (Sept. 25, Daily News)

You cannot believe how relieved I was when I read your editorial that morning to discover that women "have the same freedom as men." I guess somehow as I slept, women began receiving the same pay for equal work, affordable child care became available, violence against women has been solved, the glass ceiling was shattered, sexism is no longer tolerated in the media, and women running for public office don't have significant barriers to overcome. Here I was worrying for nothing.

It seems to me that the people who yell the loudest about any affirmative initiative are people who do not understand the barriers that some have to overcome in order to fully participate in our democracy. Women want the playing field to be leveled. The same goes for minorities, the gay community, First Nations and so on.

It is so easy to say equality is guaranteed under the law and another to ensure that equality is practiced. Whatever can be done to actually support equality should be encouraged even if that means that women come together to see how they may right the gender imbalance in public life.

Honest, guys, this women's all-candidates meeting is not a threat to you or democracy. I encourage any interested man to attend. It never hurts to listen to a group of people articulate particular problems that they face. This is an all-candidates meeting where men are invited to listen not to talk. What's wrong with that? Most women know how that feels. …