Giving girls a future
Salmon Arm Observer
March 03, 2009

…. While women have made some gains around the world and in Canada, there is still much to be done. Domestic violence in this country and in this town still takes place daily, with women most often the victims. Staff at the women’s shelter here know of a dozen women in recent memory who have died at the hands of their partners.

When you listen to rap music today, which is often popular with young people, sexism is rampant. “Bitch slap” is just one term that can still be heard in the derogatory lyrics of some artists.

Despite the fact that at least two incomes are required for most families to survive today in this town and in this country, families and, ultimately, women, are not given the supports to allow them to work for equal pay and without worry and guilt. Child-care spaces are at a premium and financial supports from government are next to non-existent. Women often end up working part-time jobs; in fact they make up the majority of part-time workers.

Coincidentally, changes in the Employment Insurance system enacted in 1997 that made it harder to qualify for EI and shortened the length of benefits mean more workers run out of benefits before finding work. Although a few changes have since been made to the system, estimates are that less than 40 per cent of the unemployed qualify for benefits. Hardest hit are part-time workers; i.e. women.

When girls look around at their world, there are relatively few women in places of power. Here in Salmon Arm, we have one city councillor who is a woman, the rest are men. The mayor, the premier and the prime minister are all men. Elizabeth May, the only female party leader at the federal level, had to fight to be allowed to participate in the televised federal debate. More importance is often placed on how women look than on what they think….

With men and women working together to effect change, anything would be possible. But with International Women’s Day about 100 years old, clearly, more of a commitment needs to be made. Key to change is the reality that equitable and just treatment for women means a better world for all, not just for women.