“Woman must not accept; she must challenge. She must not be awed by that which has been built up around her; she must reverence that woman in her which struggles for expression.” – Margaret Sanger
Are women the core pillar of the society?
There is no doubt that the topic of women being pillars of the society elicits different emotions among men and women all over the world, with some arguments for and against women empowerment, which is oft many a times seen and construed to making them over-domineering over men – a false belief with no basis.
Let’s face it. The fact that women are an important component of the society is no doubt. They are burdened with several roles and the most notable one is the fact that they work hard at raising children who constitute the world of tomorrow.
Some people may think that women are better at household chores better than men… Which is false. (although it is true in some relationships though, I’m not gonna lie). Don’t forget that sometimes women like to take days off from cleaning, organizing, and so on; and some men like to take over. They BOTH have household responsibilities, not just the woman, and not just the man. Don’t forget that it is fair that men and women are both treated equally.
Women have the same capabilities, strengths and reasoning as any male and their unfluctuating devotion and dedication in all matters which they handle is a clear sign that women, if empowered, can see families, communities and countries go further economically, politically and also socially as opposed to the belief that women would only champion for what favors them in the society.
A woman is the full circle. Within her is the power to create, nurture and transform.” – Diane Mariechild
They need all these categories to enable them have the capability to aid in addressing the challenges faced by families, communities or countries.
By empowering the woman politically, she gets a platform to voice policies which address the needs of girls and women who may be disadvantaged or oppressed by men or other regressive policies such as discriminatory sexual policies; economic empowerment gives women the authority to make decisions which pertain to the use of resources which consequently leads to improved prosperity for families, communities and for the country as a whole.
On the other hand, social empowerment enables young girls and females to have adequate access to education. This liberates women from discrimination oppression, mistreatment and exploitation as well as enabling women to have improved fertility which leads to a healthy and productive population and also leads to the improvement of family health.
Business and Professional Women – Quebec club
This website was previously for BPW Canada‘s Quebec-based clubs. There were at least 4 clubs are still active in: BPW Baie-Comeau, BPW Québec métropolitain, BPW Montréal and BPW du Comté de Roberval.
BPW follows a mandate to improve the economic, political and social status of women, and in particular, to improve their working conditions.
About the BPW.
The BPW Canada was founded in 1930, coincident with the formation of the International BPW Federation. The International Federation operates around the world and BPW Canada is a part of it.
Members of a local club, are members of the district, provincial, national and international organizations. Members are entitled to attend all events, including national and international ones.
BPW clubs are non-profit, non-partisan non-sectarian organizations that work to improve political, social, economic, and employment conditions for working women. Clubs provide training for developing leadership skills in a safe and supportive environment, allowing members to build networks and create friendships.
BPW has been recognized for many projects over the years, from Women’s Empowerment Principles, to Equal Pay Day, and fight against human trafficking. Organizations such as the UN and foreign governments from all over the world have acknowledged and shared their appreciation for all that the BPW has done and continues to do.
BPW’s mission, vision, values and principles guide to their ultimate goal:
Mission:
The Canadian Federation of Business and Professional Women (BPW Canada) develops the professionalism and leaderships that are potential for women in Canada through education, awareness, advocacy and mentoring within a supportive network.
Vision:
To achieve an equal status of women in all levels and areas of society where decisions are taken in true partnership with men, based on mutual respect, for a more balanced and peaceful world.
Values and Operating Principles:
- Honoring and celebrating diversity
- Mutual Respect
- Equity of opportunity and security for all women
- Recognizing the accomplishments and aspirations of women
Goal:
The improvement of economic, political, social and employment conditions for women in Canada.
Bottom line, work to educate and empower women in Canada.
Recent Posts:
I Hate Men Criticizing My Body At Work
Being a full-time worker with a family isn’t as glorious as you might think it is. Sure, I have a good job with plenty of money and people at home who care about me. That doesn’t mean that I am out of the clear when it comes to tough treatment in the workplace.
I have spent years trying my hardest to be the best worker around, but it just seems that every time I do so I get caught up in a hostile work environment. It seems like people go around thinking that they can make jokes that they think are small and innocent but in reality are actually hurtful and outright hostile.
Take for instance, I was taking care of a printing job in the office not long ago. A man who was in the office planted his computer file dongle into a printer and started to get the documents on that dongle printed out. While he was there, another man talked about the dongle and said that he thinks some of the women in the office would love dongles.
Now, I know that it’s very easy to make what you will out of a word like that, but it’s clear that the joke was about women just wanting sex from men and to play with… well, you get the idea. The truth is that I was offended and outright upset over the fact that someone would go out and make a remark like that about what I was doing. It seems as though I was being taken for a total ride as I was hassled by someone who just wanted to have a bit of fun.
Also, I had been mocked by a man in the workplace who told me that my body was very curvy. He told me that I looked appealing when compared with the other women in the workplace. He did not say anything sexual to me; he just told me that I could deserve to lose a bit of fat on one part of my body.
I Work Hard On My Weight
I don’t think he understands that I have been working hard to keep my weight under control over the past few years. I have done my best to keep my body healthy and to avoid gaining back the weight I had gained during my pregnancy. It was as though he was insulting me over the fact that I did nothing to make myself look any better and that I was just a handsome figure for him to ogle over.
I was upset and appalled over the fact that I had been treated like this for so long. I didn’t know what to do though as I had been put into this situation just out of the blue with no real explanation as to what I needed to do next.
It seems as though men never have this problem. They have been in the forefront of the business world for so long that it is as if they don’t know that what they are saying is offensive and outright hostile.
I knew that it was up to me to find a way to keep myself from falling victim to the ongoing harassment that I had been getting for so long. I knew that I have to stop living life as if I was just a backseat passenger; with that in mind, I consulted my manager to talk about the remarks these men have made.
Eventually, we got up to a new policy at the workplace that states that sexual harassment is going to be punished substantially. We organized an anonymous reporting line to identify cases of harassment in the workplace. We also started to introduce a new program where any woman who is offended or hurt in some way by another man can call on the corporate office for help with getting the issue resolved.
Still, I am concerned over whether or not men will keep on acting this way. I feel the worst for others who have been harassed over the years and I hope that someday men will learn that they cannot just hassle women so easily.
I feel that any man who wants to mock a woman like this is only asking for trouble. It is as though men have no regard to the women in the workplace when they act this way and it is about time something was done to keep this problem from being worse.
Women in the Globalization Process
The world’s economy has recently changed tremendously with a new era of a globally integrated economy. Today, most of the decisions pertaining to the production, consumption and other aspects of technologies in the mobility of products and services are made considering transnational dimensions.
International rights are also greatly recognized today, thus supporting women to free themselves from exploitations and discrimination that they undergo. These needs for globalization entails taking into account the need for women to also be accorded equal opportunity in the making of decisions, participation and other efforts of responding to the forces of globalization.
How has globalization changed things?
There are several ways in which globalization has enabled the participation of women in the society thus empowering them.
They include:
1) Gender Parity.
Gender inequalities are rampant throughout the world and the menace presents itself in several forms which include workplace discrimination, domestic violence, lack of equal opportunities in education and also in government representations. The list is not conclusive but these are just examples of exploitations which are much attributed to gender inequalities.
It should be noted that women are no longer inferior to men and they are an integral part of the society. With due regards, globalization enables maximum participation of women there societies should start treating them as equal parties in the society. This not only gives them confidence to take part in improving the society but create a conducive atmosphere for women to positively impact in the globalization process.
2) Labor Market
Globalization means the extension of the labor market which is a positive indicator of the creation of more job opportunities. This is a good chance to see more women in the workforce which works well in empowering them.
It gives women opportunities to also create wealth and partake in generating income thus improving the economy. This is not enough, since women are good at making decisions, they too should be given equal chances in managerial roles in the various professions and processes of globalization which includes labor migrations to various internationals.
3) Governance
Globalization means that the classical models and policies of national economies now shift to integrate and accommodate international needs. It simply means that economic and social rights are now considered part of international rights. More awareness of international human rights will help women especially in countries where they are oppressed to seek platforms to champion for their rights with support from international communities.
This frees women from exploitations and discrimination and gives them a chance to take part in economic, political and social roles thus improving livelihoods in the society.
It also create space for women to take part in governance and make decisions for the betterment of the society and the nation as a whole.
4) Technological advancements
Globalization calls for advanced communication infrastructure for networking and advocacy as well as in the creation, dissemination and exchanges of information worldwide and over long distances. This is a good platform for women to seek online work opportunities as well as partake in international trades.
It also enables them to relate to other women and organizations worldwide and thus contributes to their empowerment.
Does Gender-Based Discrimination Still Take Place?
The most prevalent human right violation is that of women and girls. It seems to knows no social boundaries,with an estimated proportion of one in every ten women experiencing physical or sexual abuse in her life time.
These sorts of discrimination range from the undermining of health, lack of dignity, physical abuse among other numerous types of injustices or violence which at times scales to severe levels like rape of under of young girls as young as 5.
The most disgusting aspect about some of these discrimination is that they are shrouded in a culture of silence as many cases go unreported even by victims themselves, partly for fear of future consequences and in some instances because of stigmatization due to the nature of the atrocity as may be seen in rape cases; and also partly because the justice mete may be in favor of the perpetrator. The victims may be left to suffer in silence even to the point of trauma while the culprit walks away unpunished.
How many cases of pregnancies even to underage girls get prosecuted?
Or rather let me rephrase the question.
How many girls and women get justice from sexual abuse cases which at times result to unwanted pregnancies, a “memento” the girl/woman has to bear throughout her life?
Is it because the justice system is pervert and favors men?
Or does it mean that the require evidence material enough to sustain a successful prosecution proves to be hard to obtain?
Why do the culprits always or most a times get away with it?
Sexual abuse is an integral part of the domestic violence both work place and in the society with. The most astonishing thing is that most sexual assaults are committed and perpetrated not by strangers but by someone known to the victims, often a partner or former partner, a relative or friend and even family relations including fathers, uncles etc.
Some are committed by professionals who are entrusted and obligated to take care of the girls like teachers, religious leaders, employers etc.
Should such atrocities happen and go unpunished?
Women from all backgrounds are attacked each year at work. Murder is one of the leading cause of death from a workplace injury though women are hurt by someone they know, like a co-worker, customer, client or patient who are mostly men.
Can’t men exercised restraint, no matter how much they may feel offended?
Why are they quick to grab the chandelier and swing a blow when they feel offended by women as opposed to other men?
Effective justice system mean that any instance of discrimination based on gender be addressed with full force of the laws of the land and the culprit be punished according to the nature of the atrocity committed.
There are instances when women seem to fear reporting discrimination acts to the authorities and may conceal even a physical injury. Women organization have been established to help such ladies and girls voice out such discriminations and injustices as well as report cases whereby they feel that there was an opinionated justice to a culprit for an offence committed.
The organization will then be at a position to lobby for more justice for such ladies.
Gender Parity at Work
For ages, women have been considered the inferior sex and thus at places of work, they have for a long time been given some junior roles and most a times their remuneration and promotion seem not comparable to the counterparts – men.
Even during the industrial revolution women were often paid less than their male counterparts for the same labor, whether for the explicit reason that they were women.
However, if any nation do today, and this also extends to families and societies, have to achieve meaningful progress in economic developments, then women should be considered an integral part of the much needed developments. Shared power and responsibility should be established between men and women at home, in the workplace and in the wider national and international communities.
Do gender inequalities still exists today?
Almost everywhere, solid majority express support for gender equality and agree that women should able to work outside the home.
Most also found a marriage in which both spouses share financial and household responsibilities to be more satisfying than in which the husband provides for the family and the wife takes care of the house and children. Despite a general consensus that women should have the same rights as men, people in many countries around the world say gender inequalities persist in their countries.
For a lasting solution to be achieved in the fight against gender disparity especially at workplaces, then the various stakeholders of such businesses or organizations need to come together, reason out with the workers and agree to implement strategies and policies which eradicate inequalities in the promotions made and also the pay checks.
There should be a structure to ensure that women also have equal chances as men to hold senior positions at work and also have a voice in the managerial decisions and roles of an organization.
Also cases of discrimination of women who seek promotion or new female job-seekers who might be subjected to horrendous sexual experiences in order for them to be recruited or employed in a company or government functionality need be addressed.
As a matter of fact, there is need to have strict regulations meting severe punishment for those who perpetrate or are involved in such acts. If at all we need to see equality of both genders at the workplace, then it’s vital that such cases are mitigated.
When women are subjected to the same treatments in the workplaces as men, then they are at better positions to accumulate their wealth and thus aid in the economic development of a nation.
Do Women Contribute Anything to the Economy Which can Bring Some Change?
It’s true that the economic status of a family, community and ultimately the country can be impacted greatly by women, though most a times their effort towards economic contribution may goes unrecognized; their work undervalued and their promises and actions undernourished.
Discriminated opportunities between men and women have largely hampered women ability to lift themselves from poverty and again more options to improve their lives as well as the lives of others.
Inequalities persist in education and at workplace where a clear distinction between both the male and female gender is clear.
Women’s economic empowerment is increasingly viewed as the most important contributing factor to achieving equality between men and women. Economically strengthening women not only means to spur economic growth but also it’s a matter of advancing women’s rights which gives them room to clearly express feasible business ideas which can lead to improvements of the economic statuses of families or countries.
When governments, businesses and communities invest in women, and when they work to eliminate inequalities, developing countries are less likely to be affected by poverty.
Can women hasten improvements in the economy?
In a situation where women participation in the labor force grows faster, the economy can experience a high rate of poverty reduction. This can be facilitated through promotion of equity distribution of labor among genders, including women, since women are also a basic element in the economic growth. Reduction in poverty will save a country on the annual budget they spend on eradicating poverty.
Women’s organizations accelerates economic growth through promotions of activities which enhance reduction on over-plant on government and donations. Such activities like farming whereby women farmers can access the resources they need, their production increases, making it less likely that their families go hungry. When women own property and earn money from it, they may have more bargaining power at home. This in turn can help reduce their vulnerability to domestic violence and lessen the burdens of taking care of bills.
Women have the right to participate in decisions that affect their families, their societies and particularly their well being of their countries. Despite in recent progress, women around the world are still largely absent from national and local decision-making bodies.
Globally fewer than 20% of the representatives to the national legislative bodies are females and women continue to face countless challenges to participate in the civic and political life of their countries.
Beyond the numbers, the quality of women’s participation is hindered by discrimination within organizations or limits on women access to mentoring, training, technology and other resources. Women participation can be facilitated by strengthening them through mentoring and increased representations.
Women organizations could help facilitate in the training of female members for political parties and for leadership representation, which could help them have a chance to voice out on matters which concern the economy and help find solution to pertinent issues which affect the economy.
However,this is an area where lower women participation has been largely undermined due to discrimination and almost all major decisions which affect the economy are left to be passed and approved by their men colleagues.
Supporting local effort to advocate for legal rights that enable women to participate fully in the political and economic life of their societies can be achieved through movements by organizations which seek to empower women.
Economic development efforts to combat poverty can only succeed if women are part of the solution. When women are economically empowered, they raise healthier, better educated families. Their countries are more economically prosperous because of the increased participation to the economy.
