Thoughts on Gender Equality Week 2021
Did you know that in June 2018, the federal government adopted legislation to recognize the fourth week of September as Gender Equality Week?
This year, Gender Equality Week in Canada is September 19 - 25, 2021. This year’s theme, Advancing gender equality for all, is an opportunity to celebrate the progress Canada has made to date in advancing gender equality, while reflecting on the work that remains to make sure that everyone – regardless of their gender – can reach their full potential.
The need to advance gender equality was made even more clear as we see how challenging the last couple of years have been for women in Canada and across the world. The pandemic has amplified the fact that we have a long way to go to achieve real gender equality. Lockdowns, job loss and schooling and working from home have all put a spotlight on the continuing unequal outcomes and treatments so many women face, including employment instability, financial insecurity and uneven distribution of care duties inside and outside of the home.
What is the solution?
The challenges to achieving gender equality are complex, as with any complex social issue there can be many approaches to address it.
One way isat the leadership level, with policies and laws put into place to support training and employment for women, investment in businesses owned and led by women, and incentives to encourage equal participation in parenting and household responsibilities. Affordable child care and housing are also key to women gaining equality. Luckily, the pandemic has not dampened the spirit of the women’s movement. In fact, it may have fanned the flames of progress.
At InspireHer, we are heartened to see the number of women who have put their names forward to run for public office in upcoming municipal elections in Alberta and the federal election. There are 27 women running in Edmonton’s upcoming municipal elections: 24 for council positions, and three in the mayoral race. In Calgary, the number of women running for mayor or council are similar. At the federal level, 44 of the candidates running for office in Alberta are women or gender-diverse.
Every one of the women running for public office started their leadership journey somewhere. Why do we need more women in public office? Because leadership groups with a diversity of opinions, backgrounds and lived experiences help to make better decisions. Studies have shown how diversity improves an organization’s effectiveness. Having more women means elected bodies discuss more viewpoints. By hearing different voices and adopting different approaches, we can have inclusive decision-making that reflects the breadth and diversity in our communities.
Looking ahead…
We began InspireHer to help every woman unlock the potential within, and take their own steps forward into leadership roles.We know that leadership takes on many forms - sometimes it is positional (e.g. elected leaders, team leader), but we can also lead through influence. This Gender Equality Week, we invite you to reflect on how you can advance gender equality in your life? We know there is much work to be done, so we will continue to offer events and activities to inspire you in your leadership journey.
There’s no time like the present: join us for our upcoming Leadership Workshop, which begins on October 4. Visit the Leadership Series webpage on our website to learn more!!
