You’re not whining when you speak up

Re: “First woman on Calgary city council refused to play the victim,” Naomi Lakritz, Opinion, Dec. 14.

Shades of the early 2000s as Naomi Lakritz replays old themes that blame women for speaking up. That is, women are whining or playing the victim card when they raise issues of discrimination or abuse.

Lakritz still hasn’t recovered from the fact that city council finally changed “alderman” to “councillor” in 2010, effective in 2013. Gosh, it only took from 1977 to 2013, perhaps as long as it has taken for council to embrace secondary suites throughout the city. Revolutionary, I suppose, given the strength of ingrained barriers of sexism, racism and nimbyism.

Changing sexist language simply means getting rid of unfortunate historical remnants that serve to remind women of their secondary place. Would change have occurred if people hadn’t spoken up to express their displeasure?

To raise social issues of discrimination, sexism, ageism, homo/transphobia, is not whining or playing the victim card, as Lakritz insists. Social change occurs because persons have the courage to speak up and to reveal what is happening that is not acceptable or desirable in a society committed to honouring human rights.

Let’s celebrate Annie Gale’s achievements and consider why her trailblazing did not open more doors.

Mary Valentich, professor emerita, faculty of social work, University of Calgary