Journal Pioneer

Courage in her veins

- DEBBIE LANGSTON GUEST OPINION Debbie Langston of Blooming Point is the chairwoman of the P.E.I. Advisory Council on the Status of Women.

Internatio­nal Women’s Day gives women an opportunit­y to celebrate all that we are and all that we have achieved. It allows us to pause and reflect on the unique challenges that women face and how much work is left for us to do.

For too long women have been dismissed. A passionate woman is emotional, an assertive woman is angry, and an angry woman is hysterical. But the rhetoric is changing. Women are changing the narrative. Refusing to be silent any longer, women are raising their voices in unison, demanding to be heard.

Around the world women young and old are stepping into roles as leaders, leading the way in scientific discoverie­s and inspiring us as role models. In Chile, the feminist movement Las Tegas led a call to action with their anthem decrying gender violence. In Finland, a coalition government was formed with the five women leaders of the country’s political parties. In the U.S., Dr. Katie Bouman developed an algorithm for imaging black holes. In Sweden, 17-yearold Greta Thunberg sparked a global movement in support of climate action. And in Canada, 15-year-old Autumn Peltier is raising awareness of clean drinking water as a basic human right. Meghan Markle, one of Canada’s newest residents, rejected as the antithesis of British Royalty, had the courage to put her family and her values first.

Of the many battles still to be fought is the perpetual and insidious objectific­ation of women. In the so-called civilized West, men seek to disempower the voice of a young woman with images of graphic violence being perpetrate­d against her. While the most powerful man in the world looks to broker peace talks in Afghanista­n, the resulting impingemen­t of women’s rights is readily accepted as collateral damage.

When women are devalued, the imbalance of power propagates the violation of our human rights. Denial of education, female genital mutilation, honour killings, forced marriage, sex traffickin­g, sexual assault, intimate partner violence, and homicide are all products of a culture that measures the worth of a human being by their gender? A quotation by Elizabeth Peratrovic­h states, “Asking you to give me equal rights implies that they are yours to give. Instead, I must ask that you stop trying to deny me the rights that all people deserve.” Her words embody the fight of all marginaliz­ed population­s and serve as a reminder that women’s rights are fundamenta­l human rights.

As enshrined by the United Nations 70 years ago, women have the right to live free from violence, slavery, and discrimina­tion. Women have the right to an education, to vote, and to work for a fair and equal wage. These rights are vital in protecting women and in building safe and peaceful communitie­s. When women are free to exercise self-determinat­ion, economies and countries prosper.

In P.E.I., the birthplace of Confederat­ion, the P.E.I. Famous Five, and L.M. Montgomery, a champion of the voice of strong women, we currently have women leaders at all levels of government and actively involved in politics. Women are finding their voice and place in leadership in many sectors. A multitude of women, unsung heroes, work tirelessly in NGOs and community organizati­ons advocating for others. Yet we must go further if we want to build safe and thriving communitie­s.

You cannot be a feminist without being political. For every woman who is successful, there are numerous others who are struggling. Women are bearing the burden of working “double shifts”, acting as carers, and running singlepare­nt households. In order to build stronger, healthier communitie­s we have to address these inequaliti­es. Social supports, violence prevention, poverty reduction, and affordable housing are important initiative­s that improve the lives of women. When women are represente­d in positions of power we see change.

The many women around the world who are celebratin­g Internatio­nal Women’s Day tomorrow are that force for change. Take a look at the woman close to you. See your reflection in her eyes, your passion in her heartbeat, your strength in her posture, and your courage in her veins. Change is coming, and she is coming in the proud form of a woman.

Newspapers in English

Newspapers from Canada