Hard-won progress

So much progress.

So very far to go.

As the world prepares to mark — on Monday, March 8 — another International Women's Day, the words above remain as true as ever about women's fight for enduring gender equality.

We rightly celebrate women's many hard-won advances, which despite obstacles and pushback continue to happen.

But we also recognize the way forward sadly still bristles with significant challenges.

It's never been easy.

That's why all of us, regardless of gender, should embrace the spirit of determination in this year's theme for International Women's Day — “A challenged world is an alert world, and from challenge comes change.”

Stirring examples of women across Atlantic Canada challenging what's wrong with our world — as well as challenging each other — can be found in a series of articles run by Saltwire Network during the past week, including:

• A P.E.I. musician's song about consent, and her own rape, is now part of the Grade 9 curriculum in that province.

• The succes for nearly 50 years of the Cape Breton Centre for Craft and Design

• #Metoo's impact has meant more important conversations, but more action is also still needed, women's advocates say.

• Empowering and emboldening young women is the goal of this year's Girls 2021 Conference hosted by Mount St. Vincent University in Halifax.

• Though progress has been made, women in the workforce across the region are still not valued equally.

• An African Nova Scotian entrepreneur is paving the way for success for other Black women.

• A Yarmouth women's clinic addresses gaps in women's wellness.

• The Black Wellness Cooperative in Nova Scotia is committed to sharing their expertise with underserved communities.

• Juggling family and work responsibilities during the pandemic has been stressful for women across the region.

• A Halifax woman who loves computers is on a mission to make women in tech feel valued.

That our society still has challenges has been underlined by the current sexual misconduct scandal rocking Ottawa.

The former and current chiefs of defence staff stand accused of inappropriate sexual behaviour involving female junior officers.

Politicians, including Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan, appear to have known about the allegations, yet done nothing.

So very far to go.