Women’s Rights: Progress, But Still A Long Way To Go

By Ettie Rutherford
Contributing Columnist

Globally, March 8 was celebrated as International Women’s Day, and I proudly salute women, around the globe, as we all join in solidarity, to acknowledge the sacrifices and leadership that women, on a daily basis, continue to contribute in every social, economic, cultural and political arena of the world.

This year’s campaign, Each For Equal, with the theme, “Because of You”, draws attention to the need for grassroots efforts to advance gender-equality for all women, regardless of age, race, religion, or economic and educational status.

While it is befitting to acknowledge how far Canadian women have advanced, since 1918, when they were no longer seen officially as non-persons and were given the vote, it is imperative that we do not become too complacent with our advanced status, since, internationally, women are still not on par with men in the economic, political, religious, governmental or social aspects of life.

And, lest we forget, girls, around the world, are still being denied an education, while in ever-increasing numbers, they, along with adult women, are being sold as sex slaves.

Since Tarana Burke, a Black community organizer, began using the phrase, Me Too, to empower Black women, who had been overlooked in the discussion regarding women’s sexual abuse, the #Me Too hashtag has been established, following the Harvey Weinstein sexual abuse allegations.

However, on a daily basis, there is an increase of women experiencing sexual abuse, emotional abuse, murder, and the ongoing disaster, of unequal pay and respect, in the workplace.

So, where do we go from here, after International Women’s Day has ended? I think it would be beneficial for women to:
1. Develop a better understanding of the diversity that exists among us.
2. Be more responsive to the needs of less-fortunate women.
3. Work at changing business boardrooms, government departments and media coverage.
4. Encourage more men of good-will to join us, in affecting meaningful change.
5. Strive to improve our situation by developing better leadership skills, decision-making skills, as well as communication skills.
6. Refuse to perch like chicks, when we should be soaring as eagles, because We Are Worthy.

In Sisterhood,
Ettie

Award-winning Ettie Rutherford, B.Ed, Dip.Ed, M.Ed, is an educator, life coach, consultant and author of “Why Perch Like A Chick When You Can Soar Like An Eagle?”. An accomplished public speaker, Ettie is the Founder and CEO of Women Are Worthy, which provides step-by-step strategies for women to achieve their goals, with a minimum amount of stress. She can be reached at ettie@womenrworthy.com