International Women’s Day — More Improvement Needed

By Ettie Rutherford
Contributing Columnist

Canadian Women joined hands with others, around the world, in the annual celebration of International Women’s Day on Tuesday, March 8.

This year’s motto Gender Equality Today, For A Sustainable Tomorrow reminds us that in 2017, when the Suffragettes in the United States of America initiated the first International Women’s Day as they fought for women’s empowerment, little did they realize that Canada and other countries, around the world, would quickly join ranks to echo their disgust with the intolerable treatment towards women of all races, all religions, and all ages.

Today, although there is visible evidence that we have worked to improve the lives of women, we are still convinced that it is not an option, but rather an imperative, that much more has to be done to empower women, as they navigate their lives in a world where women:

• Still do not have equal opportunities for jobs or promotions;
• Must navigate career and motherhood, even as single mothers;
• Are seldom in decision-making positions;
• Experience sexual, physical and psychological abuse in every country;
• Experience sexism and racism on a daily basis;
• Are unable to stop the trafficking of their daughters as sex slaves, or married even before they are teen-agers
• Account for 70% of those living in poverty; and
• Earn 20% less than men in the same position, sometimes even with less education, less experience or less training.

The clarion call then, is for all of us to demand that governments put in place policies and practices that will enable women and girls to live a life worthy of God’s children. Anything less, and the celebration of International Women’s Day will be a disgraceful mockery and an insult to our “sisters”, who make up more than half of the world’s population.

Let us all pray for our women and girls, who are hungry, who are in the midst of war, or plagued by racism and sexism, so that we will all realize a sustainable tomorrow.

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