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“Women continue to be heroes on the front lines of this pandemic! They continue to make huge differences in society, in Canada, and in their communities. As we celebrate their past and current achievements, we must ensure that their future includes economic security and equity!” — Larry Brown, NUPGE President
Ottawa (1 Oct. 2021) ― On October 1, 2021, Canadians will begin celebrating Women’s History Month. In 1992, the Canadian government designated October as Women’s History Month, a day to celebrate the achievements of women throughout history. Women’s History Month includes International Day of the Girl (October 11) and Persons Day (October 18).
Impacts on women during this unprecedented time in history
As we take time to celebrate the women that have made history in our country and around the world, we must also examine the impacts on women during this unprecedented time. As the COVID-19 pandemic moves into the fourth wave, women continue to be impacted more directly than men. A report by the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives (CCPA) entitled Women, Work and COVID-19 highlights the historic rates of women losing paid work during the pandemic, especially in precarious jobs, and those who sacrificed paid hours in order to provide unpaid child and elder care. Many women have dropped out of the labour market all together, jeopardizing their own financial security, in order handle the ongoing demands of care duties. Precarious jobs, in which most of the workers are females, or racialized women and with disabilities, such as accommodation and food services, information, culture and recreation, and personal services have been slow to recover, leaving these workers struggling to make ends meet.
Economic measures must include a feminist economic recovery
During the 2021 election, there was a significant amount of discussion regarding child care. But there was little discussion on other gendered issues such pay equity, higher rates of job loss among women, the heavier burden of care, and the need for women’s voices to be part of the discussions around the economic recovery. Measures to rebuild the economy need to lay the foundation for a feminist recovery and must also reverse the long-standing inequalities that women have faced in Canada. Strategies need to involve comprehensive and publicly managed caring services, a national high-quality, affordable child care program and strong labour protections such as pay equity.
Women need to be at forefront of defining solutions
Women have been at the forefront of building a Canada that is compassionate, democratic and inclusive. They must not be forgotten in the recovery of this country once the pandemic ends! A key lesson learned from history is that women and gender-diverse people need to be at the forefront of defining solutions to the problems they face.
Heroes on the front line of pandemic
“Women continue to be heroes on the front lines of this pandemic! They continue to make huge differences in society, in Canada, and in their communities,” stated Larry Brown, NUPGE president. “As we celebrate their past and current achievements, we must ensure that their future includes economic security and equity!”