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CAUT statement on International Women's Day

(Ottawa - March 8, 2012) One hundred years ago, women were marching in the streets to demand better wages and safer working conditions throughout North America and Europe.  Through their unions and  in coalition with others who share a vision of equity, Canadian women have worked for justice and equality.

CAUT has long called on employers and our provincial and federal governments to ensure that barriers to women’s equality are removed and that the most vulnerable are protected. And yet today, in Canada, pay inequities, harassment, discrimination and unsafe campuses shape the experiences and space where women – in all their diversity – work and learn. 

The Harper government has not been an ally.  Those who have spoken for the most vulnerable or who provide unwelcome views have become the target of threats and intimidation. A practice of defunding organizations has silenced many who have been active promoters of women’s rights and equality in Canada.  To date, the Harper government has discontinued funding for more than 70 social justice organizations – nearly 40 of which provided voices for women and women’s lived experiences.

At the same time, many employers have embraced the language of inclusion and diversity on our campuses, without remedying the persistent inequalities that continue at a time when more and more members of marginalized groups are participating in the academy.  

The effort to end women’s and gender inequality requires struggle as we have not yet achieved the kinds of protections, programs or remedies needed despite our work with our governments or employers.  On International Women’s Day, CAUT encourages its members to actively work towards the elimination of barriers to women’s full participation in our academic staff associations, in their professional lives, within the campus community and in the broader society. 

On March 8, we remember

… the hundreds of missing and murdered Aboriginal women.

… that Canada still does not have a national child care program and that the Universal Child Care Benefit is only enough to pay for two days of child care each month.

… that women remain disproportionately unrepresented in many disciplines and in the higher levels of the profession despite the existence of programs and policies to encourage equity.

… that trends in funding by our national research agencies favour the commercialization of research  which differentially impacts academics in the arts and humanities, disciplines where women are concentrated.

… that just over 15% of women in Canada experience a disability that limits their full participation in society.

… that racism, homophobia, transphobia, heterosexism, ableism and sexism are daily experiences of many members of the academic community.

… that pressures to deprofessionalize the academic librarian and eliminate library services disproptionately affects women.

… that sexual assaults still occur on campus.