International Women’s Day was celebrated worldwide on March 8 in an effort to not only thank females for what they have contributed to society, but to continue the conversation of gender equality.
It was a day of full-fledged female representation that had people all over the web sharing stories and words of encouragement for women and the achievements they have made.
But what happens when your city council lacks the initiative to include at least one female councillor speak during an event commemorating the day?
That is exactly what happened with Ottawa City Council and the female councillors who attended a March 6 Mayor’s Breakfast Reception dedicated to International Women’s Day.
Since Mayor Jim Watson was still in recovery from his snowmobiling accident, Coun. Mark Taylor took the reins and offered his words of gratitude for the female population. But that was all. None of the female councillors at the event was given the chance to speak at an event celebrating their gender.
How does this make sense?
That’s what both Somerset Coun. Catherine McKenney and Gloucester-Southgate Coun. Diane Deans questioned and haven’t been shy publicly stating their concern over the event itself on top of the continued lack of female representation on city council.
In an interview, McKenney said while she wasn’t criticizing Taylor for speaking at the event, she was disappointed no female councillors were asked to speak at all.
With the female population on council dwindling further after former Somerset Coun. Diane Holmes called it a day late last year, it’s no wonder McKenney and Deans are continuously addressing the issue. As of now, there is only a 17 per cent representation of women on council. That’s a four to 24 ratio.
Deans says she’s is worried council is “sliding backwards.”
“Women don’t walk around with halos around their heads,” says Deans. But the increasingly male-dominated city hall “does not feel the same. It’s an intangible.”
City council seems to be reinforcing the “We’re Not There Yet” concept reflected in The Full Participation Report, a partnership created by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and the No Ceiling initiative by the Bill, Hillary and Chelsea Clinton Foundation.
Though heavily focused on the United States, the campaign aims at acknowledging that even though there have been advancements by women, society at large has still not fully paved the path to gender equality.
It’s not hard to see society has come a long way, but there’s still more to be done in order for women to feel welcomed and appreciated in all aspects of life.
Perhaps a good step to reach this goal, specifically in Ottawa is to actually give women the power to use their voice at an event originally dedicated to them.
Ottawa, speak now or forever hold your peace.