Every year on March 8, people around the world mark International Women’s Day. It is a time to celebrate the strength, leadership, and achievements of women and girls. It is also a time to reflect on fairness and equality in our own communities. Here in the Northwest Territories, this day reminds us that women’s rights are not just aspirational. They are legally protected human rights.
In the Northwest Territories, equality is protected by the Northwest Territories Human Rights Act. This law says that every person has the right to be treated with dignity and respect. It protects people from discrimination based on sex, gender identity, pregnancy, family status, marital status, disability, race, age, religion, and other grounds. For women and girls, these protections are especially important.
Unfortunately, laws don’t guarantee equality. Women in the Northwest Territories continue to face discrimination and violence. Many women struggle to find safe and affordable housing. Some must leave their community to access medical care including giving birth. Others face sexual harassment at work or provide unpaid caregiving at home.
Negative attitudes or stereotypes are harmful. Thinking women are less valuable than men, less intelligent than men, or the most important thing about a woman or girl is how she looks, set up extra challenges for women and girls. Because of these stereotypes, women and girls experience higher rates of mental illness, lower self-esteem, and lower rates of satisfaction with their bodies.
When girls start to believe the negative attitudes and stereotypes are true, they begin to value their appearance over other traits like kindness, empathy, or intelligence. They can start to ignore their own wants and needs and may begin to see themselves as objects for others’ desire. These ideas harm a girl’s self-worth and put them at risk of sexual harassment and sexual violence.
Statistics from the Canadian Women’s Foundation are disturbing:
- Girls and young women between the ages of 15 and 17 are twice as likely to be hospitalized for mental health concerns.
- A family member sexually assaults girls 4.6 times more often than boys.
- 26% of Indigenous girls experience a sexual assault before the age of 15.
- A study found that sexual objectification of women in music has increased from 6-7% of songs in the 1960s to 31% in the 2000s.
- Another study found that advertisements in magazines designed for adolescent girls objectify and sexualize women 64% of the time, higher than the rate in adult women’s magazines (56%)
International Women’s Day is not about pointing out problems. It is about celebrating and recognizing the contributions women make to society. Women across the Northwest Territories are leaders in government, business, education, and culture. They are Elders, teachers, health workers, and entrepreneurs. Their work strengthens families and communities. When women succeed, everyone benefits. This is why it is important to fight for the equal rights of girls and women.
Women contribute to communities by working, caring for children and homes, and yet they experience more challenges to their rights, have fewer resources, and fewer chances to make decisions that affect their own lives. Yet when women’s rights are respected, women are healthier, better educated, and better paid. This means that children and communities thrive when women’s rights are respected.
But celebration must go hand in hand with action. Men must step up and share space, share classrooms, share decision-making powers with women at work, at home, and in government. Men must call out negative attitudes and behaviour of their peers. They must make space for women in traditionally male-dominated industries. Men must include women in decision-making processes where their lives and livelihoods are affected.
Communities must learn about our shared human rights and responsibilities. Let’s support women who speak out about unfair treatment. Challenge harmful stereotypes and teach young people about respect and consent. Equality only grows when ordinary people decide that discrimination is not acceptable.
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