Progress is seldom instantaneous and it does not take place within a vacuum either. It happens, rather, in increments that can take place over large periods of time, which can sometimes be over generations. This has been the case with women’s rights and gender equality, which is celebrated this day.
Over a period of more than one hundred years, through social movements, women’s rights have slowly been gained and recognized in our society and the workplace, though by no means is this struggle over. These rights have had a positive benefit for us all, through the sacrifices and trials of remarkable individuals, many of whom are unsung, and it is something we should remember. Few of us, if any, are self-made individuals, and we are where we are today on the backs of our families, and those persons who have worked towards goals of equity and fairness for all Canadians. I know that for myself, I owe a debt of gratitude to many remarkable women, including my great-grandmother on my maternal side, whose hard work, ingenuity and sacrifices, have directly contributed to some of those advantages I have today.
Widowed in 1925, she was left to raise five children as a tenant farmer in the County of Lincolnshire in England. This was a period of time when class distinctions played a major role, women could not own property, and they were most definitely not allowed to own or run a business. She was facing the prospect of destitution, which would have set a devastating course for her children. Taking over her deceased husband’s dairy route, she created her own company through disguising the fact she was a woman, working under her initials only (similar to what J.K. Rowling recently did). This ruse allowed her to be successful, to later acquire a farm and set forth her own children and their progeny to be successful.
Acknowledging such accomplishments is both humbling and cathartic, and it gives us an opportunity to reflect upon the importance of International Women’s Day. The working rights that have been achieved for all Albertans and Canadians show the efforts that are needed to build a fair and equitable society. We are capable of being a consumer-based economy partially because we recognized the need for gender equity in pay, and though efforts still need to be made to achieve this goal, we are making headway. Women are now taking on new responsibilities, which were once frowned upon in the past, and it is exciting to see the Millennial generation following through with these progressive attitudes. As gender biases recede, the opportunities for our economy and our country’s growth are inspiring. As we move forward here in Alberta and Canada, it may seem like change is slow to take place, but our future is looking more positive than ever.
John Kennair is an international consultant and doctor of laws who lives in St. Albert.
