Today marks International Women’s Day with this year’s theme #ChooseToChallenge gender bias – discrimination – stereotyping – and inequality. Statistics show women earn 23% less than men globally and occupy only 24% of parliamentary seats worldwide. One in three women globally have experienced physical or sexual violence.
In Canada – statistics show women represented 70% of all pandemic related job losses in the 25 to 54 age group a year ago this month were women. And 56% of women workers are concentrated in occupations known as the “5Cs” – caring – cashiering – catering – cleaning – and clerical functions.
Provincial Minister responsible for Women’s Equality – Tammy Scott Wallace says women and girls around the world make up the majority of health care and essential workers – and – “they are at the frontlines battling this pandemic.”
“Feminist Recovery” is the national theme for International Women’s Day this year – and – Scott Wallace says “women are the future – the hope and the recovery that will carry us through this pandemic.”
In a statement – the Chairperson of the New Brunswick Human Rights Commission – Claire Roussel Sullivan – says “we celebrate the incredible efforts that have been made by the girls and women who have worked to shape our future – while also envisioning a more equal society as we recover from the COVID-19 pandemic.”
