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By Allyson Lowe
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Women’s History Month is a good time to reflect on progress that has been made, the struggle it has taken to get where we are today and to look ahead to the challenges we have yet to overcome.
In some cases, the progress is extraordinary. I am fortunate to work with a leadership team that is 60% women at a university in which seven of 10 students is a woman seeking to change her life through education. We recently marked International Women’s Day, and surely those who fought to create it in 1911 would see this year’s campaign — noted by the United Nations as a year to invest in women and accelerate progress — as an effort to continue the push for women’s socio-economic and political engagement as fully realized citizens and to create, as said at internationalwomensday.com, a future for girls that is bright, equal, safe and rewarding.
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Research and practical experience demonstrate there are several approaches across sectors — from education to public service to private sector business — that enhance the participation of women, celebrate their achievements and open future doors for girls’ advancement.
Women value role models; girls aspire to what they can see. Mentors and role models provide guidance for study or career and help navigate school, employer and political avenues.
We must also work hard to ensure flexible, accessible places for women to learn and grow. More dynamic work and study arrangements create opportunities for women. Employers and educators must be attentive to the need to “see” the work of those not in person in class or in the office as equivalent and engaged.
Mentorship and a flexible environment better secure access to education, which in turn is a powerful tool for empowerment, economic success and advancing equity.
This is a key to breaking through the glass ceiling.
Women are less likely to perceive themselves as qualified for a range of positions, even when they have equivalent skills to their male counterparts. Not only does education help close this perception gap, but so too does investment in leadership development programs, ensuring that women ascend to executive positions and influence policies.
Strong support networks amplify women’s voices. Gender-inclusive perspectives challenge stereotypes and promote engagement. Facilitating support networks or affinity groups offers a sense of belonging, increases peer support opportunities and learning and provides opportunities for professional development.
Whether through professional associations, community groups, or online platforms, we need to foster connections that uplift and sustain us. Together, we are stronger.
To support these developments, we must overcome financial barriers.
Women’s educational attainment is disproportionately affected by funding constraints, including caregiving obligations, so providing targeted financial supports, such as scholarships, childcare or micro-loans can increase women’s educational attainment and professional advancement.
Finally, we need to be advocates and allies to raise awareness of the barriers that stand in the way of inclusion. Reach across the aisle and build coalitions. Address bias and microaggressions as they arise. We need to collectively create better access to needed services, particularly those directed towards violence prevention. This is why women in leadership matter: they are more likely to prioritize the effective implementation of policy supporting inclusion, women’s economic development and safety.
We have a shared responsibility to inspire inclusion. When women are absent, discriminated against or treated inequitably, we must take action to forge a more inclusive world for women and men and from which all will reap the benefits.
Allyson Lowe, Ph.D., is provost of Yorkville University, with campuses in British Columbia, Ontario and New Brunswick
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OPINION: Celebrating women’s progress while challenging barriers
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26.03.2024
You can save this article by registering for free here. Or sign-in if you have an account.
By Allyson Lowe
Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada.
Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada.
Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.
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Women’s History Month is a good time to reflect on progress that has been made, the struggle it has taken to get where we are today and to look ahead to the challenges we have yet to overcome.
In some cases, the progress is extraordinary. I am fortunate to work with a leadership team that is 60% women at a university in which seven of 10 students is a woman seeking to change her life through education. We recently marked International Women’s Day, and surely those who fought to create it in 1911 would see this year’s campaign — noted by the United Nations as a year to invest in women and accelerate progress — as an effort to continue the push for women’s socio-economic and political engagement as fully realized citizens and to create, as said at internationalwomensday.com, a future for girls that is bright,........
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