International Women’s Day

International Women’s Day

March 8 marks International Women’s Day (IWD), a meaningful day of significance dedicated to recognizing and celebrating the social, economic, cultural, and political achievements of women and girls worldwide. It is also a time for reflection and an opportunity to reaffirm our commitment to the ongoing steps needed to advance gender equality and address issues such as gender-based and sexual violence that continue to disproportionately impact cis and trans, Black, Indigenous, and racialized women, non-binary, two-spirit, and gender diverse peoples,

The theme for IWD is Give to Gain, emphasizing generosity and collaboration. The theme calls for giving generously – through knowledge, advocacy, mentorship, visibility, resources, and time – to reinforce a sense of connection, expand opportunities for women and girls on campus and beyond, and encourage a collective effort toward advancing gender equality. It is about reciprocity and intentionally and exponentially multiplying opportunities to thrive.

McMaster has a longstanding culture of collaboration. So, how can we give?

• Everyone can give support and demonstrate allyship through calling out stereotypes and biases, challenging discrimination, and supporting the goals of the women in our lives.
• Within our education and knowledge dissemination efforts, we can bring attention to and celebrate women’s contributions in different fields and share this knowledge with others.
• As an institution, we can continue to celebrate women’s successes, create opportunities for leadership, mentorship, and sponsorship, and ensure representative supports are in place for cis and trans, Black, Indigenous and racialized women, non-binary, two-spirit, and gender diverse peoples.
• We can “support the supporters” through donating to non-profit organizations that advance gender equality, volunteering with these organizations, attending their events, and increasing their visibility within your networks.

Looking for an engaging way to celebrate International Women’s Day on the McMaster campus?

The Sexual Violence Prevention and Response Office (SVPRO), part of Equity and Inclusion Office (EIO), will be hosting a table in the McMaster University Student Centre (MUSC) on March 5^th, where we will engage the McMaster community in an interactive question-and-answer activity designed to highlight the contributions of women across various fields and raise awareness about the history of gender inequality in Canada. Come by from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm for a chance to win prizes by engaging with the content!

SVPRO provides an extensive list of support resources for individuals affected by sexual and gender-based violence and welcomes all members of the McMaster community impacted by gender-based and sexual violence to reach out to our team.

McMaster Resources and Initiatives: 

McMaster University is committed to fostering a culture of inclusive excellence, which encompasses a series of prominent commitments across all levels of the institution, with a strong awareness of the intersectional challenges they experience.

• Gender Equity Policies: Implementing and enforcing policies that advance gender equity in recruitment, retention, promotion, and pay, ensuring fair representation of women, particularly those from underrepresented groups, in all roles, including leadership. ^{[1],[2],[3] [14] [15] [16]}
• Support for Women in STEM: Offering specialized support for women in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM), addressing the unique challenges faced by women, including racialized women, 2SLGBTQ+ women, and women with disabilities, in these fields through mentorship, networking, and tailored resources.^[4]
• Work-Life Balance Initiatives: Addressing work-life balance with an understanding of the intersectional pressures on women, including caregiving responsibilities that disproportionately affect women of different socioeconomic statuses, races, and ethnicities.^[5]
• Anti-Harassment and Anti-Discrimination Measures: Creating a safe and respectful campus environment with robust anti-harassment and anti-discrimination measures that protect all women, including transgender and non-binary individuals, and provide comprehensive support for those impacted by harassment or discrimination.[2]
• Professional Development Opportunities: Offering professional development programs designed to support the career advancement of women through leadership training, mentorship, and networking events, with a focus on lifting women from diverse racial, ethnic, and social backgrounds.^{[7] [18] [19] [20]}
• Scholarships and Financial Support: Establishing scholarships and financial aid programs specifically aimed at supporting women students, especially those from marginalized communities and in fields where they are underrepresented.^[8]
• Inclusive Curriculum and Pedagogy: Integrating an inclusive curriculum that reflects the diverse contributions of women across disciplines and adopting pedagogical practices that support diverse learning styles and backgrounds, emphasizing the importance of including perspectives from women of all races, cultures, and social backgrounds.^[9]
• Wellness and Mental Health Services: Offering wellness and mental health services that cater to the specific challenges faced by women, including those related to gender-based violence, with a sensitivity to the different experiences of women from various identities.^[10]
• Community Engagement and Advocacy: Actively engaging with and advocating for women’s issues, both within the university community and in the broader societal context, including partnerships with organizations and initiatives that support women from all walks of life.^{[6][11] [13] [21]}
• Inclusive Excellence Frameworks: Developing and implementing frameworks for inclusive excellence that embed gender equity into the fabric of institutional practices, culture, and decision-making processes, with a deliberate focus on addressing the intersecting identities and experiences of all women.^[12]

This comprehensive approach not only honours the spirit of IWD but also reinforces our commitment to fostering an environment where the empowerment of every woman and girl, cis and trans, Black, Indigenous and racialized women, non-binary, two-spirit, and gender diverse person, taking into account their diverse and intersecting identities, is a central pillar of our collective progress towards true gender equality.

Useful Links

^[1] Home – Equity and Inclusion Office (mcmaster.ca)

^[2] Policies – Equity and Inclusion Office (mcmaster.ca)

^[3] Employment Equity FAQs – Human Resources (mcmaster.ca)

^[4] McMaster Women in Science and Engineering Initiative – Graduate Students Association of McMaster University

^[5] New policy encourages better balance between work and personal time at McMaster – Daily News

^[6]   McMaster Pride Community Centre

^[7] Faculty & Staff | Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (mcmaster.ca)

^[8] Scholarships & Bursaries – United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (mcmaster.ca)

^[9] Home – Gender & Social Justice (mcmaster.ca)

^[10] Student Mental Health Resources at McMaster – Mental Health at McMaster

^[11] In support of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community – Equity and Inclusion Office (mcmaster.ca)

^[12] EDI Strategy – Equity and Inclusion Office (mcmaster.ca)

^[13] McMaster University Horizon Europe Gender Equity Plan

^[14] Employment Equity policy

^[15] Employment Equity Booklet

^[16] Employment Equity Plan Template

^[17] Mental Health Resources and Training – Human Resources

^[18]  Staff Hiring Guidelines

^[19] Faculty Recruitment and Selection Policy Handbook

^[20] Policy on Recruitment and Selection of Faculty Members

^[21] MSU Women and Gender Equity Network

Remember: When cis and trans, Black, Indigenous and racialized women, non-binary, two-spirit, and gender diverse persons thrive, our entire university community thrives!

Dr. Rusan Lateef, Associate Director, Sexual Violence Prevention and Response Office, McMaster University