International Women’s Rights Day 2021
JANUARY 14, 2021
The Covid-19 pandemic has had a negative impact on women and only exacerbated and emphasized existing the systemic and structural inequalities caused by patriarchy, class position, racism and colonialism. At the forefront of health, social services and education, occupying the majority of jobs considered essential, women, and particularly racialized women, and their families and communities, are more exposed to the virus. Paradoxically, women have also been the most affected by rising unemployment and loss of income. Many women have left the labour market, while those who have to cope with telework have seen their achievements in terms of work-life balance decline. Women who are confined and subject to domestic violence have difficulty accessing support and accommodation services, while the need is only increasing.
Sexism, racism, ageism, heterosexism, ableism and many other forms of systemic discrimination have intensified during these months of the pandemic revealing deep-seated inequalities in our society. Women who live at the intersection of multiple oppressions are more affected by violence, such as Aboriginal women, racialized women, trans or non-binary women, women with disabilities and women of sexual diversity.
In this context of crisis and discrimination, women and feminist organizations in Quebec have denounced injustices and demanded changes that are more necessary than ever.
The Let’s Listen to Women theme intends to illustrate this point : Women want concrete measures to combat poverty and violence in order to considerably improve their living and working conditions.
The visual highlights women in all their diversity in order to represent the plurality of their realities and the feminist struggles they face.
With this slogan, we engage in a simple but transformative action. If we listen to women instead of ignoring them, devaluing their work, underpaying them and pushing them out of the places where decisions are made, we would be in a whole new world.
The pin: symbol of feminist struggles. By wearing the March 8th pin, we affirm that we are feminists and show our willingness to continue the struggle for equality and justice in solidarity with all women.
Credits: Collective March 8th, Molotov Communications. Illustration: Valaska
