On this International Women’s Day #IWD2025, I am eternally grateful to my mother for choosing her life partner as my father – a teacher by profession, my father as a parent, taught by example.
What stands out most is my father’s respect for women, seeing them as equal to men and having the right to forge their paths in life.
He encouraged and supported my mother in every area of her life.
He never hesitated to show his indignance for irresponsible fathers and men who abused women.
As a volunteer in the Canadian prison system, I witnessed first-hand the deleterious impact of poor education, economic disadvantage, and conjugal violence on women and on their imprisoned adult male children.
In the absence and lack of educational opportunities, many women, here in Canada and worldwide, have limited choices to advance themselves economically. To survive, they are forced to make compromises to the detriment of themselves, their children, and society.
Several inmates recounted the hardship that their mothers had to endure at the hands of abusive fathers and stepfathers. The trade-off for conjugal abuse and domestic violence was the economic benefit, albeit meager, that their mothers settled for, because of the limited education or skills that made them jobless or forced them to settle for low-paying jobs.
Living in impoverished and strife-filled homes led the inmates to commit misdemeanors and petty crimes and to behave aggressively throughout their adolescent years, setting the stage for serious crimes, including violence against women.
In keeping with the International Women’s Day 2025 theme “For ALL Women and Girls: Rights. Equality. Empowerment,” Let’s #acclerateaction.
Integrating personal development in education and advocating pay equity are two recommended courses of action that will improve the condition of women.
Use your position of leadership and influence to make a difference
Support organizations that provide employment training programs for women.
Go beyond financial support.
Provide mentorship, counseling, internships, and programs that help women and girls develop their self-esteem.
Advocate assertiveness training for girls and women to speak up and effectively resist unwanted physical contact and advances from boys and men. This type of training is best delivered in the school system, where boys and girls learn together.
If you are in a leadership position or a member of the board of directors, advocate establishing equitable pay scales that are regularly reviewed at set intervals.
See the BIG picture. Focus on what’s important.
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theBIGpicture Camille 