International Women’s Day 2010

Message from: Ettie Rutherford

Ontario Provincial Representative…… Congress of Black Women of Canada

 

Although the first International Women’s Day was celebrated in the USA in 1909 it wasn’t until 1910 that women from around the world gathered at an international women’s conference in Copenhagen. What started out as a protest by women against poor working conditions has now grown into a global movement to bring attention to women’s achievements as well as the lingering deficits which still exist in our lives .

On Monday, March 8, 2010 we honor the one- hundredth celebration of women’s solidarity.

A century of Global Sisterhood!

However, when we take a realistic look at women’s situation throughout the world it is important for us to note that although there have been some improvements there is still a lot to be desired. Considering the contribution that women have made globally in  the workplace, as single parents, as  caregivers for aged relatives , in politics, religion , medicine ,music, education and other facets of society  we should be much closer to eliminating the many signs of inequality that still exist in our lives. We are still underpaid in the workplace, still have to work harder to be promoted, still being denigrated by sexist labels in advertisements and pop culture, and traditionally have been the brunt of physical abuse in the family.

As we marvel at the fact that International Women’s Day is an official holiday in places such as Armenia, Belarus, Cambodia, and that in Romania it is customary for men to give women in their lives (mothers, wives, girlfriends, daughters and colleagues) flowers and small gifts, we can see how far removed women in Canada are from being seriously recognized for our hard work and contributions.

 Needless to say that for us as Black women the picture is even bleaker, because we are confronted with not only sexism but also with the ever present pain of racism which has threatened our very existence for centuries.

It is therefore imperative for us in the Congress to remember Kay Livingstone our Founder’s vision and focus on assisting Black women in Health, Pensions, Adult Education, Child Development, Human Rights, Racism , Sexism and Housing. We are not a social club. We need to take our commitments seriously and not lay the burden of the organization’s existence on the shoulders of just a few Sisters. Looking at the state of the world in general and the realities of our Black community in particular, I close by saying : If ever we needed the Congress, it is now.

Have a Blessed International Women’s Day!

In Sisterhood,

Ettie.