In honour of the 99th anniversary of International Women’s Day, celebrated annually on March 8, the Women’s Caucus at Concordia University has organized events for the entire week. The goal is to highlight the many achievements of women and to promote gender equality on campus.
“A lot of people feel that women’s issues are not present in our society anymore and that genders are equal,” explains Leah Del Vecchio, the chair of the Women’s Caucus. “But unfortunately, women and men are still treated differently in the workforce and people seem to have forgotten about [the inequality] because it is not as bad as it used to be, but that does not mean it doesn’t exist.”
A part of the Concordia Student Union, the Women’s Caucus is made up of five members, all of whom hold CSU positions. Del Vecchio explains that when they asked themselves what they wanted the group to represent, they felt organizing Women’s Week would be a great way to make an impact.
“We didn’t want to just focus on the oppression of women, we are also celebrating what women have done,” said Del Vecchio. “The goal was not to make it a negative week where we would tell people “look at how women are treated badly’ but rather we wanted to say “look at all the great things women have done’.”
With the help of Volunteers in Action, the Arts and Science Federation of Associations, the Fine Arts Student Alliance and Concordia Council on Student Life, the Women’s Caucus has put together a packed itinerary. Here are some highlights:
78/100 Bake sales:
March 8 to 9 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on the seventh floor of the Hall Building
March 11 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. in the Science Pavilion Atrium
The goal of these bake sales is to draw attention to the wage inequalities that exist between men and women. Because for every dollar a man makes, a woman makes 78 cents, baked goods will be sold to women for 78 cents and to men for $1.
Keynote Speaker: Shirin Ebadi:
March 10 at 5 p.m. in H-110
Ebadi, a lawyer, human rights activist and Nobel Peace Prize laureate, will speak to the Concordia community about the role that women play in modern peace movements.
Screening of A League of Their Own and Open Mic/Open Heart Night
March 12 from 4 p.m. – 8 p.m. on the seventh floor of the Hall Building.
The movie was chosen because it portrays women being successful in typically male roles. After the film, there will be an open mic where people are invited to speak about their experience of being a woman and about how society affects gender roles.
Vagina Monologues:
March 20 and 21 at 7:30 p.m. in the D.B. Clarke Theatre
A play comprised of different monologues sharing the stories and views of women and their experiences with sex, relationships and violence. The monologues are based on interviews conducted by Eve Ensler with more than 200 women and each year a new monologue is added that draws attention to issues currently affecting women around the world. This year’s addition is about the sexually violent crimes that are being committed against women in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
The play will be produced by Volunteers in Action, a student organization at Concordia. Proceeds made will be split between the Native Woman’s Shelter in Montreal and City of Joy, a safehouse for women in the Congo.
Tickets: advance tickets are $10 for students or $12 dollars at the door. For ticket requests contact [email protected]
For a full schedule, search The Women’s Caucus on Facebook.
Schedule
March 8 – March 12
– Signatures being collected for Women’s rights petition
– “These Hands Don’t Hurt Women” domestic violence campaign at a table at the Mezz
March 9
– 78/100 Bake Sale: seventh floor, Hall building, 11 a.m. – 5 p.m.
– Film Screening: Rape in Congo: seventh floor Hall Building Lounge, 3 p.m.
March 10
– Shirin Ebadi Lecture: room H-110, 5 p.m.
March 10 – March 11
– Women in Art Exhibition: seventh floor Hall building
March 11
– 78/100 Bake Sale: Science Pavilion Atrium, 11 a.m. – 5 p.m.
– Michael Kaufman Lecture: room H-763, 3:30 p.m.
– Sexuality Workshop: room H-763, 7:30 p.m.
March 12
– Open Heart Night: Screening of A League of Their Own and Open mic: seventh floor, Hall building, 4 p.m. – 8 p.m.
March 13
– Self-Defense Workshop: room H-763, 9:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. (Tickets $10, advance only)
March 20 -21
– Vagina Monologues: DB Clarke Theatre, 7:30 p.m. (Tickets $10-$15)
