THE BREAKTHROUGH OF WOMEN

As we all know, women have struggled and have overcome endless conflict and controversy throughout history. Since the late 19th century women have been coordinating to establish a valid role in society for equality and justice. Women were not considered citizens and did not even have the right to vote. In the beginning, women were only seen as uneducated people, homemakers, and cleaners, dependent on their husbands and were not welcome into the job market. The women who managed to get into the workforce, however, faced many challenges. Women were paid much less than the men were paid. Sexual harassment, inequality, discrimination and prejudice were few of the issues women had to face. It is important to recognize that women have put many issues on to the bargaining table and have gained rights they truly deserve. Society would be at a loss if it was not for women.

During the war women were not considered useful or needed in the workforce. A prevalent revolution for women happened after the war, when women began to see a drastic increase in numbers in the workforce. Although women accounted for almost half of the working population, they were still unequal to their male colleagues. Regrettably, this inequality issue continues today however, women have made a huge leap forward in history and are becoming more and more equal everyday. The increase in the number of women in the workforce was a significant issue in the battle for social and economic development. They began to account for 42% of the workforce and struggled to work not just for a stable income but, wanted to be taken seriously. Women wanted an alternative to the traditional "at home mother" lifestyle. Women began to have ambition - to have their own careers, be independent in society, and have higher status in their social environment.

Women lead the battles against maternity leave, budget cut-backs, and gender wage equity. This influx changed the perspective of the labour movement. By means of political and legal movements, women slowly began to have formal equality. The lifestyle of a Canadian woman has gone through profound changes. More women began to join the labour market and by the 1980's the majority of married Canadian women had a paying job. The arrival of women into the workforce began to change the perspective of the labour and union movement. Women started to have more prominent positions in labour councils, Canadian Labour Congress and union locals. If it wasn't for women, important issues such as child care, maternity leave, equal pay and sexual harassment would not be addressed and these disturbances would have continued on today.

In 1995, 550 women walked 200 kilometres in order to protest against the Quebec government so they would recognize the problems that women faced in society. They called upon the government to increase minimum wages, have better support payments, more access for women to jobs, wage equity, more training and social housing.

Today, women have the rights that they deserve, and have won the battle against society. The labour market today has a new face. Women can be seen in prominent positions for large companies, political, military, medicine and top leadership positions. There are more women professionals today than there ever were. Women are strong-willed hard working people. Most women today are career oriented rather than being dependent to someone who can "take care" of them. Women of the past have paved the way for the rights of women in the present day.

Thus, to the women of the past, on behalf of the women of the present and future:

Thank you for our independence, rights and freedom!

To you we are forever grateful.