This year, for the first time in B.C.'s history, the legislative session got underway with a majority of women MLAs – 49 out of 93.
Perhaps that wasn't the kind of majority that was foremost in the minds of British Columbians on election night this past fall, but it's a milestone, and it's worth pointing out this week ahead of International Women's Day on Saturday, March 8.
It took until now for B.C. to have a majority of women in the legislature – when will we see other aspects of gender equality? The theme of International Women's Day in 2025 is 'accelerate action.' The campaign suggests that at the current rate of progress worldwide, we may reach "full gender parity" five generations from now. If that sounds like too long a wait – it should – then let's demand an acceleration of that timeline.
The International Women's Day campaign calls for policy reforms, for example, strengthening laws around reproductive rights, ensuring women's representation in decision-making.
The campaign is also asking for economic empowerment. It starts with equal pay for equal work as well as recognizing and reducing the disproportionate amount of unpaid care work that falls on women, but it also includes strategies like improving business development access for women entrepreneurs.
There is progress to be made globally in access to education, particularly in science, technology, engineering and mathematics, and there should be skills development opportunities for women returning to work after caregiving.
Increasing the number of women in leadership starts at the community level, and needs to be promoted at the corporate level, too.
And of course, gender-based violence and discrimination must continue to be stamped out. We should question harmful gender stereotypes, hold people accountable for sexism and sexual harassment, encourage boys and men to be allies in demanding gender equality, and believe and support survivors of domestic violence.
A B.C. legislature with a majority of women is something to build on. In what other ways can we accelerate action and move closer to equality? International Women's Day is the right time to think about where we go from here.
