Gender Equality Week

September 22, 2020 - Defence Stories

Defence Team Colleagues,

This week we take the time to observe and recognize how Gender Equality benefits us all. As a result of Bill C-309, the Gender Equality Week Act was enacted as a commitment to highlighting gender equality in the workplace and in society. This week is also about increasing awareness and understanding of the significant and substantive contributions Canadian women and gender diverse people have made and continue to make to the growth, development, character and identity of Canada.

Let’s take a moment to understand the concept of gender equality and focus on how to achieve it.

Gender, is an umbrella term that refers to women, men, and gender diverse individual. Each of these groups is recognized by the roles, behaviours, activities, and attributes that society considers appropriate for them. In short, this term refers to societal constructs, such as women, men, and gender diverse peoples, and not to the biological differences between female and male.

An example of a societal construction of gender norms includes stereotypes. Have you ever heard someone refer to a man as “the strong silent type” or to a woman as “emotional”? These are stereotypical expectation that can have real and significant impact on how we perceive the actions of people and how we expect people to act. These and other attributes are often used to reaffirm societies’ role for men and women, or to insult those whose actions do not align with the conventions society has ascribed to them based on their biology.

Too often these gender norms and stereotypes limit the expectations about what people can and cannot do, minimizing the overall effectiveness and full participation of people within our organization and society at large.

Gender Equality, refers to fairness, and ensures that regardless of your gender identity or expression, you have the same access and opportunity and success as everyone else.

The Department of National Defence works to help realise Gender Equality, eliminating bias and removing barriers to those who have been disadvantageously affected by gender bias and inequality. National Defence is also committed to the Women, Peace and Security Agenda, as a key pillar towards fostering a more gender equal society. This year, Gender Equality Week coincides with the 25^th anniversary of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action which seeks to promote and protect the full enjoyment of all human rights and the fundamental freedoms of all women.  

Embracing a gender balanced work force will help to achieve countless benefits for women, men and people of all gender identities. We can accomplish this by continuing to dismantle the barriers to success for gender diverse peoples of all race, religion, sexual orientation and other intersecting identity factors. As we celebrate Gender Equality Week, we encourage you to reflect on how you can help the Department further advance gender equality.  

This year’s theme, #BecauseOfYou, celebrates the many trailblazers, activists and advocates who are working to advance gender equality in their communities. Because of you and with you, we can achieve gender equality.

#BecauseofYou

Ms. Lisa Vandehei,
Executive Director, Gender, Diversity and Inclusion