"Value and worth are not tied to gender" - Spotlight Interview with Lt(N) Catherine Norris

October 12, 2021 - Defence Stories

You won’t want to miss this spotlight interview!

This October for Canada’s Healthy Workplace Month, check out what some of your colleagues have to say about workplace wellness.

You can also participate in a series of virtual activities to help create a workplace that we can all feel good to be a part of.

1) What would you like people to know about you as someone who identifies as a woman?

I am a person deserving of the same dignity, respect, and rights as every of other person. Value and worth are not tied to gender. Being a woman has given me certain experiences and perspectives shaped by gender socialization and stereotypes, which someone who doesn’t identify as a women may not understand or be aware of (and the opposite is true too).

2) What does wellness mean to you as someone who identifies as a woman?

Wellness to me means taking care of my health and well-being, physically, mentally, and socially. Having self-awareness to be the best that I can be in each moment, forgiving myself when I don’t meet my expectations, and the hardest for me - knowing when to ask for help and setting boundaries.

3) From your perspective, how can colleagues actively help to create a healthier workplace for women?

• Show interest and listen to the experiences of women. Believe them and be willing to have open and honest conversations.
• Language, networking and mentorship – be inclusive
• Hold others accountable for inappropriate language/behaviour, big or small. Be an active bystander, whether there is an affected person there are not. While it may be uncomfortable, especially with friends/family, you should be more uncomfortable staying silent.
• There is no expiry date on doing the right thing, sometimes we make mistakes or don’t notice/hear/comprehend them until later, but when you do, make it right.
• Lift while you climb

4) What is a piece of advice or guidance you received that has stuck with you? (related to mental health and well-being)

I tend to focus most of my time and energy on what needs to get done and what do I need to do at home and at work. Even when people ask me what I want for a present, I’ll tell them things I need. In university I was having a bad day and my flute teacher stopped me in a lesson and could tell I was stressed out. I told him that I had so much that I needed to get done. After he had me take some deep breaths, he asked me, “Catherine, what do you want to do?” and told me to only do things I wanted to do for the day. I don’t remember if I did it all day, but giving myself permission to do things I wanted instead of needed, reduced the stress and let me recharge. That’s stuck with me, and now I try to take want days. Or when I feel overwhelmed I'll take a pause and ask myself, “Do you really need to do this right now? What do you want to do?”

5) Can you please share a couple of resources (i.e., books, documentaries, videos, etc.) that you found accurate and impactful in learning about or supporting your community?

I’ve been compiling a professional development resource list for Marine Forces Pacific (MARPAC) Defence Women’s Advisory Organization. Below you will find a few of the books/media I found the most impactful for me.

Books:

• “Breaking Out of the Man Box: A Call to Men” by Tony Porter
• “Cassandra Speaks: When Women Are the Storytellers, the Human Story Changes” by Elizabeth Lesser
• “Dare to Lead” by Brene Brown – everything she does, Books, Podcasts etc are amazing
• “Invisible Women: Exposing Data Bias in a World Designed for Men” by Caroline Criado Perez
• "Had It Coming: What's Fair in the Age of #MeToo" by Robyn Doolittle
• "We Should All Be Feminists"  by Chiamanda Ngozi Adichie
• "Men Explain Things To Me" by Rebecca Solnit

Documentaries:

• "Status Quo? The Unfinished Business of Feminism in Canada"
• "Miss Representation"
• "The Invisible War"

Videos:

• Tony Porter: A call to men | TED Talk (also website, training and events, educational tools)
• Thordis Elva and Tom Stranger: Our story of rape and reconciliation | TED Talk
• Inés Hercovich: Why women stay silent after sexual assault | TED Talk
• Michael Kimmel: Why gender equality is good for everyone — men included | TED Talk
• Elizabeth Lesser: A New Leadership
• Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie: We should all be feminists | TED Talk

Podcasts:

• Dare to Lead with Brené Brown | Podcast on Spotify
• Unlocking Us with Brené Brown | Podcast on Spotify
• For Her Country - True Patriot Love Foundation

If you need support, the Employee Assistance Program and Canadian Forces Member Assistance Programs are here for you.