The Reminder is making its archives back to 2003 available on our website. Please note that, due to technical limitations, archive articles are presented without the usual formatting.
She's on a Role! Did you know that March 8 is International Women's Day (IWD)? Established in 1977 by the United Nations, this special day provides an opportunity to reflect on the progress made to advance women's equality, to assess the challenges facing women in contemporary society, to consider future steps to enhance the status of women and, of course, to celebrate the gains made in these areas. This year, Canadians will celebrate International Women's Week (IWW) from Sunday, March 7 to Saturday, March 13, 2004, with the highlight being International Women's Day on March 8. Today more than ever before, it is important to keep a watchful eye on the gains made by women in recent years, as their socioeconomic situation makes them more vulnerable to the impact of cuts being made left and right in these times of fiscal austerity. More than 58 per cent of single mother families live under the poverty line. Women who work full time earn on average less than 70 per cent of what their male counterparts make. The federal government recently abandoned its child care plan and announced in the last budget that seniors' pension benefits would be calculated on the basis of family income. This represents an incredible setback for women. The struggle for equality is far from over.
