As Queen’s marks Gender Equality Week, campus groups and University initiatives are drawing attention to equity, support services, and advocacy extending beyond the week itself.
The University is marking Gender Equality Week from Sept. 20 to 26 as part of the annual federally recognized observance held during the fourth week of September.
According to the Department of Justice Canada, Gender Equality Week was established through Bill C-309, the Gender Equality Week Act, with the legislation becoming law on June 21, 2018.
The federal government describes the week as a time to recognize progress toward gender equality, celebrate women’s achievements, and draw attention to gender gaps that persist in Canadian society.
In a statement to The Journal, Queen’s said its work on gender equality continues beyond the awareness week through education, accessibility, and gender-based violence prevention initiatives. Students and faculty staff can access year-round training focused on human rights, equity, and inclusion.
Queen’s highlighted its Positive Space program, a voluntary training program that focuses on creating safer and more affirming spaces for 2SLBTQ+ community members. The University also pointed to Reflective Dialogues and Learning Communities, a collection of online resources developed by the Human Rights and Equity Office and Centre for Teaching and Learning.
The University also offers support through its Sexual Violence Prevention and Response Service and “It Takes All of Us,” an online program focused on sexual and gender-based violence.
For student groups focused on gender equality, the week also provides an opportunity to consider how institutional initiatives translate into students’ experiences on campus.
Abi Kim, HealthSci ’28, co-president of the Queen’s Feminist Collective, said Gender Equality Week gives the campus community an opportunity to amplify conversations surrounding misogyny, gender discrimination, and gender identity.
As part of Gender Equality Week, the Feminist Collective participated in the Take Back the Night event on Sept. 24, an AMS event focused on showing solidarity with survivors of sexual and gender-based violence.
Kim described the event as an opportunity for women and gender diverse community members to reclaim public spaces where they may otherwise feel unsafe.
“We’re reclaiming the night and reclaiming that power,” Kim said.
“An important thing for students to know is that there actually are resources that are very accessible for them,” Kim said. She said students may feel they need to experience a “serious” incident before reaching out for support, but emphasized resources are available for challenges that are small or large.
Not all students were aware Gender Equality Week was taking place. Anna Liu, HealthSci ’29, told The Journal she hadn’t known about the week but said she believes raising awareness about gender inequality is important.
Liu said she believes Queen’s could do more to promote gender equality on campus, including holding more widespread events addressing gender-based violence and its prevention. She also pointed to greater access to menstrual products as another area the University could address.
Sophia Buckman, LifeSci ’28, said she hadn’t known the week was taking place either, despite being involved with Women in Science and Engineering at Queen’s.
Buckman said she believes Queen’s does a good job supporting gender equality, pointing to student groups focused on women and spaces for 2SLGBTQ+ students.
“Even with all the work that’s being put towards gender equality, it still exists and it’s still a big problem,” she said.
Tags
campus equity groups, Gender equality week
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