Women and the Issues We Don't Speak About Enough

Gender inequality directly impacts the female population. Acknowledgment is one necessary step to take towards a just society. The next is change. As there are many discussions relevant around the nature of how society sees and perceives women, the ones that I will be analyzing are; Societal Biases and Prejudices and How They Affect Genders, Sexual Violence on Women in Canada, and How to Identify Spiked Drinks.

Society tries to force an ideology that a woman’s capabilities and relevance can only be showcased through their sexuality and/or their beauty. Prejudices can prohibit the growth of women in many professions, which is visible through the discussions I have had with 6 young women and men in different areas of their lives. We explored this topic to document comparisons and contrast their experiences concerning their genders within their respective fields.

Sexual violence prohibits a woman’s rights to her own body. Lack of consent equals lack of respect. Lack of respect for a woman is very much rooted in misogyny. Learning about how sexual violence affects women is as important as being informed on the issue. Many times, women are put in a position where they are not comfortable sharing experiences of unwanted sexual advances for many reasons including; fear of judgment, risk of losing their job, safety risks, denial from harasser, and unfortunately, the list goes on. 

Although it is important to understand that nonconsensual advances are at no point the victim’s fault, a lot of times society makes it feel as if it is easier for the woman to not speak up than for the offender to be punished.

Statistics Canada took a poll intermittently between 1999 and 2014 to gather data regarding sexual assault and harassment on women in Canada.

Note: Stats from 2014 include acts of non-consensual acts that were influenced by drugging, forcing, and/or manipulating victim.

It is important to understand what precautions women must take to remain safe, particularly in a social setting where one might not always have full awareness of their actions– or of the actions of anyone else. Although it is not reported as frequently, drugs being slipped into drinks is quite the common occurrence. It is extremely important to note what we can do in order to be aware of our surroundings and what we are consuming.