When We Fail to Recognize Women Leaders, We Fail our City’s Future
- Denise Christopherson
- 05 Oct 2015
In July, the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives (CCPA) released The Best and Worst Places to be a Woman in Canada, a report that ranks cities based on five areas: economic security, leadership, health, personal security, and education. Of the 25 cities examined, Hamilton ranked 20th. For women’s organizations, including YWCA Hamilton, who work to create opportunities for women, girls, and their families, this finding comes as no surprise.
According to the CCPA’s findings, in Hamilton, the gap between men’s and women’s employment rates, particularly in full-time employment, is larger than average, as only 39 per cent of women hold full-time jobs, compared to 64 per cent of men. Overall, women earn 72 per cent of what men earn, and the gap is even larger (69 per cent) in full- time positions. The report also ranks Hamilton 23rd of 25 cities in leadership, noting that women account for few city councillors and only 35 per cent of city managers.
The CCPA’s findings on leadership echo the 2014 Women & Diversity EXCLerator Project, a joint effort between the Hamilton Chamber of Commerce, YWCA Hamilton, and McMaster University, which paints a more detailed picture of gaps existing between men and women, analyzing women’s leadership positions in Hamilton and Halton. The report found that women are underrepresented across all but one sectors analyzed. Clearly, this is unacceptable.
The dismal numbers presented in both the EXCLerator Project report and The Best and Worst Places to be a Woman in Canada prove that we have a long way to go before the voices of women are represented at all decision-making tables in Hamilton. But the news isn’t all bad. Every day, there are new reasons to be inspired by female leaders who are making their voices heard across the city.
I’m especially inspired by the wealth of young women leaders in Hamilton who are honing their leadership skills in their schools and communities through volunteerism, student politics, and other professional endeavours. Many of these young women are affiliated with organizations for young professionals, among them Hamilton HIVE, Young Entrepreneurs & Professionals of Hamilton (YEP Hamil- ton), GenNext, and YWCA Hamilton’s own Young Women’s Advisory Council. I can’t help but think the results of studies like the two highlighted in this article will be very different in years to come because of the impassioned young leaders we see in our community today.
It is the job of all of us, whether we work in women’s organizations or not, to encourage and support the contributions of young female leaders in our city. One way to do this is to recognize the achievements of women who have already established themselves in their careers. I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again: women can’t be what they don’t see. When we fail to recognize women leaders, we fail the future of our city. We must all ask ourselves, what are we doing to encourage all young women leaders? With a federal election on our horizon, this question is especially important.
Leadership opportunities must be accessible to all women. While some women have been able to break through the glass ceiling, Hamilton needs to be a place where all women can prosper. It needs to embrace a culture of inclusivity that supports aboriginal women, racialized women, immigrant women, members of the LGBT community, and all others who are marginalized. We need a culture that encourages female leaders and celebrates their successes, making their accomplishments visible to young women and girls.
Both the EXCLerator Project and The Best and Worst Places to be a Woman in Canada highlight the importance of mentoring and fostering women’s civic leadership. One way to do this is through networking, connecting young leaders in their field with women established in their career.
By investing in young women leaders, we’re investing in a better future for Hamilton.
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