Experiences
Growing up in the 21st century, it's hard to imagine that at one time Canadian women could be fired from a job if they got married (yes, really), and were not admitted to universities.
But even within the last century, women didn't have the right to inherit the family fortune, run for office, or even vote in elections.
Fortunately, thanks to the "you've got to be joking" persistence of some hard working and courageous women, we've made progress.
Today, we can do all of those things -- and even become prime minister.
The bad news is we're still a long way from achieving equality when it comes to having our views represented in the places where important decisions get made - decisions about how much money gets spent on what, and how - or whether - to save the planet!
Consider, in 2009, decades after finally being declared "Persons" under Canadian law women made up only 22% of city councils, provincial legislatures, and the
House of Commons.
Go figure: more than half of the population, but only slightly more than one-fifth of the people in power.
How does that work?
Compared to 110 other countries around the world, Canada ranks 47th in terms of equality in governance.
We have fewer female political representatives than Iraq, Rwanda, parts of Africa, most of Europe, and Australia.
OK, I know what you're thinking.
Who wants to be a politician, anyway? You've seen the TV coverage of scrums and heckling in the House of Commons and it doesn't exactly look like a good time. Plus, you've heard adults criticizing politicians for being seriously out of touch.
But here's the thing: Even if all our current politicians are smart, committed, informed and well-meaning (and the truth is, most are), it doesn't work that 78% of them are male.
Because (and most people have figured this out already) women are different. When asked our opinions on many matters, we have different perspectives, informed by different life experiences.
So it's not surprising that we often see things differently, have different priorities, and envision different solutions.
And if women aren't at the table where decisions are being made, our concerns don't get heard, and our needs and opinions don't have a chance to influence what happens.
Research also shows that when women share power, there tends to be more collaboration and less conflict.
So some people think having more of us elected would actually be a really good thing for the country.
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