Doing the work: Reflections on Feminism

Today is about lifting up women leaders, celebrating femme changemakers, and supporting women-owned businesses - but it is also about being a force for change. How do we go about this important work?

This is not a business post. Not exactly – because I am not just a businessperson. I’m a woman, and today is International Women’s Day.

As a woman who owns multiple businesses, you’d probably think that I look forward to this day each year. After all, a critical part of International Women’s Day is the celebration of the achievements of women – and this is a worthy purpose.

Today is about lifting up women leaders, celebrating femme changemakers, and supporting women-owned businesses.

But the part that we sometimes miss – the part that gets me very contemplative and even a bit melancholy each International Women’s Day – is the fact that there is SO MUCH that still needs to be done. And sometimes, I’m struck by the enormity of what that means. Do you ever feel that way, reader?

I am steeped in privilege.

Yes, I’m a woman. But I am a straight, white, cis-gendered, non-disabled, educated woman. I live in Canada, and I was born here and raised in a stable, loving family with socioeconomic privilege.

I’m married to a supportive partner who values me as a whole person – together, we’re raising two young feminists (because it’s just as essential to raise your sons to be feminists as it is to teach your daughters that they deserve a seat at every table they care to join).

And nevertheless, I have to deal with the hidden bias of being a woman in business every day. I have to keep talking when I’m being interrupted, I have to deal with absurd emails that would NEVER get sent to a man … I’ve even experienced having a man I was negotiating with reach out TO MY HUSBAND when he didn’t like the (very reasonable) answer he was getting from me. (This has happened more than once).

And having experienced all this, when I contemplate what my life would be like if I stripped away any or all of the privileges I’d mentioned earlier – I feel like I could drown in the weight of what still needs to be done to make this world a safer, more inclusive, more equitable place.

So after I stare off into the distance each International Women’s Day, I remind myself that the best way to eat an elephant is one bite at a time, and I start to educate myself. If you feel like I do, my friend, I suggest you do the same.

For example, did you know the gender wage gap hasn’t really changed much since the 80s?



Were you aware that the average life expectancy of a black trans woman is roughly 35 years old?


Did you know that in Canada, over 50% of law school students are women, but only 20% of equity partners are women? (And only 2% of them are women of colour?)


How about this: in Canada, 10x more women than men have fallen out of the labour force since 2020. This is directly related to the hidden weight of domestic responsibilities that are still borne predominantly by women in our society.

After doing my reading today, I feel galvanized – not because there isn’t still a long journey toward equity, but because incredible women worldwide are doing this work alongside me and are leading us down the path toward true inclusion and equity.

These changemakers give me the encouragement I need to keep going because complacency that is born out of my own privilege isn’t moving the needle, and time’s ticking.

So here’s my challenge to you on this International Women’s Day:

Take some time today, and educate yourself on the issues facing women in the workplace, the home, and communities worldwide.
Ensure you understand what equity means (as opposed to equality) and why it matters in the context of this year’s International Women’s Day theme, #EmbraceEquity.
Find out how you can keep intersectionality in your celebrations. (And if you have yet to hear that term, today is a perfect day to do some reading). Equity and inclusion is for ALL women.
Share something you learned! This is the most critical part, and this is NOT just for women … the only way things change is if we all use our platforms and spheres of influence to draw attention to an issue. Even better, centre voices different from your own in your conversations.