International Women’s Day 2022
It’s been two years since the world was turned up-side-down. We’ve seen irrevocable, complex change, challenge, and struggle. And somehow, while the sun is just starting to peek through the clouds again, war has been brought to the lives of millions of innocent people.
It’s enough to make you want to curl up in bed, under the covers, and just try again tomorrow. And honestly, no one would blame you (we’ve done that a few times ourselves).
But.
And there’s always a but.
Even though so many of us are exhausted, heartbroken, emotionally, and physically drained, we have seen so many incredible examples of women who get up every day and make the world a better place. Women leaders have received international praise for how their countries navigated this pandemic. Kamala Harris became the first female, Black, and South Asian American to become Vice-President of the United States. The U.S. women’s soccer team just settled a five-year lawsuit for equal pay with the U.S. Soccer Federation in a historic case. And these are just the women making headlines. At WRRC, we see women becoming advocates in their own lives, taking back control of their narratives, making incredibly difficult decisions in the worst possible circumstances. It’s awe-inspiring. It’s enough to keep you going. We’re honoured and privileged to be able to witness it.
And at the end of the day, that’s what we’re walking away with over the last two years. It’s not the constant, seemingly never-ending grind of bad news after bad news; it’s the ability of women to move forward, to spark change, to do better despite it.
We know that when women set out to make the world a better place, they do. And they change it not only for themselves, but for their families, their communities, and for future generations. They do it so that even when the world seems so dark, there is always, always a light to look forward to.
This International Women’s Day, we invite you to celebrate these accomplishments. Celebrate all the women in your life who have ever supported, inspired, or been there for you, even when it would have been so much easier not too. Celebrate the big things, the little things, celebrate ALL THE THINGS. Invite your support circles to celebrate with you. Because together, no matter what the odds, we can and will accomplish whatever we want to.
Corey Allison
Executive Director
Women’s Rural Resource Centre
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