Frances LeBlanc, chair of the New Brunswick Coalition for Pay Equity. Image: Inda Intiar/Huddle
It may be difficult to remember the last International Women’s Day, but it occurred in a time with fewer restrictions and involved a more positive outlook on the topic of equality.
Now a year later, COVID-19 has exposed many of the holes that remain in the system.
Frances LeBlanc is the Chair of the New Brunswick Coalition for Pay Equity, an organization that has kept a close eye on the female dominant work sectors through the pandemic.
“We think of some retail, the caregiving sector and so forth which were deemed essential during the pandemic, but they’re also generally undervalued and underpaid,” said LeBlanc.
Members of these industries saw an increased workload as well as a higher risk of exposure.
Meanwhile, other female-dominated industries such as hospitality and certain sections of retail saw a disproportionate amount of job losses.
LeBlanc believes they are slowly returning, but the increased responsibilities women face at home have caused many to delay their return to the workforce.
This year as Canada uses the theme of feminist recovery, the conversation of an equal return is vital.
The Chair of the coalition believes the government will need to use a “feminist lens” when creating policies that help Canadians recover.
“Some of the progress that has been made over generations has been lost over a short period of time,” she said.
Leblanc says International Women’s Day is important for gender equality regardless of skin colour, disabilities or nationality.
