good morning so four years when I was asked to talk about gendered violence or
asked to talk about gendered violence or
asked to talk about gendered violence or violence in the workplace I felt like it
violence in the workplace I felt like it
violence in the workplace I felt like it was my role to break the silence well
was my role to break the silence well
was my role to break the silence well things have changed since October 2017
things have changed since October 2017
things have changed since October 2017 we’ve had the me2 movement I’m not a
we’ve had the me2 movement I’m not a
we’ve had the me2 movement I’m not a representative of the me2 movement I’m
representative of the me2 movement I’m
representative of the me2 movement I’m not a spokesperson so that leaves us the
not a spokesperson so that leaves us the
not a spokesperson so that leaves us the question why am I here this morning and
question why am I here this morning and
question why am I here this morning and what am I going to talk about so what
what am I going to talk about so what
what am I going to talk about so what I’m going to talk about is my journey
I’m going to talk about is my journey
I’m going to talk about is my journey as a feminist and a researcher into the
as a feminist and a researcher into the
as a feminist and a researcher into the world of work so in the work at in the
world of work so in the work at in the
world of work so in the work at in the workplace a lot of things can happen
workplace a lot of things can happen
workplace a lot of things can happen everything from ongoing soul-destroying
everything from ongoing soul-destroying
everything from ongoing soul-destroying harassment to extreme acts of violence
harassment to extreme acts of violence
harassment to extreme acts of violence at the same time work offers us a really
at the same time work offers us a really
at the same time work offers us a really good opportunity to make real change and
good opportunity to make real change and
good opportunity to make real change and to create and build a more just and
to create and build a more just and
to create and build a more just and equitable Society at work we exchange
equitable Society at work we exchange
equitable Society at work we exchange experiences ideas opinions knowledge
experiences ideas opinions knowledge
experiences ideas opinions knowledge informally and formally because we’re
informally and formally because we’re
informally and formally because we’re connected to our co-workers we tend to
connected to our co-workers we tend to
connected to our co-workers we tend to listen to them but we’re also among
listen to them but we’re also among
listen to them but we’re also among people who are different from us so
people who are different from us so
people who are different from us so we’re really exposed to diverse ideas
we’re really exposed to diverse ideas
we’re really exposed to diverse ideas diverse experiences so these workplace
diverse experiences so these workplace
diverse experiences so these workplace conversations they’re important for
conversations they’re important for
conversations they’re important for organizations and they’re important for
organizations and they’re important for
organizations and they’re important for us personally but more than that
us personally but more than that
us personally but more than that they constitute a layer of public
they constitute a layer of public
they constitute a layer of public discourse and for a lot of us it’s at
discourse and for a lot of us it’s at
discourse and for a lot of us it’s at our work in our workplace conversations
our work in our workplace conversations
our work in our workplace conversations where we really have the opportunity to
where we really have the opportunity to
where we really have the opportunity to debate and deliberate and discuss
debate and deliberate and discuss
debate and deliberate and discuss important societal issues gendered
important societal issues gendered
important societal issues gendered violence is an important societal issue
violence is an important societal issue
violence is an important societal issue and I’m going to talk to you about how
and I’m going to talk to you about how
and I’m going to talk to you about how gendered violence has become a workplace
gendered violence has become a workplace
gendered violence has become a workplace issue to be discussed in Ontario
issue to be discussed in Ontario
issue to be discussed in Ontario workplaces I first began thinking about
workplaces I first began thinking about
workplaces I first began thinking about gendered violence in the workplace in
gendered violence in the workplace in
gendered violence in the workplace in 1994 when Sharon Chapman called me when
1994 when Sharon Chapman called me when
1994 when Sharon Chapman called me when I was working at the sexual assault
I was working at the sexual assault
I was working at the sexual assault center London she had a really simple
center London she had a really simple
center London she had a really simple indirect question what are you doing
indirect question what are you doing
indirect question what are you doing to help women who are being sexually
to help women who are being sexually
to help women who are being sexually harassed at work
Sharon had just quit a job that she’d
Sharon had just quit a job that she’d been at for thirteen years and where she
been at for thirteen years and where she
been at for thirteen years and where she had been sexually assaulted on a daily
had been sexually assaulted on a daily
had been sexually assaulted on a daily basis for being the only woman in an
basis for being the only woman in an
basis for being the only woman in an otherwise all-male Department if you
otherwise all-male Department if you
otherwise all-male Department if you bring that up with Sharon now it should
bring that up with Sharon now it should
bring that up with Sharon now it should be quick to tell you that it took me
be quick to tell you that it took me
be quick to tell you that it took me almost a year to get back to her with a
almost a year to get back to her with a
almost a year to get back to her with a response it’s not something to be proud
response it’s not something to be proud
response it’s not something to be proud of but it’s a reflection of the reality
of but it’s a reflection of the reality
of but it’s a reflection of the reality at the time that we didn’t have even a
at the time that we didn’t have even a
at the time that we didn’t have even a nascent let alone a coherent movement to
nascent let alone a coherent movement to
nascent let alone a coherent movement to address workplace sexual harassment
address workplace sexual harassment
address workplace sexual harassment sexual assault in rape crisis centers
sexual assault in rape crisis centers
sexual assault in rape crisis centers across the province didn’t understand
across the province didn’t understand
across the province didn’t understand the specific dynamics of sexual violence
the specific dynamics of sexual violence
the specific dynamics of sexual violence when it took place within the context of
when it took place within the context of
when it took place within the context of the workplace and we weren’t prepared to
the workplace and we weren’t prepared to
the workplace and we weren’t prepared to support women like Sharon it’s hard to
support women like Sharon it’s hard to
support women like Sharon it’s hard to say why because in the early 80s the
say why because in the early 80s the
say why because in the early 80s the women’s movement had paid attention to
women’s movement had paid attention to
women’s movement had paid attention to workplace sexual harassment after the
workplace sexual harassment after the
workplace sexual harassment after the publication of two books in the u.s.
publication of two books in the u.s.
publication of two books in the u.s. Catherine McKenna published sexual
Catherine McKenna published sexual
Catherine McKenna published sexual harassment of working women and in
harassment of working women and in
harassment of working women and in Canada Constance Backhouse and Leah
Canada Constance Backhouse and Leah
Canada Constance Backhouse and Leah Cohen published the secret oppression
Cohen published the secret oppression
Cohen published the secret oppression sexual harassment of working women these
sexual harassment of working women these
sexual harassment of working women these books were really important because they
books were really important because they
books were really important because they gave us language to talk about and
gave us language to talk about and
gave us language to talk about and describe disturbing behavior that until
describe disturbing behavior that until
describe disturbing behavior that until then had to often be considered part of
then had to often be considered part of
then had to often be considered part of the job
the job
the job following this bonding Robicheaux who
following this bonding Robicheaux who
following this bonding Robicheaux who was a lead hand cleaner at CFB and north
was a lead hand cleaner at CFB and north
was a lead hand cleaner at CFB and north bay she had been sexually harassed by
bay she had been sexually harassed by
bay she had been sexually harassed by her supervisor as she waged a seven-year
her supervisor as she waged a seven-year
her supervisor as she waged a seven-year battle from 1980 to 1987 that battle
battle from 1980 to 1987 that battle
battle from 1980 to 1987 that battle culminated in a Supreme Court decision
culminated in a Supreme Court decision
culminated in a Supreme Court decision that Canadian Human Rights Commission
that Canadian Human Rights Commission
that Canadian Human Rights Commission would recognize sexual harassment as a
would recognize sexual harassment as a
would recognize sexual harassment as a responsibility of the employer whether
responsibility of the employer whether
responsibility of the employer whether they knew about the harassment or not
they knew about the harassment or not
they knew about the harassment or not so now armed with some understanding of
so now armed with some understanding of
so now armed with some understanding of the feminist history of workplace sexual
the feminist history of workplace sexual
the feminist history of workplace sexual harassment Sharon and I decided that
harassment Sharon and I decided that
harassment Sharon and I decided that what we needed to do was to break this
what we needed to do was to break this
what we needed to do was to break this violence again so that she would have a
violence again so that she would have a
violence again so that she would have a voice it was through that work that
voice it was through that work that
voice it was through that work that Jackie Carr found us
Jackie Carr found us
Jackie Carr found us so Jackie Carr was the daughter of
so Jackie Carr was the daughter of
so Jackie Carr was the daughter of Teresa Vince Teresa Vince was murdered
Teresa Vince Teresa Vince was murdered
Teresa Vince Teresa Vince was murdered in her workplace Sears in Chatham in
in her workplace Sears in Chatham in
in her workplace Sears in Chatham in 1996 by her supervisor her supervisor
1996 by her supervisor her supervisor
1996 by her supervisor her supervisor have been harassing and stalking her for
have been harassing and stalking her for
have been harassing and stalking her for thirteen months prior to her death she
thirteen months prior to her death she
thirteen months prior to her death she complained and Sears had left her on her
complained and Sears had left her on her
complained and Sears had left her on her own to deal with the situation even
own to deal with the situation even
own to deal with the situation even after her death
after her death
after her death Sears continued to refuse to take
Sears continued to refuse to take
Sears continued to refuse to take responsibility for the sexual harassment
responsibility for the sexual harassment
responsibility for the sexual harassment the family and advocates demanded an
the family and advocates demanded an
the family and advocates demanded an inquest into her death at the inquest
inquest into her death at the inquest
inquest into her death at the inquest Sears hired an American lawyer to
Sears hired an American lawyer to
Sears hired an American lawyer to absolve the company of responsibility
absolve the company of responsibility
absolve the company of responsibility with the argument that the murderous
with the argument that the murderous
with the argument that the murderous supervisor was not a sexual harasser he
supervisor was not a sexual harasser he
supervisor was not a sexual harasser he was a persistent pursuer the sexual
was a persistent pursuer the sexual
was a persistent pursuer the sexual assault crisis center in chatham-kent
assault crisis center in chatham-kent
assault crisis center in chatham-kent led by Michelle Shire was up for the
led by Michelle Shire was up for the
led by Michelle Shire was up for the challenge she worked with human rights
challenge she worked with human rights
challenge she worked with human rights lawyer Gerry Sanson and with MPP Pat hoy
lawyer Gerry Sanson and with MPP Pat hoy
lawyer Gerry Sanson and with MPP Pat hoy to craft apart a private member’s bill
to craft apart a private member’s bill
to craft apart a private member’s bill to make changes to the Occupational
to make changes to the Occupational
to make changes to the Occupational Health and Safety Act what the private
Health and Safety Act what the private
Health and Safety Act what the private member’s bill proposed was at workplace
member’s bill proposed was at workplace
member’s bill proposed was at workplace sexual harassment would become an
sexual harassment would become an
sexual harassment would become an occupational health and safety hazard
occupational health and safety hazard
occupational health and safety hazard this is important because if you have a
this is important because if you have a
this is important because if you have a hazard in your workplace the employer
hazard in your workplace the employer
hazard in your workplace the employer must remedy it immediately we all have
must remedy it immediately we all have
must remedy it immediately we all have the right to a safe workplace this was
the right to a safe workplace this was
the right to a safe workplace this was in sharp contrast with the only remedy
in sharp contrast with the only remedy
in sharp contrast with the only remedy in place at the time which was a human
in place at the time which was a human
in place at the time which was a human rights complaint the human rights system
rights complaint the human rights system
rights complaint the human rights system was difficult to navigate and most women
was difficult to navigate and most women
was difficult to navigate and most women who complained that lay a complaint in
who complained that lay a complaint in
who complained that lay a complaint in the system found by the time their case
the system found by the time their case
the system found by the time their case was heard if it was hurt at all they had
was heard if it was hurt at all they had
was heard if it was hurt at all they had already lost their jobs Pat Hoyts
already lost their jobs Pat Hoyts
already lost their jobs Pat Hoyts private member’s bill introduced in 2001
private member’s bill introduced in 2001
private member’s bill introduced in 2001 didn’t pass three similar private
didn’t pass three similar private
didn’t pass three similar private member’s bill introduced between 2001
member’s bill introduced between 2001
member’s bill introduced between 2001 and 2003 also failed to pass
and 2003 also failed to pass
and 2003 also failed to pass so it’s feminists do we continue to do
so it’s feminists do we continue to do
so it’s feminists do we continue to do research on this phenomenon of workplace
research on this phenomenon of workplace
research on this phenomenon of workplace sexual harassment the Ontario Coalition
sexual harassment the Ontario Coalition
sexual harassment the Ontario Coalition of rape crisis centers partnered with
of rape crisis centers partnered with
of rape crisis centers partnered with the Centre for research and education of
the Centre for research and education of
the Centre for research and education of violence against women and children and
violence against women and children and
violence against women and children and researcher sandy Welsh in 2004 we
researcher sandy Welsh in 2004 we
researcher sandy Welsh in 2004 we released our report workplace violence
released our report workplace violence
released our report workplace violence and harassment this report is built on
and harassment this report is built on
and harassment this report is built on the personal stories of women who
the personal stories of women who
the personal stories of women who experienced sexual harassment but we
experienced sexual harassment but we
experienced sexual harassment but we didn’t just look at the personal stories
didn’t just look at the personal stories
didn’t just look at the personal stories we also looked at the context in which
we also looked at the context in which
we also looked at the context in which these behaviors were taking place and we
these behaviors were taking place and we
these behaviors were taking place and we concluded that if we want to end
concluded that if we want to end
concluded that if we want to end harassment we have to transform the
harassment we have to transform the
harassment we have to transform the inequality and discrimination that is
inequality and discrimination that is
inequality and discrimination that is woven into the culture of so many
woven into the culture of so many
woven into the culture of so many workplaces another important finding
workplaces another important finding
workplaces another important finding from our research is that we have to
from our research is that we have to
from our research is that we have to expand our analysis of sexual harassment
expand our analysis of sexual harassment
expand our analysis of sexual harassment to take into consideration women’s
to take into consideration women’s
to take into consideration women’s social location many of the women that
social location many of the women that
social location many of the women that we spoke to told us that they raised
we spoke to told us that they raised
we spoke to told us that they raised their ethnic identity their citizenship
their ethnic identity their citizenship
their ethnic identity their citizenship status their disability sexual
status their disability sexual
status their disability sexual orientation size language or other
orientation size language or other
orientation size language or other perceived difference was as much at the
perceived difference was as much at the
perceived difference was as much at the root of the harassment as their gender
root of the harassment as their gender
root of the harassment as their gender in 2005 another tragic event further
in 2005 another tragic event further
in 2005 another tragic event further broadened our understanding of workplace
broadened our understanding of workplace
broadened our understanding of workplace harassment and violence
harassment and violence
harassment and violence Laurie DuPont who was a nurse at Hotel
Laurie DuPont who was a nurse at Hotel
Laurie DuPont who was a nurse at Hotel du Grace Hospital in Windsor Wood was
du Grace Hospital in Windsor Wood was
du Grace Hospital in Windsor Wood was Marie murdered on the job by her former
Marie murdered on the job by her former
Marie murdered on the job by her former partner also a doctor at that hospital
partner also a doctor at that hospital
partner also a doctor at that hospital prior to her murder
prior to her murder
prior to her murder the doctor had used his access to the
the doctor had used his access to the
the doctor had used his access to the hospital to stalk harass and monitor
hospital to stalk harass and monitor
hospital to stalk harass and monitor Laurie these deaths and other
Laurie these deaths and other
Laurie these deaths and other experiences of harassment and workplace
experiences of harassment and workplace
experiences of harassment and workplace violence where they were and are the
violence where they were and are the
violence where they were and are the consequence of women’s inequality both
consequence of women’s inequality both
consequence of women’s inequality both in the private sphere and in the public
in the private sphere and in the public
in the private sphere and in the public sphere
sphere
sphere we were fighting feminists and
we were fighting feminists and
we were fighting feminists and professionals with the tools we had so
professionals with the tools we had so
professionals with the tools we had so domestic assault was criminalized we
domestic assault was criminalized we
domestic assault was criminalized we trained police to be more sensitive in
trained police to be more sensitive in
trained police to be more sensitive in their response we began to understand
their response we began to understand
their response we began to understand the wide-ranging mental and physical
the wide-ranging mental and physical
the wide-ranging mental and physical impacts
impacts
impacts a woman’s health and we work with health
a woman’s health and we work with health
a woman’s health and we work with health care professionals we work to make
care professionals we work to make
care professionals we work to make social services more responsive to the
social services more responsive to the
social services more responsive to the needs of survivors and we had
needs of survivors and we had
needs of survivors and we had specialized services like sexual assault
specialized services like sexual assault
specialized services like sexual assault centers and rape crisis centers but we
centers and rape crisis centers but we
centers and rape crisis centers but we were largely ignoring the problem in the
were largely ignoring the problem in the
were largely ignoring the problem in the workplace with their ability to
workplace with their ability to
workplace with their ability to implement legislation government set out
implement legislation government set out
implement legislation government set out broad frameworks for systemic change and
broad frameworks for systemic change and
broad frameworks for systemic change and they had established a framework for
they had established a framework for
they had established a framework for promoting equality and diversity in the
promoting equality and diversity in the
promoting equality and diversity in the back in the workplace through humans
back in the workplace through humans
back in the workplace through humans right legislation pay equity labor law
right legislation pay equity labor law
right legislation pay equity labor law and many employers as they went beyond
and many employers as they went beyond
and many employers as they went beyond minimal compliance and began to embrace
minimal compliance and began to embrace
minimal compliance and began to embrace these ideas of diversity and inclusion
these ideas of diversity and inclusion
these ideas of diversity and inclusion in the workplace saw improved employee
in the workplace saw improved employee
in the workplace saw improved employee engagement and productivity gains still
engagement and productivity gains still
engagement and productivity gains still gendered violence remained a largely
gendered violence remained a largely
gendered violence remained a largely invisible problem ignored both by
invisible problem ignored both by
invisible problem ignored both by governments and by employers that
governments and by employers that
governments and by employers that changed in 2009 when the Ontario
changed in 2009 when the Ontario
changed in 2009 when the Ontario government announced changes to the
government announced changes to the
government announced changes to the Occupational Health and Safety Act with
Occupational Health and Safety Act with
Occupational Health and Safety Act with bill 168 so responding to calls from the
bill 168 so responding to calls from the
bill 168 so responding to calls from the Vince family the DuPont family labor
Vince family the DuPont family labor
Vince family the DuPont family labor activists and feminists the Minister of
activists and feminists the Minister of
activists and feminists the Minister of Labour introduced new legislation that
Labour introduced new legislation that
Labour introduced new legislation that would make violence harassment and
would make violence harassment and
would make violence harassment and domestic violence occupational health
domestic violence occupational health
domestic violence occupational health and safety hazards so they were
and safety hazards so they were
and safety hazards so they were following the lead of many other
following the lead of many other
following the lead of many other jurisdictions and making harassment and
jurisdictions and making harassment and
jurisdictions and making harassment and violence occupational health and safety
violence occupational health and safety
violence occupational health and safety hazards but this was the first time
hazards but this was the first time
hazards but this was the first time worldwide that domestic violence had
worldwide that domestic violence had
worldwide that domestic violence had been recognized as a hazard so we’re
been recognized as a hazard so we’re
been recognized as a hazard so we’re convinced that the worksite is an ideal
convinced that the worksite is an ideal
convinced that the worksite is an ideal site to address domestic violence so we
site to address domestic violence so we
site to address domestic violence so we planned another research project
planned another research project
planned another research project internationally research was telling us
internationally research was telling us
internationally research was telling us that women who have experienced domestic
that women who have experienced domestic
that women who have experienced domestic violence have more disruptive work
violence have more disruptive work
violence have more disruptive work histories they have to change jobs more
histories they have to change jobs more
histories they have to change jobs more often they have lower personal incomes
often they have lower personal incomes
often they have lower personal incomes and they’re more likely to be employed
and they’re more likely to be employed
and they’re more likely to be employed in casual and part-time work than women
in casual and part-time work than women
in casual and part-time work than women who haven’t had those experiences at the
who haven’t had those experiences at the
who haven’t had those experiences at the same time being employed is a
same time being employed is a
same time being employed is a a pathway out of an abusive relationship
a pathway out of an abusive relationship
a pathway out of an abusive relationship however we had no Canadian research on
however we had no Canadian research on
however we had no Canadian research on this so the Center for research and
this so the Center for research and
this so the Center for research and education and violence against women and
education and violence against women and
education and violence against women and children partnered with the Canadian
children partnered with the Canadian
children partnered with the Canadian Labour Congress to conduct the
Labour Congress to conduct the
Labour Congress to conduct the first-ever survey on the impacts of
first-ever survey on the impacts of
first-ever survey on the impacts of domestic violence on workers and the
domestic violence on workers and the
domestic violence on workers and the workplace we had over eighty four
workplace we had over eighty four
workplace we had over eighty four hundred workers participate and we had
hundred workers participate and we had
hundred workers participate and we had some startling insights into the impact
some startling insights into the impact
some startling insights into the impact of domestic violence and Canadian
of domestic violence and Canadian
of domestic violence and Canadian workers in Canadian workplaces one in
workers in Canadian workplaces one in
workers in Canadian workplaces one in three Canadian workers had experienced
three Canadian workers had experienced
three Canadian workers had experienced domestic violence in their lifetime with
domestic violence in their lifetime with
domestic violence in their lifetime with rates being higher for women for more
rates being higher for women for more
rates being higher for women for more than half of these workers the violence
than half of these workers the violence
than half of these workers the violence is following them to work they’re
is following them to work they’re
is following them to work they’re receiving abusive phone calls text
receiving abusive phone calls text
receiving abusive phone calls text messages emails abusers are showing up
messages emails abusers are showing up
messages emails abusers are showing up at work they’re contacting employers are
at work they’re contacting employers are
at work they’re contacting employers are contacting co-workers they’re being
contacting co-workers they’re being
contacting co-workers they’re being stalked and harassed at or near their
stalked and harassed at or near their
stalked and harassed at or near their workplace and sometimes abusers are
workplace and sometimes abusers are
workplace and sometimes abusers are preventing them from even going to work
preventing them from even going to work
preventing them from even going to work at all oh and all of these impacts are
at all oh and all of these impacts are
at all oh and all of these impacts are we see a greater impact for women than
we see a greater impact for women than
we see a greater impact for women than we do for men meanwhile when we were
we do for men meanwhile when we were
we do for men meanwhile when we were doing that research feminists are
doing that research feminists are
doing that research feminists are working with the Ontario government to
working with the Ontario government to
working with the Ontario government to craft its never okay an action plan to
craft its never okay an action plan to
craft its never okay an action plan to stop sexual violence and harassment that
stop sexual violence and harassment that
stop sexual violence and harassment that plan included a promise to strengthen
plan included a promise to strengthen
plan included a promise to strengthen the occupational health and safety
the occupational health and safety
the occupational health and safety legislation in 2016 a definition of
legislation in 2016 a definition of
legislation in 2016 a definition of workplace sexual harassment was added to
workplace sexual harassment was added to
workplace sexual harassment was added to the act and employers were required to
the act and employers were required to
the act and employers were required to educate about workplace sexual
educate about workplace sexual
educate about workplace sexual harassment they’re also required to
harassment they’re also required to
harassment they’re also required to conduct an investigation if there was an
conduct an investigation if there was an
conduct an investigation if there was an incident or a complaint twenty years
incident or a complaint twenty years
incident or a complaint twenty years after the death of Teresa Vince the
after the death of Teresa Vince the
after the death of Teresa Vince the Vince family and advocates finally saw
Vince family and advocates finally saw
Vince family and advocates finally saw our full list of demands fully
our full list of demands fully
our full list of demands fully implemented in 2015 the ministry of
implemented in 2015 the ministry of
implemented in 2015 the ministry of labor initiated the changing workplaces
labor initiated the changing workplaces
labor initiated the changing workplaces review this is the largest review of
review this is the largest review of
review this is the largest review of ontario labor law
ontario labor law
ontario labor law in decades so we presented our research
in decades so we presented our research
in decades so we presented our research on the impacts of domestic violence in
on the impacts of domestic violence in
on the impacts of domestic violence in the workplace and we asked for changes
the workplace and we asked for changes
the workplace and we asked for changes to Ontario Ontario’s labor laws that
to Ontario Ontario’s labor laws that
to Ontario Ontario’s labor laws that would give survivors of domestic
would give survivors of domestic
would give survivors of domestic violence paid time off work so that’s
violence paid time off work so that’s
violence paid time off work so that’s time to consult a lawyer to attend work
time to consult a lawyer to attend work
time to consult a lawyer to attend work or to attend court proceedings to get
or to attend court proceedings to get
or to attend court proceedings to get counseling for themselves or for their
counseling for themselves or for their
counseling for themselves or for their children time to search for a new place
children time to search for a new place
children time to search for a new place to live time to look after health needs
to live time to look after health needs
to live time to look after health needs we succeeded in putting the issue on the
we succeeded in putting the issue on the
we succeeded in putting the issue on the radar and the reviewers wrote since the
radar and the reviewers wrote since the
radar and the reviewers wrote since the interim report was issued we have become
interim report was issued we have become
interim report was issued we have become aware that the issue of domestic
aware that the issue of domestic
aware that the issue of domestic violence leave was a serious omission
violence leave was a serious omission
violence leave was a serious omission the scope of our review we are more
the scope of our review we are more
the scope of our review we are more aware of the prevalence of domestic
aware of the prevalence of domestic
aware of the prevalence of domestic violence and the importance of providing
violence and the importance of providing
violence and the importance of providing leave for victims in early 2018 the
leave for victims in early 2018 the
leave for victims in early 2018 the Ontario government passed legislation
Ontario government passed legislation
Ontario government passed legislation that will provide five days of paid
that will provide five days of paid
that will provide five days of paid leave and an additional five days of
leave and an additional five days of
leave and an additional five days of unpaid leave for survivors of domestic
unpaid leave for survivors of domestic
unpaid leave for survivors of domestic and sexual assault very recently just
and sexual assault very recently just
and sexual assault very recently just this past week the interior government
this past week the interior government
this past week the interior government announced that we’ll provide training to
announced that we’ll provide training to
announced that we’ll provide training to workplaces on domestic violence so this
workplaces on domestic violence so this
workplaces on domestic violence so this is a really quick walk through more than
is a really quick walk through more than
is a really quick walk through more than 20 years of personal experiences and
20 years of personal experiences and
20 years of personal experiences and observations of how we’ve begun to
observations of how we’ve begun to
observations of how we’ve begun to accept that the workplace is an ideal
accept that the workplace is an ideal
accept that the workplace is an ideal site to address gendered violence
site to address gendered violence
site to address gendered violence there’s much that I left out and the
there’s much that I left out and the
there’s much that I left out and the work of many people that I haven’t been
work of many people that I haven’t been
work of many people that I haven’t been able to talk about encouraging as these
able to talk about encouraging as these
able to talk about encouraging as these changes are there’s still a lot left to
changes are there’s still a lot left to
changes are there’s still a lot left to do I think we can all recognize the gap
do I think we can all recognize the gap
do I think we can all recognize the gap between law and reality so the me2
between law and reality so the me2
between law and reality so the me2 movement is an illustration of that gap
movement is an illustration of that gap
movement is an illustration of that gap the leaders who are going to write to
the leaders who are going to write to
the leaders who are going to write to guide the next round of changes are
guide the next round of changes are
guide the next round of changes are operating in a time of changing social
operating in a time of changing social
operating in a time of changing social norms affirmative consent is changing
norms affirmative consent is changing
norms affirmative consent is changing the way we understand sexual violence
the way we understand sexual violence
the way we understand sexual violence and that’s extends to the workplace when
and that’s extends to the workplace when
and that’s extends to the workplace when emerging research tells us that gay and
emerging research tells us that gay and
emerging research tells us that gay and lesbian bisexual transgender gender
lesbian bisexual transgender gender
lesbian bisexual transgender gender fluid people experience both domestic
fluid people experience both domestic
fluid people experience both domestic violence and sexual harassment
violence and sexual harassment
violence and sexual harassment high rates even higher rates than women
high rates even higher rates than women
high rates even higher rates than women so we’re gonna have to take that into
so we’re gonna have to take that into
so we’re gonna have to take that into consideration in our gender analysis um
consideration in our gender analysis um
consideration in our gender analysis um domestic violence and sexual harassment
domestic violence and sexual harassment
domestic violence and sexual harassment have cost implications for individuals
have cost implications for individuals
have cost implications for individuals and for society but also for workplaces
and for society but also for workplaces
and for society but also for workplaces so we’re just beginning to be able to
so we’re just beginning to be able to
so we’re just beginning to be able to measure those costs and when we need
measure those costs and when we need
measure those costs and when we need more accurate measures of those costs so
more accurate measures of those costs so
more accurate measures of those costs so that we actually know how much money we
that we actually know how much money we
that we actually know how much money we can save through prevention work I like
can save through prevention work I like
can save through prevention work I like to finish with a quick synopsis of the
to finish with a quick synopsis of the
to finish with a quick synopsis of the lessons that I’ve learned first is the
lessons that I’ve learned first is the
lessons that I’ve learned first is the value and the importance of speaking up
value and the importance of speaking up
value and the importance of speaking up about grave and justices and the
about grave and justices and the
about grave and justices and the tragedies that result from gendered
tragedies that result from gendered
tragedies that result from gendered violence next is the importance of
violence next is the importance of
violence next is the importance of amplifying our voices of we as we speak
amplifying our voices of we as we speak
amplifying our voices of we as we speak out through alliances with other
out through alliances with other
out through alliances with other feminists with the labor movement with
feminists with the labor movement with
feminists with the labor movement with lawyers and politicians who get it one
lawyers and politicians who get it one
lawyers and politicians who get it one story can be compelling but there are
story can be compelling but there are
story can be compelling but there are always others it’s important to work
always others it’s important to work
always others it’s important to work with academics to gather up these
with academics to gather up these
with academics to gather up these stories then the stories become evidence
stories then the stories become evidence
stories then the stories become evidence so we want to collaborate form alliances
so we want to collaborate form alliances
so we want to collaborate form alliances advocate and provide policy policymakers
advocate and provide policy policymakers
advocate and provide policy policymakers with the evidence they need to make
with the evidence they need to make
with the evidence they need to make change sexual harassment and domestic
change sexual harassment and domestic
change sexual harassment and domestic violence in the workplace have been
violence in the workplace have been
violence in the workplace have been widely practiced and systematically
widely practiced and systematically
widely practiced and systematically ignored we’ve begun to change that me
ignored we’ve begun to change that me
ignored we’ve begun to change that me too has amplified voices in a way that
too has amplified voices in a way that
too has amplified voices in a way that we’ve never seen before
we’ve never seen before
we’ve never seen before but when headlines have faded and
but when headlines have faded and
but when headlines have faded and journalists have moved on we want the
journalists have moved on we want the
journalists have moved on we want the important impact of me to to be
important impact of me to to be
important impact of me to to be sustained so we can’t be complacent
sustained so we can’t be complacent
sustained so we can’t be complacent there are still women and vulnerable
there are still women and vulnerable
there are still women and vulnerable Berg workers who are isolated and
Berg workers who are isolated and
Berg workers who are isolated and without a voice there’s only one way
without a voice there’s only one way
without a voice there’s only one way forward lead from where you are stand in
forward lead from where you are stand in
forward lead from where you are stand in your power stand up for equality when
your power stand up for equality when
your power stand up for equality when you see injustice reach out don’t be
you see injustice reach out don’t be
you see injustice reach out don’t be silent
silent
silent thank you
thank you
thank you you
”
Be First to Comment