According to Google, “International Women’s Day can be traced back to New York City in February 1908, when thousands of women who were garment workers went on strike and marched through the city to protest against their working conditions.”

Registered as a charitable organization in 1967 and located in Toronto, ON, Plan International Canada Inc. shares these alarming statistics of Canadian Women on their website:

78% feel that the expectation of women to be thin and graceful still exists.
81% feel women are expected to do the majority of the cooking, cleaning, and child-rearing at home.
82% agree that women are viewed as aggressive or overbearing when they express strong opinions at work.

We still have a way to go until we break through the proverbial glass ceiling. There remains a gender wage gap where a recent study by Statistics Canada found that women between the ages of 25 to 54 earned on average $4.13 less per hour than men.

We celebrate girls and women.  We continue to raise awareness as there is still so much more to do.

A Tribute to the Women Who Helped Me Be Me

These amazing women have helped shape me into the person I am today, and I want them to know how essential and unique they are to me and thank them for the lessons they shared, their love, and their friendship. While I was writing this, I realized many women played an essential part in my life, and for that, I am grateful!

For all the inspirational women who have impacted my life and made a remarkable difference, thank you.  I dedicate this issue of The Cat’s Meow to YOU!