The concept of power has continuously shredded the fabric of society; whether it be the oppression of one race over another, or the subordination of women relative to men, power struggles still persist. The desire for superiority has assaulted our societal structure, diminishing any hope for emancipation from its grasp. This is the exact state of women in this power struggle, often assaulted and the victims of violence. The foundation of gender-based violence is rooted in this hunger for dominance, a hunger for power that pervades and subjugates women along its path.
Over the years, especially in Canada, more people are starting to believe that the gender gap has closed and that in our progressive society, women are offered the same opportunities and the same treatment as men. This is false. The systemic inequalities persist. The subtlety of this issue is astonishing - perhaps society is just so numb to this issue that they don’t pay any attention to it - perhaps they believe it is a problem of the past. This is not the case.
Gender-based violence disproportionately affects women and girls and this should not be happening. According to the Government of Canada women are at a 20% increased risk of violent victimization compared to their male counterparts. Why do people believe gender inequality is history when women are consistently victimized? The fact of the matter is that something needs to be done and something needs to be done now. This is not a conservative issue that is going to fade away as our population ages. For example, of all the sexual assault incidents that occur in Canada, 47% of these are committed against women aged 15-24. Younger women and girls are the targets of such violence, yet not enough action is being taken.
PLAN’s goal is to combat the pervasive inequalities that render girls hegemonized at the hands of society directly. Their main focus is to advocate against gender-based violence through “encouraging boys and girls and women and men to enjoy power with each other, rather than power over each other”. It is possible to have two groups coincide with equality, rather than spite. PLAN strives to achieve this through establishing safe spaces that foster conversations of sensitive topics such as self-esteem, sexuality and relationships, while also tackling the prevalent gender norms and stereotypes that further inequalities in our society.
The question now becomes "what can you do to prevent the inequalities and the violence that stems from it?" The first step is awareness. Whether it is physical violence, sexual violence, economic violence or emotional/psychological violence, it is essential to recognize when someone is being treated unjustly (female or not). Educating yourself to ensure you can discern these signs is essential. Further, if you know anyone who is experiencing such issues, create an environment of safety and help them. In a society where people are constantly trying to step on each other to get above and achieve superiority, we need to ensure we are there for one another. The problem of gender-based violence is not going to solve itself, and as young adults committed to the issue of helping solve the inequalities, Champions of Change is dedicated to ensuring we can do everything possible to help prevent and reduce systemic inequalities towards girls that results in violence.
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Written by:
Rakhbeer Boparai