Recently I have been bewildered by how tangible and real gender expectations are and what a significant role they play in deciding one’s future. I knew that in the past men and women had considerably different expectations to meet. Men were expected to be the provider of the family, whereas women stayed home to take care of children. Women had no choice; post-secondary education was never an option.
Since nowadays post-secondary education is accessible to both men and women, I believed that society had eliminated most gender expectations and stereotypes. However, after my female friends talked to me about their future plans, I realized that our society still has a long way to go before reaching this goal.
Like many other senior high school students, a huge event awaits me in the New Year: University applications are due in January. After talking to my friends about the programs they would like to go into, it is shocking to find out that some of them are not applying to the program they like because of gender expectations. One of them, for example, is considering computer science as a career option, but because she is a girl her parents think that society will not allow her to get very far with this degree. Another one of my friends would like to become a doctor, however, due to her gender she was advised to become a nurse instead since it is harder for women to get hired as doctors. According to ctvnews.ca, only 36 % of Canada’s doctors are female.
Knowing that so many girls – including my close friends – are affected by the expectations society has for them, I feel even more driven to be part of the WESucceed Beyond the Status Quo council. This council gives young women the opportunity to get involved and speak out against the hardships they face. Through focus groups, surveys and meetings with stakeholders, we are trying to implement sustainable methods of eliminating gender inequality, in hopes of alleviating the burdens girls face when choosing their careers. Young women should study a subject they are interested in without worrying about glass ceiling effects, gender expectations and lower chances of employment.
Together as a council we strive towards making employment rates for women and men equal. This would allow girls to choose their career paths according to their likings and skills, instead of limiting them to a few stereotypical female professions. As a council we strive towards making post-secondary education and careers an individual choice – a choice that is not influenced by societal gender expectations.
Lia Huo
WE $ucceed: Beyond the Status Quo 