U Financial Encourages Equality in the Workplace | 'We're With Her'

Although there have been some huge strides in the world since the 1950’s ‘The-little-wife-is-in-the-kitchen-and-waiting-on-her-husband’ way of thinking, there is still quite significant strides to go in terms of women’s rights. Especially in terms of the work force and career positions. On January 21^st, 2017, over five million women (and men!) worldwide, (one million of those in Washington, D.C.!) marched, spoke, and made their voices heard in the Women’s March and made history. Further to this, the organization plans to continue their awareness by taking ‘action’ every 10 days for 100 days.

 

In Edmonton, between 3500 to 4000 men, women, and children marched to the Legislature building to demonstrate their firm position that ‘women matter’. Female Politicians, Premier Rachel Notley and Calgary-Northwest MLA Sandra Jansen have been attacked and targeted on social media in the past and Albertans are fed up. Many men at the march in Edmonton claimed that they want equal opportunity for their wives and daughters and that the masochistic way of thinking brought to light during elections south of the border is archaic and outdated.

Speaking in terms of empowerment, here at U Financial, we can honestly speak for women when we say, ‘We are all about empowering women in the Workforce here. In fact, our CEO is female and a powerhouse! She treats everyone equally and encourages the staff to do the same. We feel that the equality among both genders in our environment is balanced. We also feel that women today in some competitive career environments do have the pressures of having to appear ‘tougher’ in terms of career equality. 

Recently we touched base with Natasha Dunbar, Founder of Morgan’s Mission in Fort. Saskatchewan, Alberta, and she gave us an interesting perspective in terms of how this kind of social ‘backslide’ is trickling down to the next generation. The Dunbar’s are a family whose daughter Morgan Dunbar died by suicide at the age of 13 to because of severe cyber-bullying among her peer group. The family insists that the pressures that are impressed on youth today is unrealistic in terms male/female equality and strides toward changing stigmas needs to happen and be congruent among both sexes.

Here is what she had to say:

“This morning my husband was a tad nervous about the class one driving (course) he was taking and feared getting the (female) instructor who didn’t help another co-worker of his. I told him there was the possibility he just didn’t approve of women being in his line of work and he agreed and hadn’t thought of that. I told him this happens in his trade (crane operator) and he agreed. The sad part is, I have also witnessed in his trade, women who take advantage of being female to get out of some work-related things. This makes it tough for those who fight for equality in the workforce. He has made it clear he treats women no different and is very clear to what will be expected if our daughter (Bailey) takes a career in the crane operator trade. My husband’s approach to women in an equal trade has been noticed even by a former NAIT instructor who has commented about my husband being an instructor because of his ability to treat everyone equal.

It bothers me when I see women posting how this made "us" look like fools or ‘it was stupid’. They are missing the big picture of what this whole march was about. I told my husband while watching and reading everything Saturday that its like we are starting to move backwards instead of continuing forward. I don’t think it (the march) has changed anything, just made it more forthcoming. Trump is now in a position of great power and influence which can make his choices dangerous. He has little regard for women and anyone who can watch with non-partisan eyes can see that. That can, and will be catastrophic to our youth! Young men will see this and think its okay (to behave this way) when its not acceptable in any way! Its basically saying that they should act on their urges and not practice self control!

We are back to fighting harder to be seen as a man's equal! It’s like we are moving backwards again. I like to think at least this time around, we have more men who have evolved and see us as equals so our fight wont be as hard this time. Last night, I sat for a long time just thinking about everything that happened in the last year in regards to women in politics, women in trades etc., and I slowly started to realize that the bigger picture is: we are so focused on proving things to ourselves and to others that we are forgetting to stand united. Saturday was a huge start in changing that but we must keep that motivation going and pass it down to all our youth. The more we stand together the stronger we are."

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