This text is part of the special section Philanthropy
For 148 years, the YWCA Montreal has fought against inequality, exclusion and violence against women, girls and people of gender diversity. The Foundation, which supports the organization, has thus launched Objective Zero, in the hope of reducing this violence to nothing.
Claire (not her real name) has found a new family at the Women’s Y. “It was really a very important team for me, which I cannot forget,” she confides. I could start the week sad, but on Friday I felt comforted. I said to myself, I’m not going to come back the way I left. With the organization on weekends, she finds a smile and hope through the team’s availability, attentiveness and expertise. As a starting point, to begin to find the balance.
Multifaceted, the Women’s Y of Montreal supports women in employability and entrepreneurship programs and offers safe accommodation and legal information sessions. “In domestic violence support groups, women share emotions, lived experiences, present or past,” explains Isabelle Gélinas, director of communications for the organization. They walk together, they support each other and it has happened that with the strength of the group, some find the courage to prepare for their departure and to leave their spouse. »
For its annual campaign, the Women’s Y Foundation worked with the advertising agency FCB Montreal. Unlike other campaigns, whose goal is always to aim for the highest amount possible, Objective Zero has this time been imagined. “It’s a way to attract attention and raise awareness of social problems, violence and inequalities that persist,” says Isabelle Gélinas. And to achieve zero violence, the Foundation asks to give… more than zero.
Prevent and raise awareness
Donations will help raise awareness, but they will be especially necessary to continue to meet the various needs of beneficiaries, since grants do not cover all costs. “We’re not going to hide it, like any community organization, the Women’s Y of Montreal faces funding challenges,” she adds. The multi-service nature and our 360 support approach ensure that there are “gaps” with little or no funding. »
The prevention of gender-based violence and cyberbullying among young people, in schools, is also part of the action of the Women’s Y. These programs on healthy and equal relationships, careers or consent are aimed at all young people. “A few years ago, we developed a virtual reality activity for CEGEPs, focusing on sexual consent,” she says. A traditional booth like “Let’s talk about sexual consent” wouldn’t have attracted a lot of male attendance, let’s face it! »
Modern and accessible, the initiative brought together as many young male as female participants and raised awareness about behavior and signs of non-consent. The project, which is currently no longer funded, could be revived thanks to this new donation campaign.
No to the status quo
If the advances are real in terms of laws, many prejudices, perceptions or habits have to be unraveled so that “de jure” equality becomes de facto equality, according to Isabelle Gélinas. “It is a bit as if all the great advances came to make invisible what remains to be done, she says. Women earn 11% less than men? We welcome the 89% and we forget the 11%… However, who would want a sandwich already started? Why should women accept it? We, what we want is to get to 0. “
She points out that physical, sexual, verbal and economic violence feeds on these inequalities, which persist in particular because of a false perception that equality has been achieved. “When the ‘other’ wants to be equal, it becomes threatening, it’s perceived as a loss of control, she continues. And violence arises to regain that control. Isabelle Gélinas recalls that violence is more flagrant among racialized women, black, aboriginal, elderly, disabled, heads of single-parent families, poor or even among people who identify with LGBTQ+ communities and gender diversity.
“We must build a society where the very conception of the role of women, people of gender diversity and men will be egalitarian,” she concludes. We cannot afford to stop. At the risk of taking ten steps back, as is the case in the United States, with restrictions on the right to abortion.
This content was produced by the Special Publications team of the Duty, relating to marketing. The drafting of Duty did not take part.