The Feminist Shift asks local Federal Candidates to weigh in on gender-based issues
You may have heard or read about an initiative happening throughout Waterloo Region that is elevating issues affecting women and gender diverse people. The Feminist Shift is a coalition lead by the YW Kitchener-Waterloo and YWCA Cambridge and funded through a Status of Women Capacity Building Grant. The Grant will allow The Feminist Shift to increase our community’s understanding of gender-based issues and build policy and preventative solutions to address those issues over the next four years.
The Feminist Shift official website launch took place during the Federal Election and the timing couldn’t have been better. The first advocacy piece on thefeminineshift.ca website is an all-candidates survey focusing on gender-based issues in Waterloo Region. Survey questions touched on topics including affordable housing, sexual violence, Femicide, Islamophobia, health and reproductive rights and specific policy focus. I am sure the questions challenged all candidates who participated to think about issues like the aforementioned that are often not reflected in policy making.
The survey, presented to all federal election candidates throughout Waterloo Region was a collaboration among YW Kitchener-Waterloo, YWCA Cambridge, Coalition of Muslim Women, Sexual Assault Support Centre of Waterloo Region (SASCWR), SHORE Centre ( Sexual Health, Options, Resources, Education) , Women’s Crisis Services of Waterloo Region and ACCKWA (Aids Committee of Cambridge, Kitchener, Waterloo & Area).
There are so many organizations doing the work of supporting survivors of gender-based violence, and providing services to women and gender-diverse folks who still face systemic barriers in our community. But what we need is to come together, share resources, and become one, collective voice seeking to shift the dominant narratives which enable gender-based violence to continue.”
In addition to the candidates’ survey, the Feminist Shift is also increasing capacity through public education, organizing, position papers, and digital advocacy.
Find out more at www.thefeministshift.ca
