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Why Women's History Month Matters

14 hours ago
5 min read

Author: Alexa Marchetti


In 1992, the Government of Canada designated October as Women's History Month. This month marks a time to celebrate the women and girls whose perseverance, leadership, and achievements have helped shape Canada and continue to drive change today. At the same time, Women's History Month highlights the persistent inequalities women face, including the gender wage gap, underrepresentation in leadership positions, and barriers to entering and advancing in the workforce (Government of Canada, 2026).


WIIS in Women's History Month


As part of WIIS, we seek to recognize Women's History Month as an important window to advance our mission of increasing women's leadership opportunities for women and gender equality in the international peace and security field (WIIS, 2023). By celebrating women's achievements and acknowledging the challenges that remain, we hope to inspire the next generation of women to pursue leadership roles and challenge existing barriers.


Important Figures


To begin, Women's History Month is a time to celebrate the achievements of women who have helped shape Canada into the country it is today. Below are three Canadian women who have left a lasting impact on the nation:


  • Viola Desmond: In 1946, Viola Desmond refused to move from the section reserved for white patrons at the Roseland Theatre in New Glasgow, Nova Scotia, choosing instead to remain on the main floor rather than move to the segregated balcony. She was forcibly removed, jailed overnight, and was convicted over a one-cent tax difference, all without legal representation. Although her appeal to the Supreme Court of Nova Scotia was unsuccessful, her case exposed racial discrimination within Canada's legal system and became an important symbol of the country's civil rights movement. In 2018, Desmond became the first Canadian woman to be featured alone on a regularly circulating Canadian banknote, the $10 bill (Kathrine, 2025).

  • Jennie Trout: Jennie Trout made history as the first woman licensed to practise medicine in Canada, helping pave the way for future generations of women in the medical field. In 1871, she, along with Emily Stowe, became among the first women admitted to the Toronto School of Medicine. However, after facing discrimination from both students and instructors, Trout transferred to the Woman’s Medical College of Pennsylvania, where she earned her medical degree in 1875. Upon her return to Canada, she became the first woman licensed to practice medicine in Canada. Later, she would also play an important role in establishing a medical school for women at Queen’s College in Kingston, Ontario (Katherine, 2025).

  • Emily Murphy: In 1916, Emily Murphy became the first woman magistrate in Canada and the British Empire. However, her appointment was challenged when a lawyer argued that her rulings were invalid because women were not legally considered “persons” under the British North America Act. In response, Murphy joined four other women’s rights activists, later known as the “Famous Five”, to challenge this interpretation. In 1929, their efforts led the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council to recognize women as “persons” eligible for appointment to the Senate. In recognition of this achievement, October 18 is now commemorated annually in Canada as Persons Day (Katherine, 2025).

 

Overall, these women’s strength, resilience, and leadership reflect the contributions of the many women who have advanced gender equality in Canada. Their achievements remind us of how far we have come and inspire us to continue working toward a more inclusive and equitable society.


“No region in the world has reached a 50-50 balance between men and women.” (World Inequality Report, 2026)


As previously mentioned, Women’s History Month marks a time to recognize the work that remains to be done. While in Canada, women make up 50.34% of Canada’s population, representation in leadership positions still has room to grow, with women occupying just under one-quarter (23.2%) of seats on boards of directors. (Government of Canada, 2026) Gender-based violence is also current in Canada, with 160 women and girls killed by violence in Canada in 2020. That's an average of one woman or girl killed every 2.3 days (Canadian Women’s Foundation, 2026).

These gender gaps are particularly pronounced in many lower-income countries, where barriers to education, political participation, and economic independence further limit women’s advancement in society. For example, in Afghanistan, the Taliban has banned girls from attending secondary school and women from pursuing university education. In Iran, women and girls have protested against compulsory hijab laws and the broader restrictions imposed by the Islamic Republic. In Chad, child marriage remains widespread, limiting girls’ access to education and contributing to high rates of adolescent childbearing (Lowery, 2023). 

Overall, these statistics and examples demonstrate that gender inequality remains a global challenge. By raising awareness of these issues, we hope to contribute to meaningful progress toward a more inclusive and equitable future.


Ways to get involved 


According to the Government of Canada Website, here are several ways in which you can get involved in Women’s History Month:


  • Share Women and Gender Equality Canada’s social media posts throughout October using the hashtag: #Women's History Month

  • Celebrate International Day of the Girl Child on October 11, a day dedicated to celebrating the voices and power of girls, championing their rights worldwide, and reflecting on the challenges they continue to face because of their gender

  • Celebrate Persons Day on October 18, and learn more about the history of the Persons Case in Canada, which paved the way for women's increased participation in public and political life.

  • Visit the Women of Impact in Canada gallery, which recognizes the contributions and achievements of exceptional women and girls who have made an impact in the economy, politics, the arts and sciences, and countless other fields

  • View Women in Canadian History: A Timeline to learn more about notable events in Canadian women’s history (Government of Canada, 2026)

You can also make a donation towards the Canadian Women’s Foundation, investing in gender quality, through this website: https://canadianwomen.org/out-of-violence/.


In conclusion, while Canada has made significant progress since the 1929 “Persons Case,” much work remains to achieve gender equality. In Canada, increasing women’s representation in leadership positions and addressing gender-based violence remain important priorities. From an international perspective, even greater efforts are needed, as women and girls around the world continue to face significant barriers to education, political participation, and equal opportunities. Be that as it may, the continued efforts and achievements of Canadians and women around the world offer hope for a more inclusive and equitable future in which women can fully participate in shaping their communities.


Work Cited


Canadian Women’s Foundation. (2026). Out of violence. Canadian Women’s Foundation. 

Government of Canada. (2026). Representation of women on boards of directors and in officer 

Government of Canada. (2026). Women's History Month. Government of Canada.

Katherine. (2025). True North: 15 Amazing Canadian Women. A mighty Girl. 

Lowery, Tessa. (2023). 13 Shocking Facts ABout Gender Equality. Global Citizens. 

WIIS. (2023). About Us. WIIS. 


World Inequality Report. (2026). Gender Equality. World Inequality Report.






 
 
 

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