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mcgilldaily.com
The McGill Daily is located on unceded Kanien’kehá:ka territory coordinating editor Emma Bainbridge managing editor India Mosca
news editor Sena Ho
commentary + compendium! editor Vacant
culture editor Eliana Freelund
features editor Elaine Yang
science + technology editor Andrei Li sports editor Vacant
video editor Magdalena Rebisz visuals editors Vacant
copy editor Vacant
design + production editor Vacant
social media editor Vacant
radio editor Evelyn Logan cover design Lucy Tymezuk Margaux Thomas contributors
Emma Bainbridge, Philippine D’Halleine, Jessica Hunter, Sena Ho, India Mosca
Witnessing the Effects of the CAQ’s Tuition Hikes
It has nearly been one year since the Coalition Avenir Quebec (CAQ) announced their plan to increase tuition fees for out-of-province and international students. The Legault government has since continued to roll out discriminatory and xenophobic policies in the name of “protecting” the French language. On April 29, just one day before the end of McGill’s winter 2024 semester, Quebec French Language Minister Jean-François Roberge announced that the government plans to spend $603 million on French language initiatives over the next five years. Roberge insisted that “we are no longer defending the French language [...] “We’re going on the offensive.”
This announcement marked a pronounced shift in the CAQ’s approach. As we start the new school year with a fresh pair of eyes, we are able to see the results of the CAQ’s prejudicial policies clearer than ever before.
Concordia president Graham Carr recently made headlines after revealing, in an interview with The Canadian Press, that registration for the Fall 2024 semester had dropped by roughly 40 per cent. This figure accounts for a 28 and 11 per cent decrease in out-of-province student and international student enrollment, respectively. These numbers are shocking yet fully reflective of the CAQ’s exclusionary policies.
The proposed tuition hikes and French-language proficiency tests have driven away a large portion of potential non-Quebecois students.
The damage done to Quebec’s two largest English-speaking universities is staggering. The drop in registration this fall semester has caused Concordia to lose around $15 million, on top of their already steep $30.9 million deficit. While McGill has not yet publicized how the tuition hikes have concretely affected the university, President Saini previously warned that these policies would result in serious financial consequences. As a result, McGill implemented a hiring freeze last year, amidst warnings that up to 700 jobs could be cut.
student demographics is the sharp decrease in international students. In his interview with CBC, Lebel-Grenier revealed that there are approximately 40 per cent fewer international students who applied to Bishop’s for this fall semester. He attributed this sharp drop to the numerous provincial, as well as federal, policies that have targeted international students over the past year. Incoming international students now have to pay more than double the amount in minimum tuition fees that has existed for twenty years. If you want to study in Canada as an international student in 2024, you now have to prove to the federal government that you have the funds to pay a whopping $20,000 in tuition fees. Additionally, the federal government has reduced the number of international study permits approved by 35 per cent in comparison to 2023. While this move was supposedly targeting “bad actors” taking advantage of vulnerable international students, organizations such as the Migrant Workers Alliance believe that this will punish international students for the government’s failures. What message does this send about the kind of students Quebec wants at their universities? Academic spaces exist to cultivate and develop different forms of knowledge; yet, the CAQ seems to want to limit these spaces to either Quebec students or wealthy, international, French-speaking students from Europe. These policies will likely only exacerbate the existing class divisions in Canadian academia, and contribute to rising xenophobia in Quebec and Canada as a whole. International students are often the target of harmful stereotypes and made into scapegoats for politicians looking to distract their constituents from their government’s shortcomings. We must challenge these narratives wherever they appear, and identify the true culprits driving this inequality.
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The ripple effect of the proposed tuition hikes has also extended to institutions not directly implicated in the original announcement. Bishop’s University, unlike McGill and Concordia, was granted an exemption from the tuition hikes. Nonetheless, the university has also seen an unprecedented drop in enrollment for the fall semester. Bishop’s incoming student body has 10 per cent fewer out-of-province students, despite the fact that their tuition rates have remained relatively unchanged. The principal and vice-chancellor of Bishop’s University, Sébastien Lebel-Grenier, recently told CBC: “It seems fairly obvious that the announcements by the Quebec government have created a lot of uncertainty and fear in our students. It’s had a chilling effect.”
Perhaps the most troubling change to Bishop’s
Post-secondary education should be accessible to all, and not limited by financial or geographical circumstances. It’s clear that the CAQ’s policies, which intend to limit university education in the province to students of certain classes and backgrounds, are deterring many potential students from seeing a future for themselves here. Cultural and linguistic diversity is a strength, and Quebec’s English-language universities are surely going to suffer from this loss.
Last year, many students at McGill and Concordia mobilized against the tuition hikes, calling out the discriminatory nature of these policies. Contribute to future mobilization against the CAQ’s discriminatory policies and call out xenophobic narratives that blame migrants, including international students, for our governments’ failures. Support organizations such as the Migrant Workers Alliance, the Migrant Rights Network, and Solidarity Across Borders that advocate for migrant worker and student rights.
Students Walk Out to Protest McGill’s Financial Ties to Israel
Protesters demand McGill divest from funding the genocide of Palestinians
Sena Ho News Editor
On August 30, students walked out of classes to protest McGill’s continued complicity in the genocide of Palestinians, and demand the university’s divestment from tied to the Israeli government.
Students gathered before the James Administration Building at 1 p.m., participating in chants and listening to speeches from walkout organizers. They addressed the university administration’s refusal to accede with student requests calling for an end to all remaining financial connections with institutions that back Israel.
“We will not stop until we get justice for the people of Palestine,” an SPHR organizer announced to the crowd, as students chanted back to administration.
In addition to Solidarity for Palestinain Human Rights (SPHR) McGill, five total student contingents from
“We will not stop until we get justice for the people of Palestine”
- SPHR McGill Organizer
across Montreal congregated at different parts of the McGill campus that day: SPHR Concordia, Law Students 4 Palestine, World Islamic and Middle East Studies Students’ Association (WIMESSA), Independent Jewish Voices at McGill, and Cegep4Palestine. Flyers for the walkout were handed out on campus in the days leading up to the protest.
On the morning of August 30, student protesters entered classrooms near the walkout meeting spot, informing students of their goals. Sophie* recounted her experience of the classroom interruption: “I felt the spokesperson delivered their message very clearly and effectively. They related the Palestine conflict to issues pertaining to the school, such as using the money they are currently investing to pay the TAs. That resonated with me.”
After thirty minutes, the group proceeded to the MacDonald Engineering Building, filing onto the second floor. They focused on the Faculty of Engineering’s complicity in the killing of Palestinians, citing their funding for weapons manufacturers such as Lockheed Martin and Bell Flight, both of which sponsor the department’s computational fluid dynamics laboratory. Protesters then exited to the steps of the MacDonald Engineering Building entrance. Walkout organizers brought professors
from the McGill Institute of Islamic Studies, who recited poems and expressed their solidarity with the movement. The protest concluded at the Lower Field, which had been closed off to students following the dismantlement of the Palestine Solidarity Encampment on July 10. After removing the warning tape, protest organizers stood before students to describe the fate of the encampment and McGill’s use of the private security firm, SIRCO, to remove the tents and the residing protesters.
At the Lower Field, protesters began to pick up and toss the sod McGill had planted to recondition the field after the encampment’s removal. Speakers announced their intention to take back the campus, urging students to bring this message into their faculties and classes. Security guards, who had kept in close proximity to the protesters throughout the walkout, then started to close in on the Lower Field. The walkout concluded at approximately 3:00 p.m, and McGill restored the field to its original condition shortly after. McGill’s Campus and Public Safety released an announcement discussing the events that unfolded during the walkout, noting that the “protest and associated activities did not cross the bounds of law or policy until” the protesters’ disruption of classes while in the MacDonald Engineering Building, and the removal of
grass on the Lower Field. These actions, McGill claims, violated the university’s policies: they further stated that they would investigate participants and subject them to disciplinary action. They reiterated that protests are a legitimate part of campus life, when peaceful, but admitted to adding extra security measures on campus that day to monitor the walkout.
Additionally, the university called the events on the Lower Field acts of vandalism, stating “Vandalism is not a legitimate exercise of one’s freedom of expression. McGill condemns such acts unequivocally.”
With regards to McGill’s first claim about class disruptions, Sophie says she “felt [the protesters] went about speaking to the class in a respectful way, and by no means disrupting.” She believes the student protesters’ statements did not pose a violation to university principles.
Amy*, a McGill student who attended the walkout, commented on the importance of staying resilient and bringing support for the cause.
“We are showing McGill that the movement for Palestinian liberation is here to stay, as long as out tuition is being used to fund a genocide being conducted by an illegal occupation,” they said.
On the dismantlement of the encampment, Amy remarked that the administration “has shown that they will stop at nothing to repress the voices of its students.”
Despite being disappointed in the way administration has dealt with protesters’ demands, they remained hopeful on the growing pro-Palestine community on-campus.
McGill student activists have consistently been at the forefront for social change, with their success in pressuring the university to divest from South African apartheid as a critical example. Even though McGill avoids productive negotiation and leaves the question of reaching an agreement open ended, protesters have no intention of straying away from their goals.
“There has definitely been anger at the atrocities taking place and the administration’s dismissive response so far, but there is also a sense of love between the community and a deep respect for the Palestinians who have been experiencing the genocide,” Amy said.
*All names are changed to preserve anonymity.
Sena Ho | News Editor
McGill Commits to “Exploring” Divestment from Weapons Manufacturers Amid
Pressure to Divest from Israeli Apartheid
Student organizers are skeptical that this process will lead to real change
Emma Bainbridge Coordinating Editor
Across the world, the question of divestment has come to the forefront of university politics.
From April to July, the student encampment in solidarity with Palestine occupied McGill’s lower field, demanding the university to withdraw its investments from companies complicit in Israel’s genocide of Palestinians. While President Deep Saini refused to divest from any company for socalled “geopolitical reasons,” he announced on June 18 that the university would be “exploring divestment from weapons manufacturers” irrespective of the location where the company operates. McGill’s defines weapons manufacturers as “companies that derive a dominant portion of their direct revenues from the production of military weapons.”
The commitment to exploring divestment from weapons companies comes as part of an offer that Saini claims to have made to representatives of the encampment.
“This decision was taken as a result of discussions with (members of the encampment and) the broader McGill community who have asked us to move forward with this commitment that reflects our values and reinforces inclusion, stability and cohesion within our campus,” McGill’s Media Relations Office (MRO) told the Daily in an email.
The MRO added that “The McGill community can be expected to be consulted on this issue in the fall.” In December, McGill’s Committee on Sustainability and Social Responsibility (CSSR) will compile a report exploring “the question of divestment” and present
it to the Board of Governors. In addition to examining divestment, Saini pledged to fund two scholars “directly affected by the ongoing crisis in the Middle East,” and disclose McGill’s investments under $500,000, which were not previously disclosed.
Representatives of the encampment were not satisfied with this offer. In a statement by Solidarity for Palestinian Human Rights (SPHR) and Independent Jewish Voices (IJV) McGill and Concordia, the organizations declared that this offer “falls short of the student body’s clear demand for material change.” They believe that by delegating this responsibility to a committee, the administration is trying to use bureaucracy to delay taking action in the hope that students will forget. They also called out the hypocrisy of McGill’s promise to fund scholars at risk while the university continues to invest in companies supplying the weapons being used in Israel’s genocide.
Furthermore, these representatives allege that McGill did not approach their negotiations in good faith. They claim that the McGill administration did not show up to scheduled meetings, and messaged individual students as an attempt to seemingly isolate the representatives. McGill, on the other hand, stated that they have “made substantial offers on many occasions, yet encampment representatives have declared their demands non-negotiable.” When the Daily requested the administration’s internal correspondences regarding the negotiations process, the documents were withheld to “protect professional secrecy.”
Emily, a founding member of
“This decision was taken as a result of discussions with (members of the encampment and) the broader McGill community who have asked us to move forward with this commitment that reflects our values and reinforces inclusion, stability and cohesion within our campus,”
- McGill Media Relations Office
Investments in Top Weapons Manufacturers
Students for Peace and Disarmament (SPD) who was heavily involved in campaigns for divestment from weapons manufacturers and fossil fuels, echoed SPHR and IJV’s doubts.
Emily is “pessimistic that McGill’s exploration of divestment from weapons manufacturers will lead to any meaningful change without students making it happen themselves.”
Investment in weapons manufacturers has long been a concern of McGill students, according to Emily. During the Vietnam War, students protested McGill’s involvement in weapon manufacturing, making it the only Canadian university on the CIA watchlist. In 1988, McGill imposed regulations on military-funded research, however these were repealed in 2009. In recent years, SSMU has passed both the Policy on Harmful Military Technology and the Divest for Human Rights Policy as a result of student advocacy, affirming their commitment to advocating for both divestment from weapons manufacturers and Israeli apartheid.
“Divestment from the military industrial complex cannot be separated from divestment in other instances, including in Palestine [and] other areas McGill is complicit in,” said Emily.
In November, the Daily reported that McGill invested at least $7 million in the top 100 armsproducing companies of 2022 (according to the Stockholm
Emma Bainbridge | Coordinating Editor
“Without pressure from a united McGill community, McGill’s “explorations” will get swept under the rug.”
- Emily, former organizer with SPD
International Peace Research Institute), most of which have ties to the Israeli military. As all investment amounts are now disclosed, the Daily found that investments in those same companies now exceed $10 million as of June 30 ($10,612,400), increasing by 29 per cent from June 2023 ($8,212,896.63).
Through Access to Information requests, the Daily has been able to track the exact amount invested in these arms-producing companies since June 2023, as shown in the graph. Investments in some companies, such as Moog, Thales, Dassault, and Airbus, have decreased since June 2023. However, investments in companies
with clear ties to the Israeli Defence Force, such as BAE Systems and Textron, have increased by over 100 per cent.
The CSSR advises McGill’s Board of Governors on matters of social responsibility relating to their investments. They are responsible for assessing whether a legal entity causes “social injury,” which they define as activities that “violate or frustrate the enforcement of rules of domestic or international law intended to protect individuals against deprivation of health, safety, or basic freedoms, or to protect the natural environment.” However, the CSSR’s definition emphasizes that “a legal person shall not be deemed to cause “social injury” simply because it does business with other legal persons which are themselves engaged in socially injurious activities.” This definition could therefore exclude many institutions, such as banks with investments in weapons manufacturing, that students are calling on the university to divest from in addition to weapons manufacturers.
From their experience as a student organizer, Emily emphasized the importance for McGill students and community members calling for divestment from weapons manufacturers to continue to make their voices heard to the administration.
“Without pressure from a united McGill community, McGill’s “explorations” will get swept under the rug,” they warned.
“I’m Stepping Into My Why”
Content creator and disability advocate Taylor Lindsay-Noel finds meaning and community through TikTok
Jessica Hunter Features Contributor
Contrary to what some might believe, TikTok is about more than viral dance videos. The video-centric social media platform empowers individuals to create and share a wide array of content, from memes to updates on world events. Many people have harnessed TikTok’s potential as a stage for advocacy and activism, as creators are able to draw attention to pressing social issues locally and globally.
One community that is reclaiming time and asserting their voice on this app is the disabled community. This large, diverse group has leveraged TikTok to spread accessibility awareness and challenge ableism. Each creator brings a unique perspective to this discourse. Take, for instance, Tyler Lima-Roope (@Tylerlimaroope), whose witty, tongue-in-cheek videos humorously recount personal experiences of ableism, or thoroughly analyze whether characters on Scooby-Doo or the Office would be “ableist or ally.” For others like Imani Barbarin (@
After Taylor’s review went up, showcasing the restaurant’s poor accessibility standards and noting their hypocrisy in declaring the establishment “wheelchair accessible,” viewer support came pouring in. The Shameful Tiki Room is now no longer listed as wheelchair accessible.
crutchesandspice), TikTok is a platform for delivering incisive societal critiques on the intersecting issues of disability, race, class, and more.
Another notable advocate is Taylor Lindsay-Noel (@ accessbytay), a 31-year-old woman living in Toronto. A former competitive gymnast, Taylor experienced a spinal cord injury during sport at age 14 which left her paralyzed from the chest down. Post-high school, she pursued studies in Radio and Television Arts at Toronto Metropolitan University, and eventually established the podcast Tea Time with Tay. This podcast explored a variety of topics with special guest athletes, actresses, advocates, and more. Today, Taylor is the busy owner and CEO of a luxury tea brand and cafe, Cup of Té, a motivational public speaker, and a content creator and advocate on social media. Viewers of Taylor’s content are drawn in by her candid and joyful approach to life and advocacy.
As a student studying inclusion, I was eager to speak to Taylor to hear her thoughts on TikTok as a space for disability advocacy and community building. I reached out to her to inquire as to whether she would be open to speaking on the subject and she was kind enough to agree to a meeting via Zoom. In that call, which took place in November, we discussed TikTok, accessibility, advocacy, and more.
To begin our conversation, I asked Taylor about what had inspired her to start creating content on TikTok. Her response harkened back to the COVID-19 lockdowns when she and her friends would daydream of going back out into the city to visit their favourite local haunt. “We kept talking about this one place we would always go to. We went there every single time we met up. And the question of ‘why are we always going to the same place?’ was asked…” she explained. “And the answer was that we knew it was accessible and that we knew it would be easy for me. We started talking about how that shouldn’t be the case. There should be way more options.”
This realization sparked a conversation about the lack of reliable information on accessible alternatives, leading to a crucial turning point for Taylor. It was in this vacuum that Taylor’s
restaurant accessibility reviews were born. As she put it, the aim of her early videos was to “start documenting our experiences –the good and the bad – so that people can have a visual idea of how inaccessible places have a real-life effect on people with disabilities or accessibility needs.” For her reviews, Taylor and company travelled to local restaurants to review the food, drinks, ambience, and most importantly, the accessibility of the venue. Her commentary would hone in on details like automatic doors and the layout of washroom spaces – important
Joanna Ondrusek-Roy | Visuals Contributor
features to consider for those with extended mobility needs.
In one of her most widely viewed restaurant review videos, Taylor visits the Shameful Tiki Room in downtown Toronto and soon discovers that she had been misled by the accessibility information provided by the restaurant on the web and by phone. While the establishment claimed to be wheelchair accessible via Yelp and confirmed this to Taylor over the phone, her visit revealed the opposite to be true. The venue did not have an automatic door, and there was virtually no room
between tables to maneuver her wheelchair. She also discovered that there was a step leading to the washroom area and that there were no wheelchairaccessible stalls. After Taylor’s review went up, showcasing the restaurant’s poor accessibility standards and noting their hypocrisy in declaring the establishment “wheelchair accessible,” viewer support came pouring in. The Shameful Tiki Room is now no longer listed as wheelchair accessible. Reflecting on her restaurant reviews, Taylor told me she had originally imagined that
features
these videos would only be of interest to other members of her local disabled community. However, she soon discovered that there were many types of people watching her videos for information on accessibility.
Parents with strollers, elderly folk, and caretakers were also benefiting from her insights. Moreover, she was surprised and amused to discover that her viewers were also interested in watching her videos as food blogs. This struck her as ironic because “I’m not much of a foodie… I was always a chickenfingers-and-fries girl. So my friends and I find it so funny that people say now that I’m the restaurant girl.”
Given the support she had received from her broad audience base, Taylor felt motivated to continue to grow and evolve her content. In principle, she aims to “change the narrative about what a disabled person’s dayto-day looks like.” In reviewing comments left on her videos, Taylor has had the chance to see the impact that her mission has had on others. For instance, she shared “I talked about a fork that I use, and I see “Oh my god, I’ve been looking for something like this for my grandpa. Thank you so much for this resource.” So, knowing that people can look to me as a resource… I love that. That’s really cool.” Being able to help others on their personal journeys with accessibility has brought her a sense of meaning and fulfillment.
On her mission to show what an accessible life can look like, Taylor welcomes viewers into both her personal and professional worlds. In her series, Day in the Life of a Paralyzed CEO, Taylor shares her entrepreneurial endeavours. In one such video, Taylor takes viewers through her day from her morning routine where she is assisted by nurses, to a brief stop at a studio where she is filming a special project, to finally ending her workday at her own café to meet with her team of staff. In a different video series, Dating Disabled, Taylor speaks to deconstruct myths surrounding disability, dating, and sex by drawing on her own experiences.
“I think there’s just a lot of misconceptions when it comes to people with disabilities and
“I’ve always
their dating life, and I just want to change that perception. I’m just like everybody else with the same wants and needs, [and] a lot of the same capabilities,” she said, expanding on why this project in particular was so important to her. In these videos, Taylor often adopts a fun, gossiping tone to answer viewer questions on more intimate topics. She shared that she is comfortable and enjoys having these conversations on camera.
However, in as much as Taylor seeks to dispel misconceptions of what it is like to live with a disability, she emphasized that her experiences should not be generalized to all disabled people.
“I don’t want people to think that what I do, or my experiences, or my outgoingness, are exactly the norm. So, I don’t want people to expect that from everyone. But more so leave my page with a broader perspective of what is capable for somebody like [me],” she said.
In considering the sheer magnitude and variety of projects Taylor has on the go, it’s no surprise that she feels overwhelmed at times. She had not anticipated that her TikTok page would grow to such an extent that she now works with professional management to run campaigns and offer consulting on accessibility. This overwhelming success has led Taylor to reconsider her future goals.
“It’s made me reexamine where I want to go, what my goals are for the future as an entrepreneur, and if it’s time for me to pivot and just focus on social [media] and just be an advocate. So, I’ve had a lot of self-development and reflection over the last year and a half,” she explained.
As she looks forward and imagines a future more dedicated to her social media platform and advocacy, Taylor considers a range of projects and possibilities. She would like to take her accessible restaurant reviews international, and in doing so simultaneously tackle the notoriously inaccessible travel industry. For Taylor, her advocacy goals take on the utmost importance. Even as she considered the possibility of someday having a family, she mentioned that she looks forward to tying it into her advocacy work, as “it would be a really powerful
been looking for the why after
my accident. Like,
why did this happen to me? And I feel like I’m stepping into my why. I was put in this position so I can have a platform in order to make changes for the communities I represent.
– Taylor Lindsay-Noel
thing to talk about parenthood as a disabled mom.”
As Taylor looks forward, she is propelled by the desire to make her province, the country, and the world “a more accessible and understanding place.” She identifies TikTok’s role in providing her with a platform to foster advocacy, challenge societal norms, and transform our world. On TikTok, she has carved out a space to share crucial accessibility information with the public, engage in candid discussions around disability, and expand and evolve her various businesses.
“I
don’t want people to think that what I do, or my experiences, or my outgoingness, are exactly the norm. So, I don’t want people to expect that from everyone. But more so leave my page with a broader perspective of what is capable for somebody like [me].”
–
Taylor Lindsay-Noel
“I’ve always been looking for the why after my accident. Like, why did this happen to me? And I feel like I’m stepping into my why. I was put in this position so I can have a platform in order to make changes for the communities I represent. I feel lucky to do that and a lot of that is because of TikTok,” she explained.
In navigating the digital landscape with authenticity and purpose, Taylor continues to derive joy and meaning from her work as she leads the way to a more accessible and inclusive future.
AGA &
Call for Candidates
All members of the Daily Publications Society (DPS), publisher of The McGill Daily and Le Délit, are cordially invited to its Annual General Assembly:
Wednesday, October 2nd @ 6:00 pm
McGill University Centre, 3480 Rue McTavish, Room 107
The general assembly will elect the DPS Board of Directors for the 2024-2025 year.
DPS Directors meet at least once a month to discuss the management of both Le Délit and The McGill Daily and get to vote on important decisions related to the DPS’s activities.
The annual financial statements and the report of the public accountant are available at the office of the DPS and any member may, on request, obtain a copy free of charge.
Questions?
Send email to: chair@dailypublications.org
As her platform grows, Taylor remains committed to using her voice to advance positive change for the disabled community in Toronto and beyond. 7
Lake Books at: 450 242-2242
Why Are There Fewer Women in Liberal Professions?
A look into gendered socialization
Philippine d’Halleine Commentary Contributor
Gender disparities in the workplace have persisted across all countries, and throughout all of human existence. Though we have seen a gradual increase in the presence of women in the labour market (e.g. in service professions, over the last 20 years, there are still fewer women working than men. This gender disparity is particularly clear in the most highly qualified socio-professional category, such as executives and other intellectual professions (i.e. manager, CEO, etc.). A majority of the female workers in this category are involved in socalled “feminine” jobs – jobs which are related to social work and which generally require little or no formal education, therefore receiving less recognition. According to data from the International Labour Organization, femaledominated professions are closely related to care careers. This includes professions such as nursing, social work, or education. These professions generally involve care, accompaniment and a close relationship with people.
According to data from the Labour Force Survey by the Quebec Statistical Institute, there was a 10 per cent increase in 2020 in the employment rate of women aged 15 and over, compared to the early 2000s. However, this improvement falls short when we turn our attention to the wage gap between men and women.
Corporate professions are
True gender equality in the workplace will require more than just policy changes
the most affected by this gap. In 2016, a male director of an administrative or financial department in Quebec could earn an average of $15,000 more than a woman working the same job. On average, female lawyers earn about $24,000 less than their male counterparts in 2024.
A former jurist from Montreal, who wished to remain anonymous, told the Daily that, following her first maternity leave, she suffered a considerable drop in her salary which exacerbated the pre-existing differences in treatment between herself and her male colleagues. “Following my second pregnancy, I decided not to return to maternity leave out of fear of reliving the downgrading I suffered a few years earlier,” she added.
Even though this specific instance occurred years ago, her case sheds light on the systematic difference between the treatment of men and women in the workplace. The Canadian government guarantees a minimum of 15 weeks of maternity leave, compared to the mere 5 weeks they ensure for paternity leave. This environment does not encourage predominantly male employers to recommend that their employees take leave and removes them from having to look after the child during this time. The father’s lack of bonding with the child during this period further reinforces the mother’s role as the primary caregiver.
Laws on parity have been introduced in some countries, aiming to reduce inequalities in the representation of women at work. For example, the introduction of quotas in the workplace, aimed at the professional integration of a certain number of women per company, with the aim of establishing natural gender equality. This begs the question: despite the new quotas rules that have been put in place, why is there still so much disparity in the workplace?
Gendered socialization offers some insight
Socialization is the process by which children integrate the elements that surround them, be those beliefs, values or rules of conduct. When these influences vary between boys and girls, it is considered gendering since
the norms which one is taught change the way they perceive their place in our society according to their gender. This socialization happens everywhere, family, school, and public spaces influence the development and the confidence of the kid more significantly than we think.
From a very young age, girls tend to be taught ‘delicate’ behaviour, to listen to others and not impose themselves too much, and to present a “passive” demeanour. Boys, on the contrary, have “active” influences from a very young age down to beign encouraged
to dress up as superheroes.
A boy’s violent behavior is normalized under the pretext of gender, whereas a girl’s would qualify them as a “deviant” or as someone who would need potential psychological help.
Ron DeSantis’s presidential campaign posted on X that Kamala Harris “shouldn’t be President” because she doesn’t have biological children: “becoming a step-parent to older teenagers doesn’t count.”
Yet five former U.S. presidents never had children, and their ability to function as leaders was never questioned. This is only one of many disparities
encountered by women who wish to emancipate themselves from the traditional patriarchal model in which they were educated. The difficulty is that, even once a diploma is obtained and a job is acquired, it is more difficult for a woman to keep it because of the lack of equal responsibility in parenting. The mental load that a woman endures is normalized, since institutions have standardized the notion that it is her “job” to take care of her home, her children and even to organize and memorize her partner’s schedule. This invisible, unpaid labour in a woman’s
Philippine d’Halleine | Commentary Contributor
From a very young age, girls tend to be taught ‘delicate’ behavior, to listen to others and not impose themselves too much, and to present a more “passive” demeanour.
day is more stressful, tiring and demanding than just a 35 hour week since they effectively have a second full-time job at home. Throughout their education, girls are often more successful academically than boys. Moreover, it is observed that during higher education women are more present than men.
For example, 59 per cent of the McGill student body are women compared to 39 per cent being men. However, in the working world, women are less represented in high positions and receieve lower salaries than men. The most
evident explanation would be that men feel more empowered to reach high positions and to ask for raises, while women feel less capable of doing so (and often suffer imposter syndrome if they do) because they have internalized that they have to accept their positions and not try to exceed them.
Socialization results in women being less qualified than men in part because they don’t dare to try, believing that they don’t have the necessary abilities.
As mentioned before, Western countries have introduced quotas to involve women in the
professional world or higher education, but although the idea is beneficial for inclusion, some debates are being had regarding their ability to be truly effective in terms of achieving results. For many women, this is just a first step to further change and, in turn, true equality. “Perhaps [quotas] could be helpful for some to receive a job, however I do not necessarily agree with it and would not want it. I would much rather appreciate being hired based on my qualifications and skills, rather than my gender,” said Emma Shaw, an engineering student from Concordia, to the Daily
In spite of these issues, Quebec maintains a much more progressive mentality than other parts of the world. Arnaud Dupond, a French father who came to live in Montreal 10 years ago for work and to raise his family, recognizes that he is “still surprised to see other fathers picking up their children from school [...] I feel that
Canada and Quebec particularly are very advanced in terms of gender equality especially when I look back to France.”
“Canada is so much more developed than the United States – it started from a really religious state to a liberal state with a great openness to the labor market,” the Montreal jurist also noted, pointing out that even though it was not easy to make a place for themselves in a “man’s” profession, women jurists have succeeded in reaching very important positions.
While progress has been made in increasing female representation in liberal and educated professions over the past two decades, significant gender inequalities persist in many sectors, particularly in higher-paying and leadership roles. These disparities are deeply rooted in gendered socialization patterns that shape the confidence, ambition, and opportunities available to men and women from a young age. Despite
the introduction of parity laws and quota systems aimed at improving representation, these measures alone are insufficient to address underlying issues. True gender equality in the workplace will require more than just policy changes: it would take a fundamental shift in societal norms and the way we raise and educate children. Until these changes are implemented, women will continue to face barriers that prevent them from fully realizing their potential in the professional world. While Canada is relatively advanced in its educational and professional systems and while equality is nearer to being achieved, there is still work to be done to bring true equity into our places of work and learning.
*All names have been changed to preserve anonymity.
“I would much rather appreciate being hired based on my qualifications and skills, rather than my gender”
- Emma Shaw, Concordia engineering student
Marina Djurdjevic | Visuals Contributor
Snapshot of September Events
India Mosca Managing Editor
With lingering summer weather, lively parks, festivals, and the gradual arrival of fall’s nostalgic and cozy atmosphere, September is one of the best months to be in Montreal.
We took the liberty of assembling a little list of events on and off campus to keep you busy this month!
On Campus
Biggest Poster Sale in the SSMU building
Do the walls of your new place feel bare? The poster sale will be held from September 9 until September 13, on 3480 McTavish Street (University Centre) in room 301. Come and take a look, you might find the perfect poster to make your room look cozier than ever!
Activities Night
Every semester SSMU organizes Activities nights to introduce all of the clubs on campus! It is going to happen in the Field House on September 11 and 12. Come and check out the Daily’s stand and the many more clubs on campus!!
Midnight Kitchen is back!!
Every Thursday (and sometimes Wednesday), enjoy a free meal in the SSMU Ballroom (third floor).The meals are prepared by volunteers and are vegan and nut free! Each meal includes a main course, a side and a dessert. Don’t forget to bring
your tupperware!
If you are interested in helping out, you can check out the volunteer page on their website midnightkitchen. org/volunteer. Orientation is set to be on September 17 and 18.
23rd Annual Pow Wow
Indigenous Awareness Week is happening on campus from the 16 to October 2. There will be an array of cultural events and panels showcasing indigenous artists, scholars and community members.
The Pow wow will be held at the Tomlinson Fieldhouse on the 20.
This year’s agenda includes Inuit Throat singing, Hodenosaunee Social Dancing and Intertribals.
OffCampus
Artists and Immigrations
Artists and Immigrations is an exhibition by Colombian-born photographer Adriana Garcia-Cruz. Her photographs depict various immigrant artists who, on arriving in Canada, are forced to start from scratch back home, in some cases leaving behind a prolific career. It’s situated in Ottawa Park, and the entrance is free! It is open until April 2025.
Portraits and Fashion
For those who are fond of photography and fashion, head to the McCord Museum this week after classes.The exhibition highlights the creativity of 17 photographers from Quebec or from immigrant backgrounds. Renowned photographers such as Max Abadian, William Arcand, and Norman Jean Roy are featured. In addition to captivating fashion photography, the exhibition presents a remarkable collection of iconic portraits featuring notable figures like Céline Dion, U2, Nelson Mandela, and Adele.
The permanent exhibit of the museum, Indigenous Voices of Today: Knowledge, Trauma and Resilience, seeks to narrate and trace history
in a critical and inclusive way, while amplifying the voices of Indigenous and marginalized communities.
Piknic Electronik is still here!
This is not the usual summer picnic you would have in mind! Come and grove on Jean Drapeau Island until October 6! Every year Piknic offers a great new way to start the school year and have fun on the weekends while discovering a new part of Montreal! Dance parties under the sun at Parc Jean-Drapeau have been a local tradition since 2003, and today’s 2024 lineup announcement from Piknic Électronik is giving us all a Sunday ritual to look forward to. Offpicnic, usually held on Fridays and Saturdays, is also expected to be amazing! The upcoming weeks will feature artists such as BICEP(20), Ellxandra (20)or even BLOND:ISH(15).Be sure to check out more of the line up!
Montreal International Black Film Festival
From September 20 to the 29 the 20th edition of the Montreal International Black Film Festival will be held! The Montreal International
and thought-provoking work. MIBFF also supports emerging talent through awards, workshops, and networking events, and strives to increase diversity in the Canadian film industry. The MIBFF boasts being the largest festival in Canada dedicated entirely to films on the realities of Black people from the four corners of the globe.
Grand Prix Cycliste de Montréal
Since 2010 this has become an unmissable event for the city and bike lovers of Montreal! Come and watch the racers climb the merciless Mount Royal circuit, with its 17 steep ascents.
Festival Defund La Police
The annual Defund La Police Festival will take place this year on September 22 in Angrignon Park. The free festival celebrates the work of community organizers and offers opportunities to learn about alternatives to the criminal justice system. Free meals and snacks courtesy of Midnight Kitchen will be served!
There are a multitude of other events going around the city! There are flyers on every corner inviting
Black Film Festival (MIBFF) has the goal of showcasing stunning and innovative Black cinema from all over the world. In addition, it aims to spark discussions on important cultural, social, and economic issues. The festival provides a platform for independent films that may not typically reach mainstream audiences, offering groundbreaking
you to garage sales and temporary street exhibits or even just small bands’ concerts. Duluth and MontRoyal are still pedestrian streets and offer different cultural and musical events that definitely deserve to be checked out.
Overall, September is meant for enjoying Montreal outside while we still can!
Hyeyoon Cho | Visuals Contributor
Hyeyoon Cho | Visuals Contributor
Jason Zhou | Visuals Contributor
DRINKS HOROSCOPES
Aries (Mar 21Apr 19)
remember, the only time that egg whites are supposed to taste even remotely sour is if there’s pisco involved.
Taurus (Apr 20May 20)
you might want to pace yourself, or you won’t be having the last word after all.
Gemini (May 21Jun 20)
ah, manhattan...where every driver has the rye of way.
Cancer (Jun 21Jul 22)
easy, peasy, lemon... sidecar?
Leo (Jul 23Aug 22)
if possible, ask for your next rusty nail to be taken directly from the nearest piece of vintage upholstery.
Libra (Sept 23Oct 22)
take your old fashioned with a twist – of orange peel, of course, because it really doesn’t get much better than this.
Capricorn (Dec 22Jan 19)
how much would it take tequila mockingbird?
Scorpio (Oct 23Nov 21)
gin martini, hold the gin please.
Virgo (Aug 23Sept 22)
greater than the sum of its parts is the simple negroni... in all senses but the volumetric, that is.
Sagittarius (Nov 22Dec 21)
you don’t have to be prosecco to enjoy an aperol spritz – quite the opposite, in fact.
Aquarius (Jan 20Feb 18)
vengeance is sweet, but they say a good daiquiri is sweeter.
Pisces (Feb 19Mar 20)
beware the ides of march... and ditch the vodkaclamato combo. seriously, what kind of a garnish is celery anyway?
