Interview for International Women's day
by Cheimaa Zouggar
This piece was submitted to the Citizen Journal project of the Peter-McGill Community Council. Please note that the opinions expressed in these articles do not necessarily reflect those of our organization. This project aims to create space for the voices of residents, students and friends of the neighbourhood through articles, photos, videos, and podcasts in any language. Are you interested in contributing? Contact us at benevolat@petermcgill.org!
On March 8th, we celebrate International Women’s Day. Throughout the 20th century, women gathered in protests to demand the right to vote, fair pay, better working conditions and more. These events have been beneficial, as today in North America, women enjoy many of the rights that were once demanded. In the context of this big day, we interviewed Sabine Philippidès, a family field worker for Peter-McGill community council and mother of 2 kids, on the multiple realities that women, especially mothers, face in our neighborhood.
C.Z. – Can you talk a bit about the career of a family field worker ?
S.P. – As the title says, I work with families who live in the Peter-McGill neighborhood. This role allows me to meet the neighborhood families and get to know them and learn about their needs. This allows me to act as a referral for households to connect them with organizations or individuals who can address their needs. I also provide support to immigrant families who, in some cases, may be experiencing language barriers in learning French or English.
C.Z. – Could you talk to me about the context of women and mothers that you frequently work with ?
S.P. – In Peter-McGill, many women have young children. We often meet mothers on maternity leave or mothers who are thinking about returning to the workforce. They often need support and tools to reintegrate to the job market in a new country or to reorient their career. It is true that what I see most today are women who are mainly taking care of their children at home. However, the pandemic has had a positive impact on a lot of mothers, as they have had the opportunity to take french classes online. Learning French can help them overcome some of the barriers they face and encourage them to get out of the house more.
C.Z. – What are some of the realities women are facing in Peter-McGill ?
S.P. – Many immigrant women remain rooted in their culture and traditions. Meaning it is the mother who carries the child, gives birth to it and mostly takes care of the child after. The father is still to provide for the material needs of the family. In this situation, the woman puts her activities on hold in order to care for the child. I’ve observed a slight change however, as some fathers take the time to pick up their child from daycare and organize activities with the child.
C.Z. – Do women have their place in the neighborhood or do they tend to be isolated ? (e.a. at neighborhood events)
S.P. – Our neighborhood events are always inclusive and open to all. There are no barriers for women and mothers who want to attend activities. However, language issues can prevent some immigrant women from participating in some of the activities because they only have a basic level of French. As a result, they may feel less comfortable attending certain events. However, there is a remarkable amount of mutual support between the mothers who are fluent in French and those who are less fluent, they serve as translators to further include women who are more isolated by the language barriers.
C.Z. – In your own opinion, would you say a man can be feminist ?
S.P. – A man and/or a father can support his wife and his children so that they do not experience gender and sex discriminations in their daily lives. He can also share in the daily life of his wife to help her with tasks. In this sense, I believe a man can be feminist, yes.
C.Z. – Which tips would you give to women who are fighting against social inequalities and oppression that they can live daily ?
S.P. – I advise all women to :
- Reach out to services available to them when needed and to make contact with as many persons as possible in their neighborhood
- Participate in neighborhood activities and to not stay at home everyday
- Participate in the organization of activities, perhaps by volunteering.
- Take your place in your neighborhood and in the society
C.Z. – In your opinion, could a world without gender exist ? ( To see people as humans without labeling such as men and women).
S.P. – I don’t think we are there yet, because we all still tend to do actions that keep certain gender clichés alive, for example, associating the color pink for girls and blue with boys. We have to make collective efforts to diminish these “clichés” or stop them.
C.Z.– What resources are offered especially for women in this neighborhood ?
S.P. -Family resources are mostly attended by women. Here are a few resources for women:
- YWCA or Y des femmes – 1355 Boulevard René-Lévesque O, Montréal, QC H3G 1T3- https://www.ydesfemmesmtl.org/en/
- The Native Women’s shelter of Montreal -4000 Rue Sainte-Catherine O, Westmount, QC H3Z 1P1-http://www.nwsm.info/
- Women Aware- Ligne d’écoute: 1 800 489 1110 ou 514 489 1110 – https://www.womenaware.ca/
- Chez Doris- 1430 Rue Chomedey, Montréal, QC H3H 2A7 – https://www.chezdoris.org/
- Afghan Women’s Shelter- 1857 Boulevard de Maisonneuve O, Montréal, QC H3H 1J9 – https://www.awcm.ca/
For students, I encourage you to reach out to student organizations from your school.
If you want more information, please e-mail Alice Boisvert at aboisvert@cjemontreal.org . She will refer you to what you need.
International Women’s Rights day reminds us of the positive changes brought by women who fought strongly for rights and to end gender inequality. During this interview, Sabine shared her knowledge of the multiple realities women and mothers are facing in Peter-McGill neighborhood. Her tips can be applied by anyone who is interested.