Equality

"Well, it's official. The government of New Brunswick, in the form of 11 male politicians, have decided that the women of New Brunswick are not equal to the men. On Thursday December 22, 2005 the all male, law amendments committee, rejected a private members' bill that would require the private sector to pay the women of New Brunswick the same amount as the men. They recommend that the issue be reviewed in five years.

So 11 years into the 21st century the women of New Brunswick will still not be equal to the men. I cannot repeat that often enough. It makes me physically ill that a committee of men, representing the people of New Brunswick, of which at least half are women, can decide that that half of the population is worth less than the other half, solely because they come into this world with a vulva and vagina instead of a penis. If this same group of men where to decide that all people of black skin, or native ancestory or orientals or red heads where to be paid less, it would not be allowed. It would be seen as a human rights violation, but because it is only women, it is allowed.

I think it is time for the women of New Brunswick to go on strike. I mean a total and complete strike denying the men of this province any help, work, support and yes, even sex, until the government makes pay equity manditory for ALL.

Perhaps then the men who govern this province would realise that we women are equal to them and that we deserve to be treated as equals, not paid 79 cents to every dollar that men earn. We are not willing to wait the estimated 110 years that it will take to gain pay equity.

The women alive today deserve better and we expect and demand more for our daughters and our granddaughters. 110 years is equal to approximately 5 1/2 generations. Can you, the men of this society, wait this long to treat all people equally? What kind of nation are you governing, thatyou preach democracy and equality to others and yet do not practice it at home to people who are of your own blood? We have the right to equality," I whisper.

Are you listening?