On Wednesday, March 7, Medstead Central School lent its facilities to host the International Women鈥檚 Day event. The facilities were arranged by Chris Weber, and the program itself was organized by Marcella Pederson.
The program was sponsored by the National Farmers Union, Region 6, where Pederson is the Woman鈥檚 Advisory Chair. Pederson applied for a grant through the Status of Women鈥檚 Office. Marcella noted that the central theme of the event was to be Press for Progress with weight on gender parity; though, because the event was being sponsored by the NFU, she wanted the event to focus on environmental, indigenous and youth issues.
Speakers included Lori Nicotine who discussed her work with the Unity Flag and how she uses that to spread positive change in spite of life鈥檚 many challenges. Judy Ternier spoke to health issues as a result of food products. Due to a conflict of scheduling, Christine Freethy, one of the arranged speakers was unable to attend. As a result, Marcella Pederson spoke to issues of GMO crops and the importance of cognizance of what we consume.
Rachelle Ternier spoke on taking over her father鈥檚 seed business and that, growing up, she would see him cleaning the seeds and the woman of the house running everything else. Now, she is tasked with both roles and notes that situations such as this are a good example of the unique challenges women face.
The international scope of women鈥檚 issues is being acknowledged, though much of the focus, even in positive events continues to be very negatively directed. The act of a woman taking over the role of a man, not forging a new one and the resiliency brought to advocate unity as a result of hardship, are both examples of the ways women have been disenfranchised.
While a healthy understanding of gender parity is important, it runs the risk of losing focus of all the positive strides women have made, even just in Medstead. In a community of this size, women contribute massively.
To name a few notable locals, Medstead鈥檚 Village Administrator, Colleen Kitching, local tavern operator April Fudge, Librarian Chandra Pederson, and the countless women who raise their children, keep their houses and gardens and home businesses. Many local jobs are done by women. The local store, the village鈥檚 water system and maintenence, local childcare and a plethora of volunteer work are all done by women.
Events such as Women鈥檚 Day can highlight the road yet to be travelled but must also lend focus to the achievements made. When gender equality is achieved, that deserves recognition.
Some attendees, however, did not agree entirely with the message. Men and women work together to make Medstead functional and whole. The regard is not for gender, but what each person contributes. The mayor, Abe Schmirler volunteers countless hours to the village鈥檚 upkeep. Both genders work in a variety of roles out of town to sustain households. Our previous first responder was female. Our principal and vice-principal of the school are male. The elected council is male. The butcher is female.
Gender parity and pressing for progress is about equality and success. When this is achieved and a village is functional, with a good quality of life, gender regardless, progress has been achieved. The need to 鈥減ress鈥� is not measured by milestones achieved but rather barriers to them. Medstead has well showed the lack of barrier to a non-traditional gender based life and continues to show its focus thereto with events such as this past endeavour
