Feminists for the right to the city
All Montréal women have a right to the city
The right to the city involves being able to live in, move around in, and use the resources of a city, but also to take part in debates and the decisions that involve the daily functioning, the construction, and the transformation of urban spaces. This ideal is rarely achieved because patriarchy, capitalism, ableism, racism, colonialism and heteronormativity are obstacles to feeling safe, going to and using places and services, finding reasonable housing, and being heard and participating in decision-making processes.
With less than a year to go before the elections, this is THE moment to reflect together on intersectional perspectives for the future of Montreal.
What kind of city do we want to live in?
The Table des groupes de femmes de Montréal attempt to respond to this question in the webinar series Feminists for the Right to the City. These virtual events introduce various intersectional feminist perspectives to explore the spaces that shape Tio’tià:ke/Montreal island. Together, we identify the issues that serve as obstacles to the right to the city and discover what actions we can take to make the city more inclusive.
Each webinar begins with a panel of representatives from women’s groups and mixed-gender organizations. They will brush a portrait of the issues that cause obstacles to accessing dedicated spaces for culture and recreation, local businesses and services, nature, work, public spaces, mobility-centred spaces, and places to live. They also present the projects, practices, or tools established by their organization, as well as ideas for actions to solve the lack of safety, representation, accessibility, and equality of access to these spaces.
How can we feel safer and use the principles of universal design to move freely and use parks, public squares, streets, public transit, and bike paths?
Webinar 5 on mobility and public spaces
The possibility to move freely is one of the prerequisites for taking advantage of all the opportunities of city life, allowing for access to employment, services, recreation, culture, and study. Mobility and the use of public spaces by women are restricted, however, by urban planning, fees, and by dynamics which reduce accessibility and lead to a feeling of insecurity. Throughout the past few years, public spaces have been reimagined through a narrow vision of security which includes, for instance, the removal of benches, the addition of music and security cameras, and the appearance of patrols whose job is to chase away people who “make others feel unsafe”, namely young people, racialized people and unhoused people. In this panel, we will discuss alternatives to these measures, which contribute to marginalization and exclusion.
The panel is comprised of different organizations that share their analysis and concrete actions to ensure that all women, especially those at the crossroads of oppression, can freely circulate and use parks, public squares, streets, public transportation and bicycle paths.
Panelists
- Selma Kouidri from the Institut National pour l'Équité, l'Égalité et l'Inclusion des personnes en situation de handicap (“Quebec Institute for Equity, Equality and Inclusion of Disabled People”)
- Lise Dugas et Mélusine Dumerchat from Centre d’éducation et d’action des femmes de Montréal (“Montreal Women’s Education and Action Centre”)
- Kathryn Travers from Concertation Montréal
Some links and references mentioned by the panelists and participants
- Selma Kouidri of the INEEI-PSH presentation
- Facebook page of the street harassment committee of the CEAF
- Research on street harassment of the CEAF
- Results of the MTElles project
- Mouvement pour un transport public abordable
- Collages féministes Montréal
- Reference on female toponymy
- Participatory budget of the City of Montreal
- Coalition for the Protection of Jarry Park
How can we envision the future of work from a feminist and intersectional perspective?
Webinar 4 on Montreal workplaces
Despite numerous laws, awareness campaigns and pilot projects, workplaces continue to play host to discrimination and harassment. These are dynamics which restrict access to employment and affect women’s working conditions, particularly for women who live at the intersection of multiple oppressions. The pandemic has also profoundly transformed the way we work and our working conditions; we see that its impacts on mental and physical health are far from equal. Essential service providers are under a great deal of pressure as well as daily exposure to health and safety risks. Due to the crisis, many employers made the move to remote working, with all of the challenges that entails. In sectors that were particularly affected by health measures, many people have lost their jobs and are having a hard time imagining the future.
The following panel introduce analyses and actions grounded in intersectional feminist perspectives to envision the future of work in the metropolis so that all women will have better working conditions.
Panelists
- Noemie André from the Groupe d'aide et d'information sur le harcèlement sexuel au travail de la province de Québec
- Ramatoulaye Diallo from the Conseil central du Montréal métropolitain CSN (the union’s Montreal executive)
- Katia Atif from Action travail des femmes
- Samira and Julie from Solidarity Across Borders
Some links and references mentioned by the panelists and participants
- Katia's presentation of data on the place of women in the City of Montreal's workforce
- Undocumented Migrant March from Montreal to Ottawa July 18-28 2021
- The F Institute's training sessions to sensitize the personnel of organizations to prejudices, racism, and privileges and thus promote access to services for immigrant women
- Guide and handbook for community organizations toward diverse, egalitarian and inclusive teams of immigrant and racialized TGFM women
- Roundtable on May 18th on the living conditions of precarious migrants and the defence of their rights
- Essentials before, during and after the pandemic campaign
- GAIHST trainings on sexual harassment
- Survey by the Collectif pour un Québec sans pauvreté to better identify the appropriate minimum wage
How can we fight climate change and protect our territories using an intersectional feminist perspective?
Webinar 3 on nature and environment
We are already experiencing the results of global warming, which, in the city, results in more and more frequent heat waves. These impacts are felt more strongly in areas where there are more people who are experiencing poverty, more racialized people, and more Indigenous people. To fight and adapt to climate change, it is necessary to protect the environment and promote natural spaces in the city. For instance, the creation of cooling islands, urban agriculture initiatives, reducing our dependence on cars, and reducing waste. It will be crucial to put social justice at the heart of actions and mobilisations to protect the environment and the fight against global warming.
The webinar will open with a panel that will introduce analyses and actions grounded in intersectional feminist perspectives on climate change, the ecological transition and territorial protection. The panel will be followed by a discussion workshop to identify the main obstacles, opportunities for demands and actions to be taken as feminists for a more inclusive city.
panelists
- Jennifer Beeman from Breast Cancer Action Quebec
- France Levert from Réseau des femmes en environnement
- Lourdenie Jean from L’environnement c'est intersectionnel
- Alix McMullin from BQAM-E
Some links and references mentioned by the panelists and participants
Facebook page of l’Environnement c’est intersectionnel
Training on gender aspects of climate change, sustainable development, environmental health
AQPERE 2021 Conference: A Healthy World! Issues for Environmental Education
Actions on environmental racism
An Act respecting the development of a national strategy to redress environmental racism
Disability-Inclusive Climate Action Research Program
Persons with disabilities in a just transition to a low-carbon economy
Learn more about environmental justice from a gender perspective
How can we develop lively neighbourhoods while considering accessibility and adaptations to the realities of everyone who lives there?
Webinar 2 on Local Businesses and Services
One of the advantages of living in a city is having access to nearby businesses and services, which allow residents to do most of their daily activities near their homes. This isn’t the reality for all city dwellers, however, because some areas lack these services (food deserts) and because the businesses and services are not accessible or are not adapted to the realities of all women in Montreal. Currently, there are even fewer available and accessible services because of the sanitary measures in place and because of the gentrification which is driving up rent costs across the city.
The webinar will open with a panel that feature women from Montreal who are involved in economic development and the vitality of commercial arteries, but also representatives from organizations who introduce women to services that are relevant to their needs. The panel will be followed by a discussion workshop to identify the main obstacles, opportunities for demands and actions to be taken as feminists for a more inclusive city.
Panelists
- Valérie Ayotte from the Centre communautaire LGBTQ+ de Montréal
- Gabriella Garbeau from the Racines bookstore
- Sarah Ford from the West Island Women’s Centre
- Tsahaï Papatakis from Food’elles
How can we make creative spaces and venues more representative, safer, and more accessible?
webinar 1 on culture and leisure
Montreal is known for its many festivals and for being a cultural hub, not only downtown at the “Quartier des Spectacles”, but also in many venues across the boroughs and cities that make up the metropolis. However, women, particularly those who live at the intersection of several oppressions, are underrepresented in cultural programming. Many women cannot take advantage of the city’s cultural offerings because of the lack of accessibility of venues and performances, because they don’t relate to the content, or because they don’t feel safe.
The webinar begins with a panel discussion that aims to explore initiatives developed to promote gender parity and cultural diversity in the world of arts and culture, but also ways to improve safety and accessibility. The panel will be followed by a discussion workshop to identify the main obstacles, opportunities for demands and actions to be taken as feminists for a more inclusive city.
panelists
- Anne-Julie Lalande from the Montreal Feminist Film Festival
- Pamela Binette from the Groupe de recherche et d'intervention psychosociale (GRIP)
- Naoual Laroussi from Girls Action Foundation
- My-Van Damn and Julia Piccolo from the Centrale Galerie Powerhouse
The Table des groupes de femmes de Montréal receives financial support from Femmes et Égalité des genres Canada to carry out the Women and the City project.
