Sandra Carnegie Douglas believes equality of the sexes is still a significant way away.

“Inequality, marginalization and oppression still reign,” said Douglas at the International Women’s Day rally on Saturday. As Executive Director of the National Action Committee on the Status of Women (NAC), Douglas said she still sees daily act of oppression directed not only at women but at the poor and people of colour, among others.

About 300 gathered at the Medical Science auditorium, where Douglas and others spoke to the crowd. They were joined by at least 1,000 others for a march through the streets of Toronto to Metro Hall.

Like many other speakers, Douglas spoke against the forces of globalization. “Today we see the hypocrisy of our governments as they systematically eliminate and change the laws, revoke our rights and create international governance that gives corporations unbridled power and economic control. This is a structural agenda which we must counter and resist.”

Salome Lukas spoke on behalf of Women Working with Immigrant Women, the group responsible for organizing this year’s IWD in Toronto. Lukas picked up on another theme present in many speeches—the aftermath of September 11.

“Last year…we witnessed the death of reason and humanity by the actions and policies of governments and corporations who used human rights and the war against terrorism as smokescreens to promote their globalization plans. As a result, the assaults against our civil rights, against immigrants and refugees, against women, workers, and against the poor, have intensified.”

Cherie McDonald, a pro-choice activist and long time member of OCAC (Ontario Coalition for Abortion Clinics), emphasized the contradictions inherent in the reactions to the terrorism of September 11. McDonald claimed that there have been “about 3000 incidents of terrorism against American citizens over the past decade. More than 2000 of those were perpetrated by pro-life and anti-abortion forces.”

On top of the empowering and inspiring speeches by activists at the IWD rally, musician Faith Nolan and political songwriting duo Sara Marlowe and Michelle Denis entertained the audience.

The rally brought together feminist resistance with other activists involved in the struggle for social justice. Harriet Whiteman, a student at York University, has been attending IWD since she was about ten years old. “[At IWD] we can look around and see people from all different backgrounds, people from every trade union out there…it has begun to more reflect some of the different aspects of the anti-globalization movement.”

U of T students on Feminism, 2002

Sarah Ware is one of two employees at the largely volunteer-run U of T women’s centre. Ware assured that “while there are always going to be folks who challenge our existence and our right to be here,” places like the women’s centre are still essential to current struggles. The women’s centre hosted a brunch open to all heading to the rally and march.

First year political science student Leah Girardo attended the brunch before experiencing her first IWD. She said her years at a Catholic high school in Toronto made her appreciate a “more progressive environment” at U of T. Girardo said she considered herself a feminist, although she added, “I don’t think you need to brand yourself.” A feminist, said Girardo, “is, in a way, anyone who does something positive for women in society…[you are a feminist] as long as you are promoting yourself as a strong woman.”

IWD, and the women’s movement as a whole, is striving to become more inclusive. In the past, the movement has faced criticism for catering only to white, middle-class women. Ware contends North American feminism has a “scarred history,” citing instances of racism and trans-phobia (fear of transsexual people). She doesn’t believe this is reason to discard the movement, especially as it begins to “work through these issues.”