Ancient Greek traditions had men gather at symposiums after meals. They would drink, dance, and chat about the universe's greatest questions. Some of the most interpreted works of philosophy and writing came out of Symposiums Plato’s Symposium recounts conversations around Eros –love and desire–that are still studied today. While the history of symposiums hold their importance in our culture, there was always something missing from the conversations: women.
From Tuesday March 2nd to Thursday March 4th, a local organization held their 11th annual Women to Women Symposium. Due to the safe nature of the event, the organization title is omitted. Women from around the world gathered in a safe virtual space to share experiences on women’s progress, power, and future. The women at Matcom were thrilled to be in attendance this year.
Every year, the Women to Women’s Symposium is held in person. This pandemic wasn’t going to stop these women from claiming their deserved space this year. Despite challenges presented by COVID-19, the conference was held online–setting the theme of perseverance for the rest of the event.
The first part introduced “The Progress of Women”, outlining key facts of women’s role in the workplace. Slowly, women are assuming roles typically held by men. While women are becoming more prevalent in workspaces, there are still many aspects within their roles to consider.
Yes, women are holding higher ranking jobs. But are they getting paid the same as men? Unfortunately, not always. The “glass ceiling” is becoming more visible, yet still is unattainable for many women in private companies. Indeed, there is progress in representation, but we will not stop striving for equity in the workplace.
Our favourite part of the conference was the second section: “The Power of Women”. It was refreshing, comforting, and empowering to see women feel safe enough to share their struggles in this space. Hearing these experiences combats the fragility shown in the workplace; a ‘resistance’ when challenging gender norms in the working world.
Through laughter and tears, we were made aware of the struggles women still face in the workplace. From doctors to TV personnel, all stories of hardship had a common denominator: they were invalidated by their gender identities.
“You're on the wrong floor”, a guest panelist was once told. She was one of the only women, preparing and excited for her first day in the industry. This is the reality that women are facing in the workplace. Our culture is ingrained with masculine and feminine jobs that breaking through the threshold of binary stereotypes feels like a far feat.
Every story ended with the theme of perseverance. Despite being shut down or feeling deflated, each woman did not give up. The patience, endurance, and willpower of these women is outstanding.
Other women shared their experiences dealing with the pandemic. Many had to make complete pivots with their businesses to stay afloat. It felt like only our lives were impacted by the pandemic: “All of my plans were turned upside down, nothing is going my way because of the pandemic”. By the second day, however, we understood that everyone is adapting to this new lifestyle and the pandemic threw curveballs at everyone. This dialogue served as a reminder that no one's lives are going as planned. Whether comforting or heartbreaking, it was important to hear the authentic stories of everyone’s struggle during these times.
One thing we will take into our personal and professional lives is we may be part of the oppressive system without even realizing it. The pressures felt at work are also felt at home. Having a balance at home can contribute to workplace equity. When roles at home are shared and appreciated by each partner, a similar gratitude can feed into workplace behaviours.
We are so inspired by the last group of panelists in the “Future of Women” section. Without putting too much pressure on the younger generation, we know their knowledge and strength brings us closer to an equitable workplace and world.
We are glad to be trusted with these stories, and that we could support the symposium as a safe space for women. Just as Socrates had an audience to recount his understanding of Eros, the Symposium provided the same space for women to discuss their own progress, future, and power.