Every month WEC recognizes a woman who has done something great, whether big or small, local or nationwide. You can email suggestions for the Woman of the Month by the 25th of every month to wec.yorku@gmail.com. The Woman of the Month can be from York, Canada, or across the world – it doesn’t matter. Please provide a short description of her accomplishments and any links to her work.

February 2015

Shonda Rhimes is an influential woman in television. As the creator of hit shows like Grey’s Anatomy and Scandal, she continues to be one of the game changers in television today. Her shows offer diverse and complex characters and story lines that contribute to the representation much needed on television. She has paved the way for all women writers to contribute their ideas and stories to media in a dynamic way.

January 2015

Soraya Tarzi, Queen of Afghanistan 1919-1929

In Afghanistan, the place of a “proper” first lady, and women in general, remains a fiercely debated topic. Queen Soraya, wife of King Amanullah Khan who ruled Afghanistan for some time in the 1920s, was often criticized for her modern ideas and European sensibilities.

Soraya is the only woman mentioned in the list of rulers of Afghanistan, demonstrating the huge influence and impact she had. She was also the Minister of Education and actively worked to educate and liberate the women of Afghanistan. For instance, she set up the first women’s hospital and girl’s school in Afghanistan. As minister of education, she also sent 18 young women to Turkey to seek higher education in 1928.

In one of her famous speeches she gave at the 7th anniversary of Afghanistan’s independence she said, “Independence belongs to all of us and that is why we celebrate it. Do you think, however, that our nation from the outset needs only men to serve it? Women should also take their part as women did in the early years of our nation and Islam. From their examples we must learn that we must all contribute toward the development of our nation and that this cannot be done without being equipped with knowledge. So we should all attempt to acquire as much knowledge as possible, in order that we may render our services to society in the manner of the women of early Islam.”

Soraya also received an honorary degree from Oxford University. King Amanullah wanted to bring about change to Afghanistan in the form of monogamy, education, employment and no purdah. But the reforms he introduced and the changes he desired were too much too soon, as many saw it as an assault on Afghanistan’s traditional ways, and soon they went into exile. Nonetheless, Soraya played a huge role in recognizing women’s autonomy in a time where women were not seen as much.

December 2014

As a young social worker in Mumbai, Lucy Kurien witnessed firsthand how many women and children fleeing domestic violence had nowhere to go. In 1991, Kurien became convinced that something had to be done to protect the women of India from domestic violence. Over the following years, she worked to found a shelter she named Maher or Mother’s House in Marathi. Since its opening in 1997, Maher has grown into a series of over 30 group homes for women and children throughout southern India which have helped thousands to escape abuse and poverty. Sister Lucy hopes to change the way both men and women think of domestic and sexual violence in her country and hopes to communicate a critical message to the women of India: “Any woman who has no home can walk into our house.”

October 2014

After 12 terms in office, Mississauga Mayor Hazel McCallion retried this week at the age of 93. During her 36-year term McCallion transformed Mississauga into one of Canada’s largest municipalities. McCallion encouraged international investment in the city allowing Mississauga to become home to dozens of Canadian head offices of large corporations. She also kept the city debt-free for 30 years and was the first mayor to submit the city’s budget to public participation. McCallion’s success has been attributed to her financial acumen and political pragmatism. McCallion has always stayed true to her no-nonsense style leadership. Her charisma and dedication has inspired women all across Canada to enter the field of politics.

September 2014

From a young age Emma Watson has been inspiring girls all around the world through her portrayal of Hermione Granger in the acclaimed Harry Potter Series. Hermione’s intelligence, confidence and strength are all words that one could use to describe Emma Watson in real life. After completing the Harry Potter series, Emma continued her successful acting career and completed a bachelor’s degree in English Literature at Brown University. Emma holds a strong value for education and even visited Bangladesh and Zambia to promote girl’s education. She continues her work in advancing women’s rights through her role as a UN Goodwill Ambassador. Emma’s first step in bringing change is her launch of the “HeForShe” campaign where she calls upon to men and boys to advocate for the ending of inequalities that women and girls face globally. Her powerful speech, where she defines what feminism means to her, and how the “us versus them” and “man-hating” stereotypes need to be ended, can be found here.

February 2014

In honour of Loretta Saunders. Loretta Saunders is an Inuk woman who was found murdered on Wednesday, February 26th in Salisbury, New Brunswick. Saunders was in the process of completing her thesis on missing and murdered Aboriginal women in Canada. Her murder is part of an unfortunate growing pattern of murdered Aboriginal women in the country, yet time and time again the federal government has failed to launch a national inquiry into this systemic issue. The issue is no mystery, it’s a fact: Aboriginal women aged 25 to 44 are five times more likely to suffer a violent death than other women in Canada. Years of stereotypes, neglect, racism, sexism, and segregation of Aboriginal peoples has left the issue at the top of no one’s list. The fight for justice continues. Her spirit is with us. #StolenSisters

For more information on the issue, click here. To view the Stolen Sisters documentary, click here.

November/December 2013

Rosie MacLennan. At the London 2012 Olympics games, Rosie earned Canada’s only gold medal. Rosie is a recent graduate of the University of Toronto with a bachelor’s degree in Physical Education and Health. She is currently pursuing a master’s degree in exercise science at the University of Toronto. At age 11, Rosie began competing internationally and was the Canadian National Women’s Champion in 2005, 2009 and 2011. At the 2007 World Championships in Quebec City, Rosie earned a spot for Canada at the Beijing Olympics alongside longtime friend, synchronized trampoline partner and fellow Olympian Karen Cockburn.  At the 2008 Beijing Olympics, Rosie qualified for the finals and finished in 7th place. Highlights of Rosie’s journey towards the London 2012 Games included winning a gold medal at the 2011 Pan American Games in Guadalajara, Mexico, a second place finish at the 2011 Trampoline World Championships in Birmingham and first place at the Olympic test event.

October 2013

Anuradha Koirala. She is a social activist and the founder and director of a shelter by the name of Maiti Nepal that rescues and assists victims of sex trafficking. In 2006 she was awarded with the Courage of Conscience Award from The Peace Abbey and in 2012 was named CNN Hero of the Year. She is an example of a great woman whose work greatly empowers others. Great job Anuradha!

September 2013

The dedication for this month goes to the women who are single mothers, or those girls/women who don’t have anyone to support them or struggle to live a normal life after some grave incidents. It goes to that nameless/faceless woman who does not give up no matter what. Who believes in her power and struggles to survive in this patriarchal society. It’s that single mother, that recovering addict, that brave woman who was assaulted, divorced or a victim of domestic violence; who never gave up no matter what. They are true inspirations.