November is Women Abuse Awareness Month. A month dedicated to awareness of Violence against Women and recognition of the fundamental right of every woman to live in safety in both her home and community. Often, this month focuses on intimate partner abuse. However, Nellie’s understands that violence against women also takes place at a systemic level. It is crucial to recognize the complex connection between the systems and violence in order to advocate for women rights and advocate for social change. Racism, classism, homophobia, transphobia, sexism, ableism and other forms of oppression that are perpetuated in systems are all instances of violence against women. Violence may be noticeable and evident, or it could be hidden and subtle, however, it is always destructive.

Existing institutions and systems perpetuate and strongly contribute to creating a prejudicial and unequal environment and to the oppression of all women. In our Women Experiencing Abuse and Violence Support Group, we address the different forms of violence in systems that exist. The Child Welfare System, the Federal Justice System, the Immigration System and Ontario Works and Ontario Disability Support Program, only to name a few, all reinforce violence against women.

– Women in the group discuss unequal treatment from police based on race and class. Racialized women are over-represented in the Federal and Provincial correctional facilities of the country, due to systemic discrimination based on racial and cultural prejudices.

– Women discuss their experiences of silencing and “lack of voice” in the Child Welfare System; including, the violent apprehension of children based on racial and cultural prejudices.

– Women discuss experiencing discrimination due to their social classification in society and are being oppressed because of the stigma attached to their social status.

– Women discuss the restrictive requirement for ODSP (Ontario Disability Support Program) and the impacts of living in poverty, including inadequate rates of social assistance.

– According to the Canadian Women’s Foundation’s, “The Facts About Women and Poverty,” Women belonging to specific groups are more at risk of experiencing poverty and homelessness. These include:

– 36% of aboriginal women
– 35% of visible minority women
– 26% of women with disabilities
– 21% of single parent mothers
– 14% of single senior women

Nellie’s is hosting a Women Abuse Awareness Month event that will be held at the Community Outreach Office on the evening of Thursday November 28^th, 2013. The women participating in the programs will be in charge of leading the event, and will also be creating and organizing the activities they want to be a part of.  This is an opportunities to outline the strengths of women and raise awareness on women abuse and systemic forms of violence against women.