Canadian Cosmetic Cluster Team
Uniting Canadian Cosmetics and Bringing it to the World
 Dedicating this post to all the amazing women in the world. March 8th rolls around every year and we all get an annual reminder that women exist, but because—shockingly—women’s rights are relevant every day. And yet, somehow, we still need to explain this. First things first: March 8th isn’t just about “celebrating women.” It’s not about flowers, pink cupcakes, or some pseudo-Valentine’s Day where we throw chocolates at women and call it empowerment. It’s about women’s rights—the rights that, believe it or not, are still an issue across the world. The struggles that women are faced with a real and not just in male-dominated professions. Let’s get one thing straight: women’s rights aren’t just about encouraging more women to become scientists, engineers, or CEOs (though if that’s their dream, fantastic!). The real issue? Choice. Women should have the right to do whatever they want—whether that’s running a Fortune 500 company, opening an Etsy shop, or staying home to raise a family. The key is equal support for all choices. There are times that it seems that choices for women are made for them by media, politicians and society in general. Women have the right to choose and have those choices respected. You know what else women need - support! And let’s be real—support is lacking in every direction. Did you know that women are still primarily responsible for childcare, which—shocker—affects their pay, career growth, and retirement savings? In many countries around the world, women perform 50% more housework than men, leading to significant resentment and stress. This imbalance is particularly pronounced in heterosexual couples with children, where men do one-third less housework and about half the childcare compared to women. Women also have nearly two fewer hours per week for themselves. Factors contributing to this include persistent gender norms and the structure of labor markets and care systems, which often assume that women are more suited to domestic tasks. [1] And let’s not forget that women’s rights also include the right not to have kids. So, whether a woman wants to be a mom, an astronaut, or a professional napper, the point is she should have the right to choose—and be supported in that choice. Women aren’t just raising kids. They’re also caring for aging parents, supporting partners, running businesses, and occasionally remembering to eat. In many cases, they’re doing all of this simultaneously. This imbalance is particularly pronounced in heterosexual couples with children, where men do one-third less housework and about half the childcare compared to women. Women also have nearly two fewer hours per week for themselves. [2] Let us not ignore that a lot of women stay in bad marriages simply because they can’t afford to leave. Legal fees? Expensive. Rent? Expensive. Starting over? Terrifying. This is why financial literacy for women is critical—because financial independence means having real choices. The more education women (people in general) receive the better their quality of life. Regardless of what their life goals are. Newsflash: Feminism isn’t about forcing women into STEM careers like it’s a recruitment drive. If a woman wants to be a scientist, amazing. If she wants to be a kindergarten teacher, also amazing. The goal isn’t to “win against men.” It’s about making sure women get equal respect, pay, and support—regardless of the career path they choose. If women had a dollar for every time they doubted themselves despite being overqualified, they’d probably be paid equally to men by now. Imposter syndrome is a huge issue, and it’s one of the reasons women hesitate to negotiate salaries, apply for promotions, or take up space where they belong.  Let’s talk about money. Women still raise significantly less venture capital than men. In 2021, female entrepreneurs in Europe received only 1% of venture capital financing. As a comparison, female entrepreneurs in the United States received 2% of total venture capital funds in 2021, the smallest share since 2016. [3] Women often struggle to speak up about how much money their ventures need. They downplay their achievements and settle on less capital. This is no way to grow future economies. Another hardship in employment is attention in terms of attracting the wrong kind. Women, especially in male-dominated fields, continue to face significant challenges related to workplace harassment. In Australia's construction industry, 88% of women have encountered microaggressions at work, often from supervisors or managers [4]. Similarly, a recent report highlighted a rise in sexual assault, rape, and bullying at Rio Tinto over the last two years, despite efforts to improve workplace culture [5]. Mentorship plays a crucial role in supporting women navigating these challenging environments. Research indicates that mentoring provides significant benefits, including improved job performance, career satisfaction, and reduced burnout[6]. Moreover, mentorship programs can empower women, increase their confidence, and prepare them for leadership roles, thereby fostering a more inclusive and supportive workplace culture. Finally let's take a look at women health. Somehow, women’s health research still seems to be more focused on making our skin glow than solving actual medical issues. Women’s hormonal and reproductive health is underfunded and understudied, and yet, throw “anti-aging” into a study, and suddenly the money appears. We need actual research—not just another face cream with “science-backed” hydration. For example, let’s talk about red light therapy. Amazing for skin, yes, but also has huge potential for reproductive health. [7] Yet, guess what? No one’s talking about it. So, What’s the Takeaway? Women’s rights aren’t about being celebrated. They’re about being respected. And no, women still don’t get paid equally, especially in entrepreneurship. They still raise less money and still struggle for basic support after getting hired. Getting the job is just step one—what happens after that is what really matters. Women aren’t just climbing the metaphorical mountain—we’re expected to summit it while carrying a toddler, caring for aging parents, dealing with sexism, fighting imposter syndrome, and somehow still looking effortless. So, let’s stop treating March 8th like a day to throw women a cookie. Women’s rights are a year-round issue. And they’re not about flowers and chocolates—they’re about equal pay, real choices, financial freedom, and basic respect. Now that’s the real message. Resources
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