It wasn’t until I came to university that I realised how much I relied on the women in my life. I guess you could say I grew up surrounded by women. Like my grandma and my mother, I am fortunate enough to have two sisters and it seemed that everywhere I went I gravitated towards these strong, intelligent, empathetic women who cared for each other just as fiercely as they did their jobs, their children and others. It takes a village to raise a child and an often overlooked but extremely important part of that village are the wonderful ladies who educate us.
So, you can only imagine my awe when I came to Laurier and had these brilliant and passionate female professors. And it’s not that I was just taking courses that are known to pigeonhole women, Laurier’s female faculty shines bright in all disciplines including Film Studies, Business, and the sciences. In fact, in 2017 Laurier initiated a pay raise for their female staff to address the gender wage gap and hopefully move women into positions of leadership or status comparable with their male counterparts.
And it’s not that the male professors I’ve had have been disappointing, but I just find that my female profs go above and beyond. Studies have shown that more is expected and asked of women in the workplace, especially when it comes to teaching. And although it’s not fair, from my experience these women never drop the ball, they are always prepared, creative and ready to teach.
So, here’s to the female profs and educators who we lean on more than others, sometimes more than we should. Who after taking care of their own families come to work and take care of their academic families, consisting of students and peers. The profs that keep the door open long after office hours are over, answer our questions even when they’re listed in the syllabus and inspire us to use what we’ve learned and go searching for more. Truly, thank you.