The Ontario Federation of Labour (OFL) is calling out the toxic treatment of women and gender-diverse leaders. We’re done watching women and gender-diverse leaders get torn down for doing what leaders do, speaking truth and fighting for justice.
Every time women and gender-diverse people rise, the system tries to shove them back down. The more visible they are, the more powerful they become, the more vicious the attacks. That’s not an accident. That’s patriarchy protecting itself. A system built to keep power in the hands of a few and silence anyone who challenges it.
Women and gender-diverse leaders are harassed, threatened, undermined and smeared. They’re called names for being bold. They’re punished for being strong. They’re blamed for problems they didn’t create and denied credit for victories they earned. And if they’re Indigenous, Black, racialized, disabled, or 2SLGBTQIA+, the hate multiplies. This is what systemic oppression looks like.
Women make up more than half the population but where are they in boardrooms, legislatures, and leadership? Missing! Why? Because the system was built to keep them out. When women aren’t at the table, policies serve the powerful, not the people. When women and gender-diverse people lead, they fight for fair wages, child care, reproductive rights, and justice for all. That’s why the system fights so hard to silence them.
Misogyny has no place in our movement, our politics, our workplaces, our communities or our homes. We will not let the patriarchy dictate who gets to lead. We will not let media scare the next generation into silence.
The OFL is calling on unions, allies, and the public to fight back. Support women and gender-diverse leaders. Don’t underestimate us. We know who we are. The fight runs in our veins. Challenge sexist narratives. Demand accountability from media and institutions that attack women and gender-diverse people for doing their jobs.
Through our Women Power Work campaign, we celebrate 50 years of women powering the labour movement. Leading resilience, resistance, and progress. Women and gender-diverse people have always been the backbone of social and economic justice. Now it’s time to tear down the barriers that keep them out of leadership. Show solidarity with women by ordering your 2026 pins, posters, and shirts today!
This is a fight for equity, dignity, and democracy. When women rise, we all rise. Let’s make sure they rise without fear.
Cope 343
