Zealously kicking-off the first afternoon of the Forum, women from around the globe
gathered to discuss their role in the social economy, as well as to answer one particular question:
how can we use the social economy as a tool to ensure women’s economic independence?
Answers flowed from the mouths of women from Asia, Africa, Europe, and North and South
America, each of whom had tangible experiences to share.
As a sign of solidarity, and as a way to create visibility for women at the Forum, purple
scarves were handed out to participants. The scarves were meant to convey a message: women
are here, and are at the heart of the social economy.
The afternoon consisted of group discussions, of presentation of projects by and for
women around the world, as well as a panel of women who are bringing the social economy to
whole new levels in their communities. The warmth and support could be felt with each
applause, which resonated after every commentator.
The fact that equality between men and women in the economy needs to be achieved was
a given among those present, though methods for achieving this varied. Most Canadians (and
women in general) also agreed on the fact that more needs to be done by governments to ensure
the inclusion of the social economy in its policies, paired with the full participation of women
and a deeper recognition of their work.
The hot-topic of the afternoon seemed to be government subsidies: can we be
autonomous from them, or should governments be responsible for allocating them to the people?
As one Bangladeshi woman so eloquently put it *“We shouldn’t be talking about subsidies for
women in the social economy, but rather of women getting their share. Women are subsidizing
the economy of the world”*. A reoccurring comment from women from the South rose the fact
that in most of their countries, to subsidize or not was not even a question they had the luxury of
asking- most governments do not even recognize their existence.
A Cameroonian woman
affirmed that *“nous, on a seulement la force de nos bras (we have but the strength of our own
arms)”*, a comment endorsed by the roaring applause of the other women from the South in the
room.
Divisions between productive/reproductive work were problematized by many who came
to the mic, as strategies for public policies which would recognize the value in the reproductive
sphere were proposed.
Whether everything was agreed upon or not, one thing was clear: women everywhere are
working collectively to assert their place in their respective economies. The individuality of
capitalism is not working, and the need to work together is more evident than ever. Women are
refusing to be ignored, both by governments, as well as by men who have taken leadership in the
alternative economies. By the strength and solidarity displayed by the women in attendance,
there is no doubt that an overhaul is on its way, and that the work will not stop until changes are
made.
