I was discouraged to see that your journalist went to a women’s event and focused on men. Seriously?
I’m talking about the WOW (Women of Oliver for Women) Trade Show in the Oliver Community Centre on March 11. The focus was, and should be, women in Oliver for women.
Instead, the women were barely mentioned. There was only one picture of a female vendor in the article. Additionally, there were two photos on a guy and his birdhouses.
This is very insulting to women everywhere and especially to the women of Oliver. Honestly, I’m disgusted by the lack of focus on the women of Oliver who keep trying to push women’s businesses and issues to the front.
And then with shameful, blatant misogyny, your male journalist basically ignored women and focused on a guy.
What do the women of Oliver have to do to get a little recognition and support in this town? Do we need to resort to immature antics such as banning men, just to be recognized at our own event?
Cheryl Aiken, Oliver
Editor’s Note: We responded to Cheryl Aiken directly to thank her for her feedback and to apologize for the article. We take our role in fostering positive social change seriously at the Times Chronicle by focusing on inclusion, diversity and equity.
This includes forwarding the agenda of Truth and Reconciliation, decolonization and combatting homophobia, racism, patriarchy, and misogyny. Yet this story was written and published briefly online. There was no willful intent to offend but quite rightfully it did. In doing so it reveals the work that is still needed both within our organization and in society broadly to combat insidious vestiges of institutionally and socially embedded forms of discrimination.
We have discussed this issue within the paper and we will continue to forward the conversation within and without as we strive towards a better world for everyone, together.
