Women are Individuals

Women are not all the same.  We are as different in our likes and desires as men.  No one organization or ideology can represent the views of all women any more than any one organization can represent the views of all men. Until the formation of REAL Women of Canada, there was no voice to represent the views of those many thousands of women who take a different point of view from that of the established feminist groups.  We're filling a need that has long existed.  None of us has a corner on the truth.  Thus, the diversity of views and approaches should be regarded as an advantage to women, as well as an indication of our tremendous diversity, independence and resourcefulness.

REAL (Realistic, Equal, Active for Life) Women of Canada, a non-partisan, inter-denominational organization, believes the social and economic problems of women should be resolved by taking into consideration the effects on family life and society as a whole.  REAL Women believes the family is the most important unit in society, as we have yet to develop a better model to care for the young, protect the weak and attend the elderly.

Equality for Women

The issue of equality for women is one with which few women would disagree.  There are, nonetheless, different approaches to achieving it.  The development of an alternate women's movement, therefore, with a different perspective should not be regarded as a threat, but should be regarded as an advancement for women, in that it reflects the great depth and diversity among Canadian women.

Changes in Society

Society is rapidly changing and with it the role of women.  At one time it was generally understood that women's only roles were those of homemaker, wife, and mother.  In recent decades, however, new opportunities have opened to women outside the home.  Great stress has justifiably been placed on the need for equality for women. In striving for this equality, however, we seem to have overlooked one very important fact - namely our need, which has remained unchanged over the years, for family, children and other relationships.

Most women have children and want to nurture them.  In fact, ninety per cent of us either have or want to have children.  Therefore, women are faced with the challenge of finding new ways to blend our interests and roles in society with our family responsibilities and our own needs.

Unfortunately, society does not seem to be responding to these needs.  Thus, a woman's movement, such as REAL Women of Canada, was necessary to provide new ideas for meeting this challenge of promoting the advancement and equality of women while at the same time, attempting to integrate family life into government policies and legislation.

Career Choices for Women

REAL Women believes that women should have career choices which include the financial option of remaining at home, if they choose.  At the present time many women do subordinate their own careers, desires and material needs for their families by choosing to remain at home as full time homemakers.  Many do so at great financial sacrifice, struggling to live on a limited single income.  This dedication to the role of motherhood should be encouraged, not discouraged, by our tax laws and legislation.  At the very least, government policies should remain neutral on the issue of career choice for women.

Public policy should treat the woman at home and in the workplace equally.  Therefore, REAL Women recommended:

1. A homemaker's tax credit and child tax credits extended to cover low to middle income families so as to permit some flexibility of choice for women;

2. Taxes should be reduced for single-income families which currently pay much higher rates than two-income families because the latter are allowed to file separate returns.  Alternately, single income families should be allowed to split the family income so as to enable the husband and wife to file separate returns.

3. For women in the work force, adjustments must be made to allow for their family responsibilities.  The market-place was designed by men for men, and women frequently have different career paths by choice.  Adjustments must be made to accommodate these differences.  Job sharing, improved benefits for part-time workers, extended maternity leave, short-term contract work to allow women more flexible schedules and "in home" employement should be encouraged.

4. A child care system in Canada should provide equally for women in the home and women in the paid work force.  The needs of children, as well as those of the parents , need to be taken into consideration.  Parents should be able to chose the kind of child care according to the family's values and the needs fo the child.  This can be done by way of direct payments to the family which would provide the flexibility of keeping its child support monies for a parent to stay in the home, to spend on day care, whether government or community operated, or private (such as a nanny or relative) or a combination of the above.

Our positions may not please everyone, but in a free and democratic country all groups must be free to express their views.  Other organizations may arrive at different approaches to those of our organization.  However, no group should suffer discrimination because of its approach or point of view.

Tolerance for the Views of Others

Before women can have equality with men, we must first have equality among ourselves and this means a tolerance and respect for the differing views of other women.  This also means a recognition, not only of the dignity of the individual, but also fo the fact that women have always required more than just one voice to speak for our concerns.

REAL Women speaks for women who support traditional family values.  Society may change, but society's need for strong, stable families remains.

As Canada moves toward the new century, REAL Women is in the vanguard of change for a fairer, more compassionate, caring, pro-family society.