Since time immemorial, equality for women has been nothing more than a charade. People advocate & protest for equal rights, but on the ground reality, it is a distant goal. But, if policymakers are determined, a wave of change could be ushered. Many such organizations are not just advocating but also helping immigrant women to break these barriers.
Orthodox parenting, high costs of sports equipment, inequality, patriarchal thinking, and many such hurdles are there which women have to encounter before they enter in such a domain. Immigrant women have to face even worse as the language barriers, cultural differences, and budget issues emerge as high hurdles on their tracks. Also, racism and stereotypes make it more robust for them. But, Canada is one such country where stereotypes are broken, and a sense of mutual respect prevails among local people and immigrants.
Canadian Association for the Advancement of Women and Sport and Physical Activity (CAAWS) is one such organization that is helping women cross these barriers and overcome their fears, troubles, and challenges. This non-profit organization addresses such hurdles and then work on solving the current issues. Since 2018, with the help of Immigration Refugee and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), the CAAWS has raised funds for more than 20 community organizations that would further help immigrant women to bring forward their talents. The program would last till June 2020, helping thousands of women to prove their mettle in sports, as in almost all the provinces of Canada, the CAAWS has partnered with different organizations to execute their vision.
Apart from facilitating funds, CAAWS also managed to provide female coaches for swimmers and interpreters to exchange the dialogue between immigrant women and English-speaking authorities and trainers. Likewise, the Halifax-based organization, The Immigrant Services Association of Nova Scotia (ISANS), raised funds for women sportspersons in sports like swimming, tracking, and hiking. Not just this, they also innovated a unique program that is hugely popular for aiming the sports facilities for the mothers by providing them amenities to practice with sports while taking care of their children.
In the provinces where these organizations are not actively working, they have incorporated with other local organizations like Sports North and YMCA, so that no sphere remains untouched for this noble vision. There has been another noticeable trend in Canadian sports that shows Immigrant men are more likely to participate in Canadian sports than newcomer women. While most of the researchers suggest that orthodox parenting and patriarchy is responsible for this, another fact is irrefutable that funding still sits as the significant issue that heightens the hurdles for women immigrants. These organizations have specifically addressed this issue and have designed their community programs to help newcomer women in affirming the belief in equality to all.
