Reflections on Day 1: We're Winning the Congress!

This is a guest post by Sandyha Singh.

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When I get home after a full day at the Congress, I am exhausted, but still pumped. I excitedly show my two daughters and my husband photos, YouTube videos and my first ever blog post, and then instantly fall sleep. When I awake two hours later, dinner has been made and served, the girls have been bathed, and lunch for tomorrow has been packed. And there are bright yellow flowers on the table. “ Congratulations, Mommy!” says my four-year old. “ You won your conference!”

I sent the link to my first post, in which I lamented the lack of progress in womens’ movements, to a long-time mentor, friend and feminist in Winnipeg. “ Discouraging” , she wrote back. “ Any hopeful signs?” The answer is yes; there are many.

The congress opened with a plenary that was intergenerational and multi-racial, led by a sister of colour, with two Indigenous sisters and one more from the South presenting. Women with DisAbilities were key in the organizing and planning of this congress. Presenters so far represent both academia and grassroots activists.

We are not out of the woods yet, but I agree with my daughter: We are winning the
congress!