Women make up 60% of students at UBC and are responsible for significant achievements on campus and in our community. Yet despite the progress of women at UBC and in society, inequality exists. Your active and visible support can make a difference.
By taking part in the following programs and initiatives, you can make a positive change on campus and the wider community.
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Be more than a bystander
The Be More than a Bystander program encourages men at UBC to make a stand and become active in the prevention of gender violence. This challenges the idea that it is solely the responsibility of women to protect themselves, support others and end the abuse.
The Be More Than a Bystander initiative was spearheaded by the Ending Violence Association of BC (EVA BC) and the BC Lions. In 2011, UBC’s Athletics Department participated in the project, with several varsity football players undertaking training with Dr. Jackson Katz, a leading male anti-sexism activist.
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Show support for feminism
Fear and lack of understanding about what feminism means has deterred people from defining themselves as feminists. If you believe in feminism, show your support by wearing an f-word button.
"F" word buttons come with a card that explains the meaning of feminism. To request yours, email CJ Rowe, Diversity Advisor-Women.
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Learn to speak up with the Active Bystander program
The Active Bystander program is an expanded student leadership program, designed to provide students the knowledge, skills, and build confidence to act in response to discriminatory comments, jokes, innuendo and stigmatizing situations on campus. The program not only educates students about diversity, but provides strategies to be an effective Active Bystander.
Contribute to an inclusive campus community by:
- Take part in a Community Building through Action workshop
- Learn to be an Active Bystander Facilitator. Click here for more information.
- See Something? Say Something. Do Something. Be a part of UBC campus communities.
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National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women
On December 6, 1989, an armed man walked into an Engineering class at l'École Polytechnique de Montréal. After he forced the men to leave, he said he hated feminists and started shooting the women in the class. Then he moved on and began shooting women throughout the school. At the end of his rampage, he had killed 14 women and himself.
This man believed that women were responsible for his failure to gain entrance to the school. He believed that feminists ruined his chances because of affirmative action in universities.
Every year a group of students and staff host annual memorial activities on campus as part of the National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women. These events not only marks the anniversary of the massacre, it also reminds us that violence against women continues in Canada and around the world. As a day of action, we hope it prompts you to take action to end violence against women.
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Become an Equity Ambassador
Equity Ambassadors work toward creating an inclusive learning and working environment. These goals are achieved through training, ongoing support and education, one-on-one interactions, participation in program committees, workshop facilitation, networking, and attendance at events on campus. Learn more.
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Start talking about sexual assault
January is sexual assault awareness month at UBC. Various events, workshops and resources are provided with the aim of raising awareness of sexual assault and helping to end the violence.
