From the WRC

The word diversity means different things to different people. Mainstream thought about diversity focuses on racial and cultural differences, which disregards all other forms of diversity: gender, age, ability, sexuality and many more. At the Women’s Resource Centre, we seek to promote education and awareness of all forms of diversity, with the goal of creating a more self-aware, knowledgeable and conscious campus community.


Diversity is one of the Women’s Resource Centre’s five pillars of work. We learn, share and teach about diversity in many ways. First, we advocate for gender equality, recognizing that this form of equality can not be achieved without ending all other forms of inequality. Second, the WRC employs an anti-oppressive model that focuses on an individual’s strengths and capacity for leadership and success, regardless of their identity. Third, although we are a centre dedicated to the promotion of a safe and healthy environment for female gendered individuals, we welcome individuals of all genders and identities to take part in our work and visit our centre to learn more. Of particular importance to us is recognizing how the different aspects of a woman’s identity can affect her overall experience as a woman. The WRC provides interesting programs related to diversity such as:


• Working Against Racism- a group dedicated to increasing the awareness of the effect that racism can have on our campus community and developing strategies for creating a positive and tolerant University of Calgary.


• Women’s Global Voices- a program focused on helping international women and female immigrants and refugees adapt to life in Calgary and Canada through empowering popular-education based tools.


• Male Allies ­- a program for male-identified or male-gendered individuals interesting in supporting women in achieving gender equality through the recognition that equality improves the lives of everyone.


The Women’s Resource Centre strives to act as a resource for diversity knowledge, education and awareness for the U of C community. We hope that you will join us in this project. If you would like to learn more, please email us at women@ucalgary.ca or check us out online at www.ucalgary.ca/women.