When Brock scientist Liette Vasseur hears the word feminism, she thinks of the need for gender equality, equity and parity.

“The word feminism, for me, is related to the importance of recognizing that both men and women are important contributors in all aspects of life,” she says. “The word has evolved over time. In the early 1900s, it was about trying to get the right to vote and now it’s about equality, gender parity and respecting the different values of men and women.”

Vasseur, Brock University Biological Sciences professor, is the leader of two organizations aimed at forwarding the push for equality in science and tech. She is the president of the Canadian Coalition of Women in Engineering, Science, Trades and Technology (CCWESTT) and president-elect of the International Network of Women Engineers and Scientists.

“These are all the non-traditional positions women have,” she says.

“We still have a lot of work to do.”

She says it’s hard to attract and retain women to work in science, technology and the trades. That’s not just because of wage disparity or discrimination, which are both ongoing issues. There are also barriers with flexibility and accommodations as basic as washroom facilities for women in some workplaces.

Vasseur said International Women’s Day – March 8 – is a reminder of the work being done to bring equality to women. It’s also a reminder of how much work is left to do.

At the recent world economic forum, the gender gap was discussed among world leaders, including Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.

The panel heard a startling statistic, Vasseur says.

“At the current rate of change, it will take until 2133, over 100 years, to reach gender parity,” she says.

She says Trudeau’s appointment of a cabinet made up of an equal number of men and women was a significant step in Canada.

“We still have a long way to go,” she says.

Vasseur pointed to a Yale study on unconscious gender bias in which science faculty at six major institutions evaluated applications for a lab manager job. In the double-blind study, applications randomly assigned a male name were rated significantly more hirable and offered a higher starting wage compared to identical applicants with female names.

Vasseur says CCWESTT is holding a conference in Ottawa in May where they will be discussing the need for more action when it comes to gender equality.

“We need to really focus in on the solutions and reduce the gap between men and women,” she says.