Remembering the Montréal École Polytechnique massacre

When I teach Public Policy, I often explore feminist theories of public policy (well, technically not me – I always ask my good friend Janni Aragon to come and guest-lecture as she is an expert in feminist theories of public policy). To me, feminist lenses are important for the study of public policy and politics and the role of women in political life is relevant. I am the son of a political scientist (my Mom did her PhD in Government, Politics and Public Administration at Universidad Complutense de Madrid in Spain) and my Dad always made sure to instill in me and my brothers the sense that women had the same rights, capabilities, etc. than men.

Growing up, I became a chemical engineer and the top 5 grades in my cohort of 45 students were the 4 women who were studying chemical engineering and myself. So, I grew up without even remotely thinking that there was any reason to discriminate against women. I lived in a very egalitarian household. Thus, it is almost bewildering to me that the Montréal École Polytechnique massacre happened in Canada.

Even more shocking is the reason underneath it: an attack on feminism. Can you imagine? Being shot *just* for being a woman (in a supposedly male-dominated field, engineering). Today is the National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women, and I have those women in my mind.

From the government of Canada website:

December 6 is the National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women in Canada. Established in 1991 by the Parliament of Canada, this day marks the anniversary of the murders in 1989 of 14 young women at l’École Polytechnique de Montréal. They died because they were women.

As well as commemorating the 14 young women whose lives ended in an act of gender-based violence that shocked the nation, December 6 represents an opportunity for Canadians to reflect on the phenomenon of violence against women in our society. It is also an opportunity to consider the women and girls for whom violence is a daily reality, and to remember those who have died as a result of gender-based violence. And finally, it is a day on which communities can consider concrete actions to eliminate all forms of violence against women and girls.