Canadian Muslim women: still overeducated and underemployed

TORONTO, Sept. 23, 2014 /CNW/ - A new report commissioned by the Canadian Council of Muslim Women (CCMW) reveals deteriorating employment rates for Canadian Muslim women, despite high levels of education. Some 16.7 per cent of Canadian Muslim females 15 years or older were unemployed in 2011. The report entitled, Canadian Muslim Women: A Decade of Change -- 2001 to 2011, by economist Daood Hamdani reveals significant demographic changes for Canadian Muslim Women since CCMW released a similar report a decade ago.  However, one fact has remained constant:  their rate of unemployment and underemployment. The report will be released on September 28, 2014, at the Council's annual Women Who Inspire awards and scholarship brunch.  To tackle the issue head on, this year's event includes a keynote address by Judy Rebick on the theme of Equality in Employment:  Are We There Yet?  Ms. Rebick is a renowned women's rights activist, founder of rabble.ca, and former head of the National Action Committee on the Status of Women.  Dr. Daood Hamdani along with equity and human rights expert, Dr. Karen Mock, will reflect on Muslim women's employment statistics and the lessons learned from thirty years of concerted effort to bring about employment equity.  The event will be presented in partnership with the Canadian Association of Jews and Muslims.

Despite high levels of unemployment and underemployment, Canadian Muslim women continue to make significant contributions to Canadian society and to advancing gender equality.  CCMW will honour five such women this Sunday at its Women Who Inspire awards.  This year's recipients are:

• Ambreen Akbar: Lifelong VAW activist and aspiring social work student at Ryerson University;
• Farah Mohamed: President and CEO of G(irls) 20;
• Fatema Dada: Crown Counsel with the Ministry of the Attorney General (Ontario);
• Hodan Ali: Executive Director and Co-Founder of Refuge: Hamilton Centre for Newcomer Health;
• Sureya Ibrahim: Community Engagement Worker, Regent Park Centre for Community Learning and Development.

In addition to recognizing the honourees above, the Council will present scholarships to five Canadian Muslim women pursuing post-secondary education in disciplines ranging from epidemiology to urban planning.  The scholarships are awarded in honour CCMW's founder Dr. Lila Fahlman.

The event will be held on Sunday, September 28 from 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at Novotel Toronto North York, 3 Park Home Avenue, Toronto, ON. 

Image with caption: "Canadian Council of Muslim Women (CNW Group/Canadian Council of Muslim Women)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20140923_C3607_PHOTO_EN_5913.jpg

SOURCE: Canadian Council of Muslim Women

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