Our mission
Our mission is to promote a universalist and unifying feminism, defending the rights of women according to their sex, and fighting for equality between women and men. We are committed to informing the public about advances in women's rights, while highlighting the actions that need to be taken to achieve real equality. We actively campaign against misogynistic discourse, violence against women and children, and exploitation in all its forms.
Our goal is to foster the autonomy and self-determination of women and their families, while creating an environment in which feminist women and men can work together to achieve equality. We provide a free forum for the feminist movement in Quebec, Canada and internationally.
We raise public awareness of the issues affecting women and their children and defend their interests with political and public institutions at provincial, national and international levels. We also organize feminist events and activities to reinforce the visibility and impact of our actions.
Political position
We, the defenders of women's rights, affirm our commitment to a feminism that places respect for women's dignity and rights at the heart of its concerns. We firmly believe that gender equality can only be achieved by recognizing women as full human beings, with distinct needs, rights and biological identities. As such, we formulate a clear position on several current social issues, with the aim of protecting women and defending their fundamental rights.
1. The abolition of prostitution: an imperative for women's dignity
We call for the abolition of prostitution in all its forms. Prostitution is a form of sexual exploitation that subjugates women to violence, the commodification of their bodies and precarious living conditions. Those who support the idea that prostitution is a “job like any other” ignore the reality experienced by prostituted women, most of whom come from vulnerable backgrounds and suffer physical, psychological and sexual violence. The abolitionist model, as applied in several countries, notably Sweden and Canada, is the one that best protects women by reducing demand and offering real support to women who wish to leave this exploitation.
2. Against surrogate pregnancies: no to the commodification of women's bodies
The practice of surrogate pregnancies is an exploitation of women's bodies, often in contexts of economic or social vulnerability. It transforms motherhood into a market where women are reduced to incubators, their bodies used for commercial purposes. We oppose all forms of surrogacy, whether “altruistic” or commercial, as they are based on unequal power relations and contribute to the objectification of women. Women must be free to dispose of their bodies, without their bodies being subject to economic interests or social pressure.
3. Against pornography: an industry of violence and exploitation
We denounce pornography as an industry that objectifies, degrades and violates women. Pornography spreads harmful gender stereotypes and reinforces relationships of sexual domination. It contributes to the trivialization of violence against women and gender inequality. We are convinced that a more egalitarian world requires the denunciation and prohibition of pornography, which treats women as sexual objects rather than subjects with rights. The fight against pornography is a fight for women's dignity and autonomy.
4. Defending women's rights based on biological sex
We defend a vision of women's rights that recognizes their biological sex as adult women, capable of procreation and living in societies where their specific rights must be protected. We reject the idea that women's rights can be diluted by subjective notions of gender identity. Women, in the biological sense of the term, have unique needs and realities, whether in terms of reproductive health, safety in public spaces or protection from gender-based violence. Defending women's rights means defending their biological sex as adult women, not a shifting category dictated by fluctuating gender identities.
5. Critiquing gender identity: protecting women's spaces
We assert that the introduction of gender identity into debates on women's rights and gender equality is having a devastating impact on women's spaces, be they sports competitions, prisons or shelters. We reject the idea that biological men can participate in women's sports or be incarcerated in women's prisons under the pretext of a female gender identity. The presence of men in these spaces is a threat to women's safety and integrity. Women's rights must take precedence over the rights of men who identify as women in spaces where biological distinction is crucial to their protection.
6. In favor of abortion: a fundamental right for women
We support women's right to control their own bodies, which includes the right to abortion. The right to abortion is a fundamental right that enables women to decide about their future, their health and their reproductive freedom. Any attempt to restrict this right is a direct attack on women's autonomy and a regression of human rights. We oppose laws that seek to restrict access to abortion and are committed to preserving this right worldwide.
7. Against violence against women: for a society free of gender-based violence
Violence against women, whether physical, psychological, sexual or economic, is a systematic form of oppression of women. We denounce all forms of violence and call for effective care for victims, as well as more stringent public policies for the prevention, repression and redress of gender-based violence. We demand that public and private institutions set up accessible and effective support mechanisms for women victims of violence.
8. In favor of a secular state for women's equality
We affirm that the secular nature of the state is an essential condition for guaranteeing women's equality and freedom of conscience in our society. The clear separation between public institutions and religions is a fundamental principle that protects women's rights, in particular against the interference of patriarchal religious practices that hinder their freedom, autonomy and dignity. In a secular state, all female citizens, regardless of their origins or beliefs, enjoy the same rights and protections, without being subject to religious norms that may limit their individual freedom.
Secularism is a pillar of gender equality, as it prevents discriminatory or sexist practices, justified by religious precepts, from spreading into the public sphere. In the current context, where certain religions are attempting to impose specific rules of conduct on women, often to the detriment of their personal freedom (such as the wearing of the veil or prohibitions linked to their autonomy), it is crucial that the State remains neutral and the guarantor of equal rights for all, regardless of gender, origin or belief.
9. In favour of a universalist, unifying and Quebecois feminism
We therefore support a totally secular state, which ensures that laws and public policies are based on principles of equality and justice, and not on religious beliefs that risk narrowing women's rights.
We believe in a universalist feminism, one that places women's rights at the heart of its struggle, regardless of race, culture or social class. This feminism must be centered on the concrete realities experienced by women everywhere in the world, while considering the specificities of women in Quebec, in a context unique to our society.
Universalist feminism recognizes the universality of women's rights but adapts to local contexts to better meet the needs of women struggling in different situations of oppression. It is not about imposing a homogenous vision of feminism on all women, but about supporting all women in their struggle for equality, whatever their background, beliefs or realities. In this sense, we call for a feminism that is inclusive without being relativistic, a feminism that defends women's rights as a priority, while respecting the diversity of their backgrounds and experiences.
In Quebec, this feminism must also be rooted in our societal and cultural realities. It must respond to the specific challenges facing Quebec women today: the fight against domestic violence, access to equal pay, respect for diversity, the defense of reproductive rights and the fight against discrimination. Quebec feminism, founded on our values of social justice, solidarity and secularism, must be a unifying force, capable of overcoming divisions to unite women in their fight for their rights. It must not be a feminism of exclusion, but a movement that supports all Quebec women, especially those who are marginalized or vulnerable.
This feminism, while drawing on the richness of international movements, must always be aware of the need to defend gender equality within the framework of Quebec realities. It must enable Quebec women to fully identify with their struggles and take concrete action for a fairer, more egalitarian future.
Conclusion
For us, the feminist struggle is a struggle for real equality between the sexes, based on respect for women as equal human beings. We believe in a society where women are free to choose, to act and to live, unconstrained by sexist, religious or cultural norms. Our feminism is secular, universalist, inclusive and resolutely rooted in the specificities of Quebec reality. We call for a future in which women's rights are respected and protected, both through strong public policies and a social culture that values the equality of all people, regardless of gender.
We affirm that the struggle for women's rights cannot be separated from questions of biological sex, dignity and bodily autonomy. It is imperative to recognize that women, as the oppressed sex, have specific needs and realities that must be defended. We reject ideologies that seek to erase distinctions between the sexes or claim that women are a fluid category. We are firmly committed to a feminism that focuses on the protection and emancipation of women, while respecting their biological sex and fundamental rights. We call for a society where women are protected from all forms of exploitation, violence and discrimination.
