Montreal women's summit pushes for gender equality

A major summit on the status of women andwhat can be done to ensuregreatergender equalityis underwayin Montreal.

The Sommet des Femmescomes just a few days after Lise Thriault,the Quebec minister responsible for the status of women, said she believes in equal rights for men and women butrejected the label of being a feminist.

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"If this minister became a minister, it's because of all the struggles that women have feltso far," YolandeGeadah, an award-winning author and researcher.

Thriault's comment was surprisingtomany, including summit organizer and former student leader Martine Desjardins.

"It's a shameto see that some women today are still afraid of that label and the word 'feminist,'" Desjardins told Radio-Canada.

'There is still a long way to go'

The sense that things still need improvement is part of the reason for the summit, which includesworkshops and speeches on everything from racism to entrepreneurship.

Allison Christians isaMcGill University associate professor in law who ispresentingat the beginning of the conference Wednesday night.

She said there needsto be more women in the political arena.

"Women are underrepresented in a lot of different areas, and one of them is the decisions that we make about what we'regoing todo as a society," Christians said.

Geadehsays she dreams that one day women will have a greater place in society.

"There is still a long way to go."