Secondary School United Nation Symposium - UN Women

So we’re all in the waiting room where people who are part of the organizing body of SSUNS (students at McGill) are hanging out during a break. *note, this has nothing to do with the top organizers of SSUNS (the secretariat).

One of the ground level organizers goes: “So which pavilion are you a part of?”

me: “UN Women!” - and I’m pretty proud of it because the delegates are awesome and passionate and the issues discussed are intense and relevant. Topics included sex trafficking, genital cutting, and the role of women politicians. 

him: “Oh haha, the pavilion that doesn’t matter" 

The smile just left my face at that point, and I turned on my heel to leave the room. He called after me going "hey - wait” but really, I try my best to avoid situations of daily misogyny and there was no reason to turn back to continue the conversation.

To be told that women didn’t matter by a fellow student - a fellow organizer at SSUNS who actually ranked above me - as a “joke” just reminded me very swiftly  how pervasive misogyny is and how much there is left to do.