Business breakfast focuses on women's evolution in the workplace

Mrs. Desrochers discussed in length the evolution of women in the workplace and while she agreed that much progress has been made, much still remains.

"Before 1964, a woman was still at her husband's mercy. She needed his signature for all important endeavors," she explained. "Bill 16 changed all that, but it wasn't a popular law and even women were reticent to take advantage of their new rights."

The guest speaker explained how 20 years later (1984) women's importance was starting to be recognized in the business world and how 25% of businesses were created by women. However, stereotypes persisted and few women gained access to administrative and managerial roles. Prejudice and misconceptions involving problems attributed to maternity leaves and women's "oversensitivity" still existed.

In the past few years, things have started improving. Today, 50% of businesses are founded by women and their financial independence is well known. However, much still remains to be done, because women still suffer from a lack of male support and still overwhelmingly carry the burden of balancing work and family obligations.

According to Mrs. Desrochers, women have benefited from important legislative changes, but there is still much to be done. Attitudes are however changing in the corporate world, such as the fact that at the Royal Bank more and more men are taking advantage of parental leave, indicating that attitudes at home are also changing.