Empowering Women: TMU support services making a difference
In the days after the recently celebrated International Women’s Day on March 8th, it is essential to reflect and acknowledge strides made by our university to empower, encourage and protect our women-identifying community on campus. While there is still much work to be done on the issues surrounding gender equality and trans rights, Toronto Metropolitan University has been committed to supporting and celebrating its women-identifying population in attaining social, economic, and academic achievement on a safe and inclusive campus.
Centre for Women and Trans People
The Centre for Women and Trans People (external link, opens in new window) is a designated safe haven for self-identifying women and trans people to explore their gender and sexuality without prejudice. Some examples of steps taken by the university include the creation of Inclusive Signage and All Gender Washroom. (opens in new window) As the definition of womanhood is ever-dynamic, TMU embraces all people who identify as a woman.
Consent Comes First (CCF)
CCF (opens in new window) is a resource available to both students and staff who have been affected by sexual violence and assault of all forms to gain a deeper understanding of their bodies, health and sexuality by connecting them to external resources like legal support and internal resources like workplace consideration, academic consideration and even a safe space to share their experiences without judgement. If you or anyone you know needs support, please reach out to TMSU Sexual Assault Survivor Support Line (opens in new window) .
Tri-Mentoring Program (TMP)
At TMP (opens in new window) , students can find mentorship opportunities relevant to their equity-seeking groups, including Women in Science, Technology, Engineering or Math (STEM) and Muslim women. Students gain a safe space to explore their identity, gain community and learn more about the resources available to them. One of the notable services I have personally used is peer-to-peer mentoring, which matches a first-year student with an upper-year student.
Using these various women's support services over my four years of undergraduate experience has made me feel like I belonged on campus and could express myself without fear of judgment.
Safety Services at TMU
When I first arrived at Toronto Metropolitan University, my first culture shock was the difference in the size and structure of universities abroad compared to the enclosed gated universities back home in Nigeria. My initial concern was that I would need help recognizing the campus and its members as it was situated in the bustling downtown area of Toronto. However, after the shock wore off, I began appreciating the benefits of TMU’s location. I could engage in various extracurricular activities such as boxing, aerial yoga, and multicultural assortments of foods and drinks, then make it for my class hosted in a cinema (opens in new window) ; the ease of having everything within grasp is one of the reasons I love this school.
Safety will always be top of mind, especially for parents and supporters of students. One helpful resource is the TMU safety app (opens in new window) which provides on-the-go alerts of safety concerns on campus. It also allows students to request security personnel who can accompany students who feel unsafe walking from an evening class, for example. For an added layer of personal security, TMU even offers women-identifying members of our community free Basic Self Defence (opens in new window) classes to empower them to confidently respond to situations threatening their safety.
Overall, from an International student’s perspective, I can say that the University has done a lot to empower me both as a student and a woman!
