Espoo for all: Minna Canth and equality 2024

Minna Canth was a pioneer of Finnish literature and an active social activist in the late 19th century. Canth used her literary talent to address social inequalities, particularly in the area of women's empowerment.

Canth's work and influence in society is still strong today. Her courage to speak out for women's rights and equality laid a solid foundation for many of the battles being fought today. That courage to bring the inequalities of our society into the debate is something we still need today. The world has changed a lot since her time, and the problems have changed shape, even if some have remained the same.

Equality Day is therefore an excellent opportunity to look at how much progress we have made and what remains to be done as well to celebrate the progress we have made. Women's participation in higher education is up, women's participation in the workforce is up, and gender roles are more flexible than they used to be. But these fantastic achievements do not mean that we have done all we can to achieve equality. It is important to continue to work so that everyone can live in a fully equal society.

In Espoo, equality and discrimination issues are closely monitored by the Commission for Equality, which has been in operation since 1981. During the years of its existence, the Commission has done a lot and adapted to the challenges of the times. An example of its work is the TASSU Award, which has been awarded since 2017 to highlight local actions in favor of equality and non-discrimination. In 2023, the award was specifically designed to highlight the actions and choices that are easily overlooked in everyday life - actions that we can all take in our daily lives. In 2022, more than sixty Espoo City Councillors signed the Commission's Anti-Racism Pledge, sending a clear message to all Espoo citizens about the direction Espoo City Councillors want to take our city.

However, the growing disagreement about equality underscores the need for an open and respectful debate about different views and opinions. Unfortunately, our current culture of debate is not conducive to this. It is therefore particularly important for all of us to try to understand different points of view and to find common ground on which to build a society where everyone has equal opportunities and rights. As individuals, despite our differences, we have more that unites us than divides us.

Racism is also an unfortunate phenomenon in Finland and in Espoo. Many people face prejudice and discrimination in their daily lives for a variety of reasons. Discrimination can be based on cultural, economic, political or social backgrounds, but one thing is clear - no one is born to hate.

Particularly challenging in today's context is the discrimination experienced by young people and children, which has far-reaching implications for our society. The annual School Health Survey tells us a somewhat sad story of change in the lives of young people, showing that the well-being of girls in particular has deteriorated on many measures. The results show a clear difference between children and young people with a Finnish background and those with an immigrant background in areas such as anxiety, bullying, discrimination and substance abuse.

We can see and hear racist discourse or attitudes in public debate and in the media, which are actively highlighted in social media. Unfortunately, racist violence and threats are also common. This is not entirely unproblematic, especially for the future and for young people who are increasingly absorbing attitudes and influences from our society, especially through social media.

Equality cannot be a single day in the calendar. It´s something that must be an ongoing effort to create a fair world where everyone has an equal chance to succeed and live a fulfilling life. The celebration of Minna Canth and Equality Day gives us all a reason to pause for a moment and look at what equality and equal rights mean and how each of us, through our own actions, can take small steps, if not the world, then at least Espoo, in the right direction.

Society, which means all of us, must work to eradicate racist attitudes and practices so that we can build a society where everyone has equal opportunities and rights. Unfortunately, it has been observed that adults in particular do not intervene in situations where racist behavior occurs - but this kind of example could have a significant impact.  It is important to understand that no one is born to hate, so we need the right role models in everyday life for our children. The discrimination that young people and children face affects society as a whole and can have far-reaching consequences. We must all take responsibility and actively work against racism to create a better and fairer future.

Legacy of Minna Canth lives on and we have a responsibility to continue the work she started.

Oskari Hyttinen
Chairperson of the Equality Committee