"The revolution will not be NGO-ised": four lessons from African feminist organising 
Okay, fine, this picture is a little much, but I think it accurately depicts the state of my thoughts and emotions right now. I have been having one particular conversation with fellow women, in my grad courses, at workshops, seminars and in relaxed social settings, and the frustration I feel is echoed by many of these young women.
Jobs!! Careers!! And in particular work in the NGO and NPO sectors. Why is it so difficult to find, even a contract, part-time position in many of these organizations? I understand we’re still living with economic uncertainty, and on average 300 people apply for every available job, but even the most precarious jobs seem so unattainable. I know the most amazing, intelligent women with great politics, and I understand we’re all competing with each other, but it bothers me to think about how competitive and almost elitist many NGOs and NPOs are in their practices. I understand they want to hire the best candidates, but with the amount of youth interested in working in this sector, its become impossible to get the practical experience one needs to counterbalance the years of post-secondary learning.
Short of doing almost full time, unpaid internships, volunteering, or starting your own initiative, your career prospects look rather bleak. As one of my classmates said to me, she had to compete really hard for a temporary, part-time position, paying $14/hr at one of the most well-known organisations in Ontario. Why is that? We need the technical experience, and yet our work is literally undervalued.
Let’s talk about equity! So many young, racialised and immigrant women, who have struggled to put themselves through years of post-secondary schooling, continue to seek a place for themselves in a sector that asserts the importance of adhering to equity protocol! That seems problematic. Young feminists I’ve talked to continue to complain about older feminists not creating spaces for them to develop their skills and their activism, and actually facing ageism and condescension when they do get access to these spaces!
How can we possibly address these issues? I encourage anyone to share their opinion on this topic, because I know I’m not the only one feeling this frustration.
Source: musingsandmoans
Do you think ONLY women suffer from this problem, or would you say it applies to both men and women.
I’m not sure, I can only speak from a place of personal frustration, that has been echoed by female friends. It also depends on the sector or industry in question; in this regard I was referring specifically about NGO/NPO sectors. I would be curious to know if there is a discrepancy and particularly which positions women hold in comparison to their male counterparts.
I would have to agree with Toni on this one. Highly educated graduates (male and female) looking for work in the NGO/non-profit/International organization sector are stuck with a lot of student debt but facing a job-market that is dwindling, or else having to find a way to keep themselves afloat while they take on unpaid internship after unpaid internship. Resume’s I look at these days have candidates with at least 2-3 unpaid internships listed, sometimes consecutively.
Toni! I felt this frustration this morning, though i do have a job at an NPO org doing equity educational workshops. yet, i still feel fear around standing up for my self worth, and asking for the rightful value of my work and efforts, which i feel in this org that inequitable and sexist practices are being continued, as males and white women are getting paid more. I was trying to think of how to bring this conversation up to my boss, yet also am holding my ground, increasing my courage and strength in developing my own entrepreneurial venture. IN NEED OF SOVEREIGNTY. we need to break internal chains in our psyche regarding our self worth, to shift how we see our work and WORTH!