Social change: Women leaders and their contribution to the community sector
This article presents the results of a study aimed at understanding the trajectory of engagement among women who occupy paid positions in the voluntary and community not-for-profit sector in New Brunswick. To be more precise, in collaboration with these women, we wanted to understand their past and current reasons for being involved in this sector as well as the meaning they gave to their engagement. Participants who engage in the defense of vulnerable populations’ rights, in a social justice and social change perspective — the motor of their commitment — are themselves in a position of iniquity. This commitment to improve the living conditions of people contributes to social cohesion in a context where the social State is crumbling. Thus, the involvement of women in this sector is about social justice aimed at rebuilding a more equitable society. However, the challenge is twofold: to give back the power to act to vulnerable populations while recognizing the contribution of women leaders in the community sector both socially and economically.