In today’s Toronto Star, foreign affairs reporter Olivia Ward discussed how NATO’s talks about striking a peace deal with the Taliban (which means they would have political say) is most likely going to have negative outcomes for women.
In the article, Ward sites how the Taliban’s regime oppressed women and how even post-invasion, this oppression continues:
Even now, young girls who dare to go to school have acid thrown in their faces, suicide bombers kill indiscriminately, beheadings and amputations await those who resist their resurgent rule and women activists receive dreaded “night letters” that mark them for death.
And that
Doubts remain about how far the West would be prepared to support women’s rights once its troops have departed.
But
When the fog of war clears in Afghanistan, women and progressive thinkers hope that they will have a place to stand. but they know much depends on what the peacetime landscape will look like, and what tradeoffs are made to arrive there.
It’s an interesting read as most of the articles I’ve read about the NATO deal haven’t taken women’s rights into account. Click here to read the whole piece.
A tombstone at Guelph University's mock Women's Studies funeral (photo courtesy of Crystal Metham)
Recently, the National Post’s editorial board published a rather tumultuous piece on the state of Women’s Studies in Canada. There have been numerous responses to this post from various publications—many were disgusted, others were astounded, even Post readers were disturbed. Not so shocking is the stance taking by the conservative editorial, but the offense came from some of its ill-informed assumptions of what Women’s Studies are and how they affect our society.
The Post simplifies Women’s Studies, saying these courses teach students that all women “are victims and nearly all men are victimizers.” I should hope this “editorial board” had previously sat in on a course to make such a bold deliberation. It’s a black-and-white definition that wrongfully exemplifies the complex analysis that these courses actually provide.
This is problematic. As students who have taken several courses on women’s issues, never has there not been a discussion of how men are victims themselves of patriarchy and the circumscribed definition of masculinity that has been produced as a result. This is nothing new in the feminist discourse, but clearly, the Post had missed the boat on that one. Keep reading →
Here is a recipe to keep you warm after a bitter cold walk from school. This soup reminds me of a fresher, healthier version of cream of broccoli soup.
BROCCOLI-POTATO SOUP WITH FRESH HERBS
(and hummus on the side):
The world of fashion is exploding with trends, but one trend that fashion seems to be playing around with recently is the idea of projecting the message that women should love the body God gave them. But is their choice of spokeswomen the right ones?
Aussie model and former Miss Universe 2004, Jennifer Hawkins, recently posed nude for the Australian cover of Marie-Claire for their February issue. No big deal right? Wrong! This cover has stirred up all kinds of controversy because Hawkins appears unairbrushed on the cover. Not to mention many women are bashing the idea that a former Miss Universe and model could possibly represent real women.
Editor of Marie-Claire, Jackie Frank, was inspired to do the photo shoot, sans airbrushing, after reading the results of a survey in Australia about the feelings women had towards their bodies. Frank discovered that only 12 per cent of women were happy with their body.
Way go to Marie-Claire, with this cover you just made the other 88 per cent feel even worse about their bodies
Sporting bare legs and briefs, a flock of men trudge through a field of grass like lost sheep, letting the wind tangle their long unkempt locks. With wild eyes and flailing arms, they sing, “For I wear no pants! I wear no pants!” WEAR THE PANTS, flashes the script at the end of the clip.
Inscribed in form of a Man-ifesto is Docker’s new marketing campaign. Using phrases like Khaki Diem, Man Hood, Behold the Dawn of the Second Man, it seems there’s more then cotton woven in a pair of pants these days, there is a deep-voiced mantra for masculinity. It’s more than advertising, it’s a call for social change.
The campaign, launched in December 2009 in print, radio and social media, has its television debut set for February while masses watch the Super Bowl XLIV. In an effort to make khakis the symbolic dress of the testosterone-loaded, awe-inspiring hero, the campaign literally and figuratively challenges men to order steaks instead of salads, as if leafy-greens have weakened their ability to save the day. Kind of ironic considering Popeye the Sailor Man pumped his pipes a diet regiment of spinach. “It’s time to wear the pants” the tongue-and-cheek line rolls, implying that men have traded authority and power -to women? For this reason, some find that the campaign leaves a sour sexist taste in their mouths.
Jennifer Sey, global VP of marketing for Levi Strauss & Co. acknowledges the campaign has caused outrag
e, especially amongst feminists. However, while opportunity has never been more accessible for North American women, Sey says men are “off their game.” Women are tromping all over men’s former territory in education, the job-market and social circles, reducing men to the cultural status of a man-baby. And so, Dockers are campaigning for male empowerment.
One of the easiest places to find stereotypical women is in cartoons.
It’s hard to find women featured in them in the first place, but when they are, they’re portrayed as weak, vulnerable or subservient. From Disney movies to comics to cartoon shows, the media’s construction of women is everywhere. And they paint an unrealistic picture of who they are in general.
Even from the early to mid 1900s, female Disney cartoon characters are mere objects of affection. They are usually helpless when it comes to defending themselves. Sometimes they are nothing more than just decoration. Many of the Disney women have stereotypical female roles like the housemaid. In most instances, however, they don’t have any role but to support the leading male characters. Most of them are written as princesses who need to be saved from the “wicked witch” and then who fall in love with the handsome prince. It’s very rare to see women take charge in Disney films, with the exception of Mulan (1998).
The launch party is tonight! 9 p.m. College St. Bar (in Little Italy 574 College Street) $5 at the door – DJ Lucie Tic is headlining with tha 1 who Trevs (barnburnaz) opening and closing – see you there!
