Guest bloggers Archives - Page 9 of 18 - Canadian Women's Foundation

How to Put Yourself First (Really!)

How to Put Yourself First (Really!)

Pamela Johnson2017-12-19T17:09:41+00:00April 14, 2016|Guest bloggers, How to, SHE Magazine|

Does the idea of putting yourself first seem radical? Does your inner voice say: “That’s selfish!”

In my work with women who run community economic development and non-profit organizations, I hear a lot about the struggle to find time for self-care and to set healthy personal/professional boundaries.

There are entrenched social norms that say women should put others first. We’re not always rewarded for being assertive, and we’re not socialized to take leisure time. Self-care is even harder for women in particular situations. For example, single working moms usually can't afford to pay someone to take care of their kids so they can take some personal time.

Learning to Hold Yourself Up

Learning to Hold Yourself Up

Pacinthe Mattar2016-04-11T13:05:39+00:00April 11, 2016|Guest bloggers, How to, SHE Magazine, Women in media|

When I was asked to write this guest column, honestly, my first thought was: “Why me?”

This feeling only got stronger when I heard award-winning journalists Michele Landsberg and Sally Armstrong had also written this column. As I began my “Thanks but no thanks” email reply, I thought of others who would do a better job.

For me, this behaviour isn’t unusual: I consistently undervalue my qualifications and second-guess my skills. Here’s another example. I recently co-facilitated a six-week media workshop for young Muslim women called Outburst! (it’s funded by the Canadian Women’s Foundation). As I approached the workshop location, with every step all I could think of was the person I thought was better qualified to lead it. And during the Calgary flood, my senior producer asked me to fly there to cover the emergency for the Current. Inside, I panicked, thinking of all the other producers who were more qualified to go. In the end, I gulped and said: “Sure.”

Advocating for women in the criminal justice system

Advocating for women in the criminal justice system

Pamela Johnson2017-12-19T17:10:42+00:00March 31, 2016|Guest bloggers, Impact stories|

This profile was originally published on the Coady International Institute’s website.

For Katherine Alexander, seeking justice for women in the prison system is more than a work obligation.

Alexander, executive director of the Elizabeth Fry Society in Whitehorse, was one of 24 women chosen for the 2015 Canadian Women’s Foundation Leadership Institute at Coady.

Spending at least one day a week at the Whitehorse Correctional Centre and once a month at the Abbotsford Institution, she works to build relationships with the incarcerated women. She advises them of their rights, helping to amplify their voices both inside and outside of the prison. She also works with other women’s services in the territory that help inmates transition back into the community.

Inspire Body Positivity with the Body Confidence Canada Awards

Inspire Body Positivity with the Body Confidence Canada Awards

Jill Andrew2017-12-19T17:11:45+00:00March 18, 2016|Empowering girls, Guest bloggers, Women in media|

Almost four years ago our lives changed for the better when we decided to create the Body Confidence Canada Awards (BCCAs) – and we haven’t looked back!

Inspired by outstanding body image awareness initiatives taking place in the United Kingdom, namely their Campaign for Body Confidence (2009) and the inaugural Body Confidence Awards (2012), my partner Aisha Fairclough and I decided it was time to create a likeminded platform in Canada. We created the BCCAs to acknowledge and celebrate people for whom their personal and professional lives embodied and inspired body confidence, body positivity, and body diversity in our communities.

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