Women in media Archives - Page 17 of 19 - Canadian Women's Foundation

Why Sexualized Halloween Costumes Are Downright Scary

Why Sexualized Halloween Costumes Are Downright Scary

Julie George2017-12-19T17:30:14+00:00October 27, 2015|Empowering girls, Women in media|

The other day, my friend told me a spooky story about buying a Halloween costume.

Her daughter wanted to be Katniss Everdeen, the skillful archer and powerful main character from the movie The Hunger Games. With much excitement, they hit the stores.

To their dismay, choices were limited to frilly pink, sequined blue, short skirts, tall boots, and feathery boas. How about a policewoman with jewelled handcuffs and a short skirt, in a provocative pose? Or a rock star outfit with a bustier and fishnet stockings? Many of the costumes were designed to objectify girls, even those being sold to 5- to 12-year-olds.

Straight Outta Misogyny: From the Big Screen to the Bigger Picture

Straight Outta Misogyny: From the Big Screen to the Bigger Picture

Marshia Celina2017-12-19T17:32:30+00:00October 16, 2015|Gender-based violence, Guest bloggers, Women in media|

Ok. I’m going to make a lofty attempt to connect the misogynoir* and misogyny in Straight Outta Compton - Dr. Dre’s violent past and Ice Cube’s women vs. bitches theory - to state sanctioned violence against women/female bodied people (FBP). This violence is in large part due to global socio-political histories that continue to impede women’s progress and autonomy, particularly racialized women. I’m hoping that the more people who engage the topic of misogynoir/misogyny from this perspective, the more likely we’ll see a change in policy and social norms informed by the state*.

Twenty years ago, Dre assaulted Dee Barnes and other women.

T-shirt project teaches girls to wear confidence proudly

T-shirt project teaches girls to wear confidence proudly

Jessica Howard2017-12-19T17:33:06+00:00October 15, 2015|Empowering girls, Impact stories, SHE Magazine, Women in media|

What happens when you put girls in charge of the messages on their clothing?

All kinds of amazing things, discovered Lorna Jones, an elementary-school teacher in Toronto.

Lorna has watched girls develop confidence, awareness, creativity, and connection through the As We Are T-shirt project, which she developed with the support of Canadian Women’s Foundation and The W. Garfield Weston Foundation.

In As We Are workshops, girls age 9 to 13 are encouraged to analyze the messages they see in both clothing and in the media. Then, they get to brainstorm together and design T-shirts bearing positive messages.

What the Hashtag: Are you #UpforDebate?

What the Hashtag: Are you #UpforDebate?

Amber Minnings2017-12-19T17:34:56+00:00September 30, 2015|Empowering girls, Gender-based violence, What the Hashtag, Women in media, Women’s poverty|

With a federal election just weeks away, September’s online feminist activism was politically charged.

Much of the conversation centred around Up for Debate’s sold out event in Toronto and related events across the country. This meant that #UpforDebate became a unifying hashtag for women’s advocates in Canada.

Throughout September, organizations and individuals organized events focussing on women’s political representation and participation, and a host of gendered issues. For example, Whitby, Stratford and London hosted all candidates meetings on issues important to women, Halifax hosted a candidate’s debate on women’s issues, and Vancouver hosted a public education event on women's equality and why your vote counts.

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