Linda Mcquaig Crude Dudes Ember Swift Ignites Change

WOMEN’S NEWS & FEMINIST VIEWS • Winter 2005 • Vol. 18 No.3 • Canada $5.95/US $5.95 A PASSION FOR REVOLUSHUN INSPIRES DUB POETS LINDA MCQUAIG CRUDE DUDES EMBER SWIFT IGNITES CHANGE

How to Pee Standing Up Rape Crisis: The Debate Over Going Pro Publications Mail Agreement #40008866 dub poet d’bi young table of contents WINTER 2005 / VOLUME 18 NO. 3

CRUDE WOMEN’S NEWS 23 DUDES Artists Kickstart Community In her newest book, It’s the Crude Dude, Linda 6-13 Building by Emma Kivisild; Highway McQuaig argues that the invasion of Iraq was to Healing Drives Native Women by Rachel Thompson; motivated by the desire of the American government F-word Eludes Art World by Phil Koch; Will Breast to control Iraq’s vast oil wealth. In fact, McQuaig Implant Registry Rebound? by Michelle French extends this claim to all US military actions in the Middle East since the turn of the 20th century. by Shannon Devine EMBER SWIFT 26 IGNITES CHANGE Ember Swift and her band members speak their minds from stages across Canada, the US and Australia. In this interview, Swift talks about putting the politics of her songs into practice on and off the stage. by Nicole Cohen RAPE 28 CRISIS The debate over professionalized services highlights Dub poet nah-ee-lah is on page 16. Photo: Hilary Leftick differing visions for a common goal. by Jennifer O’Connor FEMINIST VIEWS ARTS & CULTURE WORD WARRIORS 16 SPARK REVOLUSHUN MUSIC d’bi young and nah-ee-lah are part of a new genera- 32 REVIEWS tion of dub poets who are using words as tools as Citysong by Andrea Revel; they confront cultures of all kinds to peel back mul- Driving North by Chris tiple layers of oppression. by Sheila Nopper Pureka; Secrets by Allison Crowe; So Jealous by Tegan STAND YOUR and Sara; Awakenings by 29 GROUND Carol Ann Weaver and To this day, most Western women remain unaware Rebecca Campbell; Times that standing is a possibility, never mind a process Like These by Sara Marlowe; Fatherfucker by that offers greater accuracy and control. It’s time to Peaches; Stranger Things Have Happened by Athena liberate our bathroom habits once and for all. Find Reich; Medulla by Björk; Coming Home by out how to do it standing up. by Kim Bannerman Pigott Dominique Reynolds. Managing Editor: Penni Mitchell Fulfillment and Office Manager: Phil Koch Accountant: Sharon Pchajek Board of Directors: Ghislaine Alleyne, Phil Koch, Penni Mitchell, Kemlin Nembhard, Valerie Regehr Editorial Committee: Ghislaine Alleyne, Gio Guzzi, Penni Mitchell Advertising Sales: Penni Mitchell (204) 774-6225 WINTER Design: inkubator.ca 37 BOOK REVIEWS Web Mistress: Rachel Thompson/BlueMuse Of Silk Saris and Mini-skirts: South Asian Girls Walk the Retail Inquiries: Disticor (905) 619-6565 Tightrope of Culture by Amita Handa; Wonder Women: Proofreader: Phil Koch Feminisms and Superheroes by Lillian S. Robinson; Cover Photo: Hilary Leftick Girls Who Bite Back by Emily Pohl-Weary; Framing the HERIZONS is published four times per year by HERIZONS West: Race, Gender and the Photographic Frontier in the Inc. in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. One-year subscription Pacific Northwest by Carol J.Williams; Without a Net: price: $24.26+$1.70 GST ($25.96) in Canada. 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The purpose of HERIZONS is to empower women; to inspire FIRST WORD hope and foster a state of wellness that enriches women’s lives; to build awareness of issues as they affect women; to 2 BY PENNI MITCHEL promote the strength, wisdom and creativity of women; to The Revolution Continues broaden the boundaries of feminism to include building coalitions and support among other marginalized people; to foster peace and ecological awareness; and to expand the BODY POLITIC influence of feminist principles in the world. HERIZONS 5 BY JUDY REBICK aims to reflect a feminist philosophy that is diverse, Propping up Patriarchy understandable and relevant to women’s daily lives. Views expressed in HERIZONS are those of the writers and COLE’S NOTES do not necessarily reflect HERIZONS’ editorial policy. No material may be reprinted without permission. Submissions 15 BY SUSAN G. COLE and queries will be returned if accompanied by a stamped, Cover Story self-addressed envelope. Due to limited resources, HERIZONS does not accept poetry or fiction submissions. OUT OF BOUNDS HERIZONS is a member of the Manitoba 31 BY LISA RUNDLE Magazine Publishers Association. Super-Solidarity! HERIZONS acknowledges the financial support of the Government of Canada through the Publication Assistance Program (PAP) of the Department ON THE EDGE of Canadian Heritage toward mailing costs. 48 BY LYN COCKBURN Publications Mail Agreement No. 40008866, PAP Registration No. Fighting Fire 07944. Return Undeliverable Addresses to: PO Box 128, Winnipeg, MB, Canada R3C 2G1, Email: [email protected]

HERIZONS WINTER 2005 1 first word BY PENNI MITCHELL

THE REVOLUTION CONTINUES What makes change happen? The women inter- support of the Bloc Quebecois and the NDP. The viewed in this issue can tell you. They’re not only spirit of co-operation under the minority govern- unafraid to ask the powers that be to change, but they ment didn’t hurt either. are not afraid to scrutinize the power within them- According to Barbara Anello of the Disabled selves, their organizations and their communities. Women’s Network, the committee allows “parlia- d’bi young, a young Toronto dub poet, puts it this mentarians to ask critical questions of government way: “If you are truly invested in revolution, you branches, such as, ‘What measurable steps have you have to investigate your relationship to power—how taken towards women’s equality in your departmen- power is balanced in our community, how we give tal initiatives?’” Anello adds, “regressive fiscal poli- and receive love as women and men, how we capital- cies have actually contributed to women’s inequality ize on our power, and how we also play into the roles across the country.” of submission and gender stereotyping.” A standing committee may not be the finale for Submitting to change can be an uncomfortable women’s equality struggles—Minister for the Status process. Ember Swift agonized over whether to of Women Liza Frulla still has no autonomous min- accept an invitation to perform at the Michigan istry on the status of women—but according to Womyn’s Festival—a festival whose policy of exclud- Shelagh Day, chair of FAFIA’s human rights coming trans women she opposes. She accepted the gig mittee, the parliamentary committee is one instru- at Michigan, where she participated in a four-hour ment to ensure Canada lives up to its equality discussion on the issue and then used her time commitments, including those under the UN onstage to make her trans-positive message heard. Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of In the end, she says, “The struggle continues, but the Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW). “We view ears and minds are engaged.” [the standing committee] as a means of informing Linda McQuaig’s stage is the arena of global poli- parliamentarians about how equality commitments tics. It’s the Crude Dude: War, Big Oil and the Fight for are not being met,” says Day. the Planet is about peace, environmental healing and The committee may not have come about without a change in US foreign policy. Asking questions, some good old-fashioned agitating. During a recent digging deep and providing a clear analysis are meeting of FAFIA and the Provincial Advisory McQuaig’s instruments for fuelling change. Council on the Status of Women in St. John’s, local For an alliance of representatives from 35 feminists Dorothy Inglis and Nancy Riche gate- women’s organizations who gathered at a sympo- crashed a meeting of ministers responsible for the sium organized by the Canadian Feminist Alliance status of women that was taking place at the same for International Action (FAFIA) last year, change hotel and presented them with a list of five key happened because women lobbied from all sides of demands, including the standing committee. A few the political stage. Just as we were putting this issue weeks later, the committee had the support of all together, the news came that a parliamentary stand- federal parties. ing committee on the status of women has been cre- What makes change? Individual determination? ated by the House of Commons. This change was Collective strength? Fearlessness? Try all of the made possible because provincial and territorial above. But there’s something more—a sense of obli- women’s advisory councils (those that still exist) gation. Ember Swift’s musical collaborator, Lyndell were also calling for a federal vehicle to ensure Montgomery, says it best: “If we have a pulse, we progress on equality issues. And because of the have a responsibility to work toward dismantling efforts of feminist MPs, the proposal already had the oppression.”

2 WINTER 2005 HERIZONS letters

RENEWED INSPIRATION taken out of context, admittedly, but words fear of punishment,low self-esteem,never got I’ve borrowed a line from Penni Mitchell’s have power and these are the words used to daddy’s approval, but we’re still trying. recent editorial to use as a sig file for my describe Martha Stewart in this article. Mary Maron emails, because every time I read it I think to My experience of Martha Stewart on her Toronto, ON myself, “Damn f—ing straight!” Mitchell TV show was of a beautiful, intelligent, wrote: “Feminist resistance is about nothing charming woman who did none of the obse- CORRECTIONS if not envisioning a perfect world in which quious things with her face and voice that In the Summer issue of Herizons,an item women are second to none.” many women on TV do. She made her guests appeared summarizing the conviction of for- Those words alone renewed my inspira- the centre of attention, giving respect and mer BC provincial court Judge Ramsay. The tion today, so there you go—your editorial admiration to their skills, talents and opin- last paragraph stated that Ramsay had been just proved itself.Thank you and thanks to all ions. She is a serious environmentalist, who at the centre of the ‘rape records’ case in the Herizons staff for a great mag. gets out information about organic practices. early 90s. In fact, the central character was Sue McFadden She is a superb woman who put the lie to the former Roman Catholic bishop Hubert Paris, ON patriarchal dogma: the inferiority of all Patrick O’Connor, who was convicted of sex- women to any man. ually assaulting female students at an Indian RHYMES WITH ITCH As long as the patriarchs can ‘divide and residential school in British Columbia, where How disappointing to see Martha Stewart conquer,’ women will suffer. We lost the he was principal in the 1960s. bad-mouthed in a feminist magazine! “What Womens’ College Hospital in Toronto to the In the summer issue of Herizons, we mis- a bitch”;“I’m Martha Stewart and you’re not”; Harris yahoos with little fuss made by women spelled the name of Sujata Dey, who wrote a “How rude she was to her neighbours”;“How in Ontario. We don’t fight to keep our hard- news article on the issue of disabled women’s nasty she was to her ex-husband”; “Selfish, won gains. We don’t defend the best of us. access to mammogram services. We apolo- absorbed and puts herself first”—all phrases Why? Learned helplessness, fear of ridicule, gize to Sujata for this error.

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PROPPING UP THE PATRIARCHY Pity the poor world. George W. Bush is once again and they are evil” is a simple and powerful message. President of the United States. For those of us who It is no accident that a resolution on same-sex try to analyze such things rationally, it is tough to marriage was on the ballot of 11 states. The vicious understand. The economy is in the tank, the war in electoral mastermind Karl Rove made sure this Iraq is a disaster, and master villain Osama bin would happen so as to mobilize the religious right to Laden remains at large. What exactly has Bush done vote—and vote they did, delivering Bush a clear pop- to deserve re-election? But this election was not ular majority and themselves a lot more power. about reason; it was about fear and hatred. The backlash against feminism and equality rights About a month ago, an American cousin came in general is an important factor in the rise of right- north to visit my elderly mother. He’s about 10 years wing Republicanism, and almost no one is talking older than me and grew up in Florida. Today he is a about it. The backlash against feminism began in the religious Jew and working with an engineering firm United States in the late 1970’s and resulted in the in New York City. He supported Bush. His explana- 1980 election of Ronald Reagan. In her book, Memoirs tion included the most overt racism I’ve heard in a of a Feminist Revolution, Susan Brownmiller opines long time. “We should round up all the Muslims and that the women’s movement died in 1980. If there was put them in internment camps like we did with the ever a time for its resurrection as a full-fledged, Japanese during World War II,” he told us. A Jew multi-issue feminist and peace movement, it is now. supporting internment camps. That’s when I had an There is no question that abortion rights are idea of what was coming in the November election. threatened. Four US Supreme Court justices could It’s not that Bush has hoodwinked Americans; it is retire any day. They are Chief Justice William that he has mobilized them using fear and hatred, Rehnquist, 80; Justice Sandra Day O’Connor, 74; racism and homophobia. In a strange way, Bush’s Justice John Paul Stevens, 84, and, to a lesser support comes from the same place as Osama bin degree, Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, 71. There is Laden’s. Neo-liberalism is a soulless ideology that little doubt that Bush will replace them with anti- preaches greed and power über alles. The appeal of choice judges. The battle in the Senate will be mon- religious fundamentalism, whether Christian, umental. The National Organization of Women Muslim or Jewish, is to speak to those who have not (NOW) is already mobilizing its members for the benefited from the drive to greed and profit with a battle, calling for the Democrats to filibuster any simple message of right and wrong, good and evil. In anti-abortion Bush nominee. the case of Bush, the moralism is a cover for the Public support for a women’s right to choose is same neo-liberal policies. much stronger in Canada, and the religious right is In both cases—Bush and bin Laden—propping up far weaker. Nevertheless, we have to be vigilant. The patriarchy through violence and the oppression of new strength of the religious right in the United women is the central operating dictum. Tariq Ali calls States can give new life to these reactionary forces in it the “Clash of Fundamentalisms,” in his 2002 book Canada. With a minority government, it is possible of that name. In a complicated world, “we are right that things could change very quickly.

HERIZONS WINTER 2005 5 nelliegrams news THE BUZZ ON BUSBY Noted legal expert Karen Busby was awarded a Canadian Bar Association Hero Feminism Fits Busy Schedules Award in August at by Penni Mitchel the association’s Photo: Larry Glawson annual conference (ST. JOHN’S) Feminism Fits is the brain- in Winnipeg. child of Newfoundland feminist and Busby was a founding member of the labour activist Nancy Riche. Launched Group Organizing on Same Sex Issues during International Women’s Week in and Principle (GOSSIP), which works for March, Feminism Fits is a new and simple equality rights for same-sex couples form of political protest. The idea is to under Manitoba law. She sits on the give women a way to have an impact on board of directors for Egale Canada the political process without going to end- and has been a law professor at the less meetings. University of Manitoba since 1988. “Women are busy, very busy. The double day has turned into the triple day-plus.Yet WOMEN ELECTED IN US we want our voices heard,”says Riche, now A record 65 women were elected to retired from her job as Secretary-Treasurer the US House of Representatives in of the Canadian Labour Congress. the November election, including 57 This is how Feminism Fits works. Each incumbents and eight newcomers— month,an issue is selected by the Feminism most of them pro-choice. Fits committee. It can relate to violence In the Senate, all female incumbents against women, economic inequality, child held onto their seats. The number of care, pay equity, or any other issue. Then a women in the Senate holds steady at short backgrounder is prepared and sent 14. “Any time women are successful [in out on a large listserv, along with a sample Busy women in Newfoundland created a simple, their bids for office], it’s great,” said letter. Activists are encouraged to write effective way to lobby without going to endless meetings. Photo: Getty Images Kathleen Casey, associate director of Premier Danny Williams and the minister the Center for American Women and for the status of women.Since International the slack when governments downgrade or Politics at Rutgers. Women’s Day is March 8, the committee cut public services.It is women who end up Seven women won open seats in the decided that the 8th of each month would doing this work for free.” House; one congressional candidate, be a Feminism Fits day. So far, four Feminism Fits campaigns pro-choice Democrat Melissa Bean of The goal is to have hundreds of women have been launched. They resulted in over Illinois, defeated an incumbent. send letters on the same day, with the idea 300 letters asking the government to boost Debbie Wasserman Schultz, a pro- that receiving one or two letters a day is funds to women’s centres, protesting cut- choice Democrat, swept Florida’s 20th easy to ignore, but receiving hundreds of backs in the provincial budget and lobbing District race, defeating anti-choice is a lot harder. for an increase in the minimum wage. The Republican Margaret Hostetter. In There is no shortage of issues to tackle. Feminism Fits committee hopes that the Wisconsin, Gwen Moore, who is pro- Williams’ latest provincial budget included idea will spread across the nation.Lisa choice, became the state’s first black the elimination of 4,000 public sector jobs Zigler, chair of the 2004 St. John’s IWD representative to Congress, beating and massive restructuring in the areas of Committee and a member of Feminism anti-choice Republican Gerald Boyle. education and health. Fits, says,“I would love to see every politi- In Pennsylvania’s 13th District, “Women in our province will be much cian who thinks that they can balance pro-choice Democrat Allyson worse off as a result of the government’s budgets on the backs of women, while Schwartz defeated Republican Melissa budget,” says labour activist Lana Payne. allowing corporations to get away with Brown. Pro-choice anti-war Democrat “The 2004 Budget has told women to pre- paying virtually no taxes, get that sick feel- Cynthia McKinney won in Georgia’s 4th pare themselves for more upheaval in the ing in the pit of their stomachs when they District. In her acceptance speech, school system and in health care. Women look at the calendar and realize that it’s the the African American voiced her already shoulder a disproportionate share 8th of the month.” of the burden when it comes to picking up Log on to Feminism Fits: www.sjswc.ca

6 WINTER 2005 HERIZONS nelliegrams

opposition to the “war machine” and the “corporate propaganda machine” of America. Artists Kickstart Community Robin Hindery, Women’s eNews by Emma Kivisild KILLING US SOFTLY LIVES! (VANCOUVER) Artists with disabilities and creators ... have pushed back the Does advertising came to Vancouver from across Canada, demons of shame and humiliation; have still tyrannize and from England, Australia and the US in wrenched the cameras away from the dis- women? In a word: September.They kicked up a fuss at the torting angles of mainstream media; have yes. Jean Kilbourne’s KickstART2 Festival—Extraordinary Lives, bitten a goodly chunk or two out of the pioneering work Extraordinary Art. All kinds of artists with benevolent hand of charity.” helped popularize all kinds of disabilities—physical, mental, Blackbridge describes the power Frazee the study of gender and intellectual—were represented. refers to as a creative force of community- representation in Audiences of all abilities enjoyed music, building. “Bringing together these artists, advertising. Her dance, comedy, theatre and visual art, and these audiences, helps build languages of award-winning Killing us Softly films participated in workshops on singing, sto- disability—perspectives where disability is influenced millions of college and rytelling, doll-making central rather than a high school students across two gen- and more. momentary aside,” erations. In Killing Us Softly 3, Looking at disabil- she said. Kilbourne uses over 160 ads and TV ity culture from a In recognition of her commercials to critique advertising’s woman’s point of community-building images of women. view was a significant efforts, Frazee, a The average North American sees aspect of KickstART. founder of KickstART, 3,000 ads per day. “What’s at stake is Artist Persimmon received the inaugu- our ability to have authentic and Blackbridge, a self- ral Joan Meister freely chosen lives—nothing less,” described “learning- KickstART Award, said Kilbourne. disabled crazy chick” which recognizes an Ordering info: www.mediaed.org/ who mounted a series “outstanding contri- videos/MediaGenderAndDiversity/Killi of three-dimensional bution by an individ- ngUsSoftly3 Artist Persimmon Blackbridge portraits at the event, mounted a series of three- ual or group to put it this way: dimensional portraits at disability art and cul- KENYAN PREZ “Disability includes KickstART2 in Vancouver. ture.” The award is OPPOSES FGM Photo: City of Chilliwack such disparate expe- named for Kickst- At a September con- riences—my learn- ART board member ference in Nairobi, ing-disabled life is so Joan Meister, a pas- Kenya, President different from some- sionate advocate for Mwai Kibaki called one who’s deaf or has CP—but at the dignity and rights of people with dis- on African leaders to KickstART we were giddy from the power abilities who died in 2004. enforce laws that of our connections.” KickstART 2001 was the first interna- ban female genital Ontario activist Catherine Frazee tional festival of disability arts and cul- mutilation (FGM). “We must continue described that connection in her address to ture in Canada. This was the second. Is our efforts to stop those who would participants:“This is a project of rehabilitat- there enough interest for a KickstART3? continue the practice in the face of ing the public imaginary,of reclaiming pub- “KickstART2 is neither a beginning nor prohibitive legislation,” he said. The lic spaces.This is a project possible only in a an end, but a great, throbbing drum roll conference, attended by more than new poetics of language, image and gesture, in a beat that just goes on and on,” 400 participants, was jointly organ- emanating from the voices, histories, ideas explained Frazee. ized by the government of Kenya and and ideals of disabled people,”she said. For more information on KickstART fes- a coalition of non-governmental “Let’s not underestimate the power of tivals, go to www.s4dac.org. organizations. It was held to review what has happened here in the past three Emma Kivisild is an artist and writer with the progress made in the region in days,” Frazee continued. “Disabled artists multiple sclerosis living in Vancouver.

HERIZONS WINTER 2005 7 nelliegrams Highway to implementing a protocol adopted by Healing Drives countries at a June 2003 Cairo conference that outlaws FGM. Participants Native Women called for concerted and sustained action to reinforce laws that are in by Rachel Thompson place, and for a commitment from governments and communities (VANCOUVER) As the Native Women’s throughout the continent to change Association of Canada (NWAC) prepared behaviours and traditions that bru- to launch its Sisters in Spirit campaign to tally violate the sexual and reproduc- fight violence against Aboriginal women, tive health and rights of over two police were announcing more DNA match- million girls in Africa yearly. es from a farm in Port Coquitlam, British Columbia. WOMEN ON It was a harsh reminder of the dangers ‘GLASS CLIFF’ Aboriginal women face in Canada. Sixty When The Times, a UK newspaper, percent of the more than 50 women miss- reported that women in high-level ing in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside Terri Brown talks to reporters at the gates to a Port Coquitlam farm after a native cleansing ceremony corporate jobs were failures who were Aboriginal. was held in honour of the missing women. curse their companies with sub-par A shocking 1996 Canadian government CP Photo: Richard Lam performance, Michelle Ryan and Alex statistic reveals that status Aboriginal Haslam decided to investigate. The women between 25 and 44 are five times Highway 16 between Prince Rupert and gender researchers from the more likely than non-Aboriginal women of Prince George was so nicknamed when five University of Exeter found that while the same age to die as the result of violence. young Aboriginal women went missing on women were generally under-repre- The Sisters in Spirit campaign aims to that stretch between 1988 and 1995. sented in the business world, they right this wrong and bring honour and Before 1988, 27 Aboriginal women went were over-represented in high-risk respect back to those who have gone miss- missing along the same stretch. Police and positions, a finding that suggests the ing and been murdered. The campaign the media paid little attention until Nicole presence of a “glass cliff.” calls on the federal government for a $10 Hoar, a non-indigenous woman, disap- Ryan and Haslam discovered that million fund to support research and edu- peared in 2002 on the highway. women are more likely to receive a cation related to violence against In other parts of Canada, murder inves- significant career advancement when Aboriginal women. tigations of native women have been a job has a higher probability of fail- “This is one of the darkest periods in the ignored for years. ure, while men are more likely to be history of colonialism,”observes NWAC pres- The Aboriginal Justice Inquiry of recruited into stable positions. ident Terri Brown.“However,we are not alone Manitoba noted in its 1991 report that Despite these rigged odds, many because we have the support of each other, “Betty Osborne would be alive today had women have risen to the challenge. In and that of our ancestors on the other side.” she not been an Aboriginal woman.”No one fact, 63 percent of women given inher- The group also has the support of the could have predicted that what was termed ently risky jobs actually increased com- United and Anglican Churches of a “racist and sexist act” would visit pany performance after five months Canada, the Law Commission of Canada Osborne’s family again, three decades after (the newspaper article in question only and Amnesty International. In October, Osborne’s 1971 assault and murder in The looked at short-term performance). Amnesty International released a report Pas by a group of teenaged boys. The glass cliff is still a precarious place and an international action appeal urg- But just that happened when Osborne’s to find oneself, however. Often, once a ing immediate government action. 16-year-old cousin, Felicia Solomon failed difficult task has been accomplished, a “All women have the right to live in safe- to come home from school in Winnipeg in man is positioned to reclaim the post. ty and dignity, but overt cultural prejudice March of 2003. Body parts found three Other women find they’re in power just and official indifference have put the months later were identified as hers. long enough to take the fall for the sins indigenous women of Canada in harm’s “Families like mine all over Canada are of their predecessors. way,”said Irene Khan, Secretary General of wondering how many more sisters and Women’s E News, http://www.wom- Amnesty International. daughters we have to lose before real gov- ensenews.org/article.cfm/dyn/aid/20 The Highway of Tears is just one example ernment action is taken,” said family 41/context/archive of the prejudice and official indifference spokesperson Darlene Osborne. that puts Aboriginal women at risk. BC’s Sisters in Spirit is at www.sistersinspirit.ca

8 WINTER 2005 HERIZONS nelliegrams

WOMEN RULE!

Charron and Abella. Our Supreme Court justices now number four women and five men after Louise Charron and Rosalie Abella were sworn in just before the 75th anniversary of Person’s Day, which marks the TAAFI panel on feminism in art, seated before “Spatial Distortions,” an installation by Alice Brummell, includes Rochelle Holt, Allyson Mitchell, Carla Garnet, Si Si Penaloza, Paulette Phillips, Corinna Ghaznavi case that opened the door to Supreme and Linda Abrahams. Photo: Phil Koch Court appointments for women. “At last, the Supreme Court of Canada will be as close to parity where “F” Word Eludes Art World representation of the sexes is con- by Phil Koch cerned as is possible,” said Catharine Laidlaw-Sly, president of the National (TORONTO) While feminist-inspired prac- in this program identify as hard-core femi- Council of Women of Canada. tices are alive and well in contemporary art, nists, but in my mind they all are. They’re Chief Justice Beverley McLachlin many artists are reluctant to describe all doing very politically-charged work.” noted, “No other comparable court, themselves as feminists, according to par- Another panellist, Toronto artist Allyson anywhere in the world, to my knowl- ticipants at a recent Toronto Alternative Art Mitchell,describes her own creative work as edge, has come so far in giving Fair International (TAAFI) panel. “an experiment in willing a movement women a voice in its deliberations.” The panel, “The Current State of through art.” She sees her wider project, Only two women sit on the nine- Feminism in Art,”included artists, curators which she playfully titles “Deep Lez,” as a judge bench of the Supreme Court of and academics who agreed that the term way of getting people to talk about femi- the United States. One woman sat on “feminist” is being rejected by many nism. “It’s my own publicity movement to Australia’s high court from 1987 to women artists today. Curator Corinna address how uncool feminism has become.” 2003, and one woman was appointed Ghaznavi says this is especially this case for Mitchell also sees feminist creative work this year to sit among the 12 law lords younger people, “but also, surprisingly, for taking place outside of galleries and muse- of Britain. many of the artists I work with—artists I ums,with musicians,zine-makers and oth- In 1982, Bertha Wilson became the would position as feminists,but they do not ers. She mentioned Lesbians on Ecstasy, a first woman appointed to the Supreme themselves.” band from Montreal that takes feminist Court in Canada. And in 2000, “My students have really clear ideas of anthems by the likes of Parachute Club, McLachlin became its first female what feminism is,” Ghaznavi said. “They Fifth Column and k.d.lang, and repackages Chief Justice. Justices Charron and just don’t see it as their issue.” them for a new audience. Abella replace justices Louise Arbour And yet “feminist work is everywhere,” Curator Carla Garnet noted that academ- and Frank Iacobucci, who retired in said Paulette Phillips, an associate profes- ics and the media often portray feminism as June. Justice Marie Deschamps is the sor at the Ontario College of Art and a thing of the past. She expressed frustra- fourth female judge. Design.“I think young men and women are tion with a recent article in C Magazine,a both doing feminist work, they just don’t Toronto-based art publication, that includ- NO DEPORTATION FOR identify it as such.” ed a caption saying,“Let’s face it. Feminism QUEBEC FEMINIST Phillips recently curated Do the Wrong is dead.” The article is about Canadian After a long campaign led by a Thing, a program of international film and musician Peaches and the caption was Syrian-born feminist and supported video that responds to women’s construc- placed beneath a photo of the performer. by the Fédération des femmes du tion as social subjects.“Women’s behaviour “I think Peaches is out there celebrating all Québec, Nouha Hussein avoided is diverted to do the right thing,” Phillips the kind of bold, wild, rock ’n’ roll, raunchy, deportation this summer. says.“This program is about those who have hot, feminine sexuality that she has,”Garnet Aided by the federation, Hussein at some time chosen to do the wrong thing.” said. “I don’t think she’s saying feminism is launched a public appeal to immigra- She sees such work as exemplary of fem- dead, and I don’t see where we get off letting tion officials to stop her deportation. inism now.“I don’t know how many people C Magazine say feminism is dead.”

HERIZONS WINTER 2005 9 CAW-1804.qxp 2/2/05 2:21 PM Page 1 Frustrated...Frustrated... excluded...excluded... undervalued.undervalued. Workplace barriers can shut people with disabilities out of paid employment. They often end up poor, and society as a whole is impoverished. ItÕs time to build barrier-free workplaces Ñ today. ItÕs up to employers. ItÕs up to government. ItÕs up to all of us.

Building barrier-free workplaces, building a better country. nelliegrams

Hussein has been a member of the FFQ Committee of Women of Cultural Communities since 2002. If deported, Hussein faces prison, where she would also face a risk of torture and capital punishment for the crime of having participated in meetings of a political nature in Syria in 2001 and 2002. Arrest warrants await her in Syria and in Lebanon, her two countries of citizenship. Citizenship and Immigration Canada initially refused to accept Hussein as a political refugee. But MP Judy Wasylycia-Leis continues the call for a breast implant registry. Despite the fact that an estimated after political pressure brought to 100,000 Canadian women have the devices, no registry exists to monitor their long-term effects or the health of women who have them. bear by organizations and individuals, the deportation order was lifted and Hussein received a resident visa for Ruptured Regulations Not Enough one year. by Michelle French DISCRIMINATION Almost 15 years have passed since Judy “We allow devices on the market even IN BULK Wasylycia-Leis, a long-time fixture of NDP though we don’t know how safe they are,” A Costco assistant warehouse manager politics in Manitoba, met a young woman Wasylycia-Leis maintains. filed a national sex discrimination class with autoimmune problems believed to be Last March, Wasylucia-Leis tabled a pri- action lawsuit in San Francisco. The suit linked to her breast implants. As the NDP vate member’s bill that would require the charges that Costco denies women pro- health critic in the early days the Conserva- government to establish a breast implant motions to high-paying assistant and tive Filmon administration, Wasylycia-Leis registry to monitor ill effects experienced general store manager positions. was a feminist on a mission. by women who have had the devices surgi- Costco employs over 80,000 work- She responded in true Canadian fash- cally implanted—something the govern- ers. Fewer than one in six of Costco’s ion—she wrote letters to Health Canada to ment already does for heart valves. The bill senior store managers are women, yet alert them to the health risks. Their would also compel Canada to facilitate its workforce is nearly 50 percent response was lukewarm, she recalls. It was independent scientific research. female. The suit was brought by ‘Don’t overreact.’ “Breast implants have been shown to Shirley Rae Ellis, an assistant manager Two years later, in 1992, Health Canada pose a serious health risk, yet we currently in Costco’s Douglas County, Colorado and the US FDA bowed to public pressure have no way of either accurately assessing warehouse. Despite excellent per- and thousands of complication reports by that risk or coordinating a response,” formance reviews, Ellis claims she was pulling silicone implants from the market. Wasylycia-Leis said last spring when she repeatedly denied promotions. Today, saline implants are all the rage, as announced the introduction of the bill. According to Brad Seligman, execu- programs like Fox’s The Swan—a reality Like most private member’s bills, hers tive director of the Impact Fund and pageant where women battle to be crowned was jettisoned by process: After first read- lead counsel for Ms. Ellis, “There is no Swan after undergoing cosmetic surgery— ing, the bill died on the order paper—a promotion system at Costco. Women overshadow health concerns. And silicone casualty of the June federal election. must rely on the subjective and arbi- implant manufacturers are lobbying to end Today, the bill is being formatted for trary decisions of Costco’s all-male the moratorium in Canada and the US. reintroduction. Wasylycia-Leis hopes to senior management. Not surprisingly, Wasylycia-Leis vaulted from provincial bend more ears this time,given the dynam- the men at Costco get a better deal politics to the House of Commons seven ics of a Liberal minority government and when it comes to promotions.” years ago. At one time the federal NDP’s the possibilities spurred by new faces in All of Costco’s operations vice- health critic, she sat on the all-party feder- Health and Status of Women Canada— presidents are male, while only two of al Standing Committee on Health until Ujjal Dosanjh and Liza Frulla, respectively. its 33 executive and senior officers recently. But to her frustration, the breast are female. implant file remains open. continued on page 12

HERIZONS WINTER 2005 11 nelliegrams continued from page 11 revealed that 69 percent of women who had “My hope is to persuade the government silicon gel breast implants for 12 years or MOTHERPROOF MOBILES to take it on itself. Steal the idea,”she says. more had at least one rupture. Whether parliamentarians pick up on it In Canada, it is estimated that between is another matter. 100,000 and 200,000 women have breast Last spring, Conservative MP Deb Gray implants. Numbers are sketchy because compared the bill to the country’s gun reg- most cosmetic surgery is done privately istry.“I’m not sure I want those suckers to and there is no requirement that ill effects know very much about me at all,”she told be monitored.It is only once breast implant the National Post. users enter the public health system that “That’s using the privacy issue to deny they are observed. women their right to health protection,” A lack of public records doesn’t mean Wasylycia-Leis contends. there are no health troubles associated with Mother Proof.com is on a never-end- Ann Pederson, spokesperson for the BC the devices. A 2004 BC study found that ing quest for the quintessential mom- Centre of Excellence for Women’s Health, between 25 and 50 percent of women with mobile. Mother Proof wants to find a notes that in the event of a consumer adviso- implants experienced medical complica- car that’s easy to load kids into, with ry or product recall, women would likely be tions, such as capsular contraction (scar- seats that hide baby vomit and that contacted through their physician. She adds ring around the implant and hardness of will make us feel sexy and modern that women have volunteered their names the breast implant), deflation and rupture, while driving it. “Oh yeah, if it would and circumstances in class action lawsuits calcium deposits, mammographic interfer- create international peace and end like the Dow Corning Corporation settlement ence, breast/chest discomfort or pain and world hunger, that would be a bonus,” of 1999, in which the company paid $3.2 bil- nipple discharge. Systematic complica- the website says. There, you’ll also lion in compensation to women suffering tions—such as autoimmune and connec- find practical new car reviews, such from complications linked to implants. tive tissue disorders like scleroderma, as their latest on the Cooper Mini: Although silicone breast implants are no systemic lupus erythematosus, mixed con- “The Cooper certainly isn’t meant as a longer widely available in the US and nective tissue disease, rheumatoid arthritis mom-mobile … but the Mini’s latch Canada—the FDA banned them in 1992 and Sjogren-Larsson syndrome—have a connectors are cleverly stored and after receiving 103,343 adverse reaction higher incidence among women with easily accessible. My oldest child reports, and Canada followed suit—saline breast implants. could readily buckle her own seatbelt. implants are widely available. According to The BC Centre of Excellence for Women’s The fact that the Mini’s rear seat is the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, Health study compared the public health made from one moulded piece … breast augmentations have increased by care utilization of women with and without eliminates the possibility for the crack seven percent between 2002 and 2003, part implants. Researchers found that 51 per- to get littered with pieces of free of a 32 percent jump in cosmetic plastic cent of implant recipients surveyed had at cookies from the grocery store.” surgery procedures. least one follow-up implant-related sur- “They release how many women get gery. Of those, 49 percent subsequently ‘SPOUSE IN HOUSE’ them. They don’t release information on underwent one additional surgery, 23 per- GETS THE BOOT what happens to them,” said Stephanie cent of that subgroup underwent two, 11 Ontario won’t appeal a ruling that Donne of the Washington DC-based percent underwent three, and 17 percent struck down its “spouse in the National Women’s Health Network. “The underwent four or more surgeries.Of those house” law at the Supreme Court of increase in the number of women getting surveyed, 37 percent eventually had their Canada, after all. breast implants is a disturbing trend, espe- implants removed. Brought in by former Ontario Premier cially because we still don’t know a lot.” In October 2003, California silicone Mike Harris, the ‘spouse in the house’ Although saline implants—water and implant manufacturer Inamed applied to rule stipulated that welfare recipients salt-filled—are inert upon implantation, Health Canada and the FDA to lift the mora- lost their benefits as soon as they studies show that microbial growth often torium on its implants. The manufacturer started living with someone of the develops in and around the area of implant. argued against claims that autoimmune opposite sex who earned an income. One US study found that 70 per cent of diseases are linked to implants. In January, The law automatically considered saline implants removed after 11 to 15 years the US FDA upheld its ban and strength- the people spouses, despite federal had ruptured or were leaking. Between ened the standard of proof that manufac- family law that doesn’t consider January 1,1985 and September 17,1996,the turers must produce prior to approval. people common-law spouses until FDA received 23,454 adverse reaction Health Canada has yet to rule on they have been living together for reports for saline implant patients. In one Inamed’s application. US government-sponsored study,MRI scans “It’s not an open process,”Pederson says

12 WINTER 2005 HERIZONS of Health Canada’s approval process for “We need a good approval process that’s nelliegrams products like breast implants. The centre robust in its examination of the safety and was unable to coax Health Canada to efficiency of medical devices or drugs,” three years. release information on the application. Boscoe maintains.“We need a publicly-fund- Almost 10,000 people in the (Health Canada would not disclose infor- ed post-marketing surveillance system.” province lost some or all of their ben- mation to Herizons, either.) Wasylycia-Leis agrees. “We have been efits when the Harris government Madeline Boscoe, executive director of catering to the wishes of the business and brought in the change nine years ago. the Canadian Women’s Health Network, corporate community and moving away from Sandra Falkiner of Cambridge was has been a keen advocate for a breast a regulated model where you make every a part-time student with an asth- implant registry since 1995.She has been a effort to protect the health of the individual.” matic son who lost benefits of $400 member of Women and Health Protection, Voluntary registries exist in the US, the a month and medical coverage for a working group discussing proposed UK, and Denmark. The UK’s registry her family when she moved in with a changes to Canada’s federal legislation on advised women of the recall of Trilucent man earning $8 an hour. Falkiner and health protection. implants in 2000, when it was discovered three other women challenged the “Health Canada’s health protection that the implants’ soybean oil filling pro- policy and won. The Ontario Court of authority was set up to look at drugs,” duced toxic compounds. Appeal struck the rule down, saying it Boscoe noted. Some breast implants pre- Despite the red flags in Canada and “stripped women of their dignity.” date the legislation, according to Boscoe, around the world, “Health Canada is not The Supreme Court was due to hear and she says that means they’ve been sold considering the establishment of such a the case this fall, but in October the “without the same sort of scrutiny.” registry at this time,”said Nathalie Lalonde, Ontario government announced it Health Canada’s capacity to approve a spokesperson for Health Canada would drop the appeal. breast implants for market falls under the With breast implant purchases on the Under current policy, a welfare Medical Devices Regulations, the Food and rise and manufacturers clamouring for recipient’s benefits are reassessed Drugs Act and the Health Canada Guidance licenses, the stakes continue to rise. A reg- after he or she has lived with an Document, which require a pre-market istry won’t take care of all of the potential income-earner for three months. review and post-market surveillance. problems. But it would be a start.

HERIZONS WINTER 2005 13 Subscribe on line Put Out Patriarchy. Subscribe to Herizons. for $25.96 at SEND YOUR ORDER WITH THE HANDY FORM ENCLOSED—OR SUBSCRIBE ONLINE. www.herizons.ca cole’s notes BY SUSAN G. COLE

COVER STORY I know I’m not supposed to pay too much attention popular comic actress Eliza Ferren his official mis- to literary awards, but I can’t help it. Every year, I tress. But she’s outraged by the sexual politics that cross my fingers that the Giller short list and the let men get what they want when they want, while Governor General’s slate will acknowledge the phe- women remain constricted by marital codes. nomenal books from my favourite Canadian women Besides, she has the hots for the sculptor Anne authors. But once again, it’s not to be. Damer. She doesn’t know it, of course, and Damer How did Tessa McWatt’s incredible third novel, can’t figure out what she feels. But—and this is the This Body (HarperCollins), slip by the GG jury’s key to Donoghoe’s art—we can, and that’s what nose? McWatt has always written eloquently about makes this page-turner so delicious. the painful experience of displacement. In this case To be fair, publishers have to submit books to she gets inside the head of Victoria, a 60-something awards juries in order to get them considered. In the Guyanese woman who is left to rear her nephew case of the Giller, each house is restricted to three when his mother, her sister, dies in a car crash. titles and no one’s ready to give away information on Victoria has moved to Toronto, but because her which books were submitted in the first place. Kenyan lover has disappeared mysteriously she Donoghoe’s book was originally published by Virago decides to head to London, England with the young in the UK, so it’s quite possible it didn’t make boy Derek. Unfortunately, Victoria just can’t con- Penguin’s list. But do yourself a favour and put it on nect—either with her nephew or with the men who yours. are too attracted to her. She is too obsessed with her And keep an eye out for anything by Helen recipes—she works as a cook—too numbed by loss, Humphreys, who is turning into one of the best writ- too afraid she will be abandoned again. ers in the country. In the very brilliant Wild Dogs This Body is beautiful, powerful, written by a (HarperCollins), six people meet to call out for their woman of colour and political—usually something dogs in hope that by some miracle their animals will the GG likes. The Giller Prize, on the other hand, return to them. Humphreys tells the stories of how doesn’t worry about whether the author has been the animals went wild in episodes narrated by each recognized previously, or is too famous, or comes of the characters. She can get inside anyone’s skin— from Toronto, or has white skin. How could the jury her shifts in voice are seamless and her language have missed new books by Emma Donoghoe and shimmers. Sometimes, the deepest emotion and Helen Humphreys? most powerful poetry can come out of the simplest Donoghoe’s Life Mask (Virago/Penguin) is perfect scenario. Giller fodder. It’s a big, fat period piece; it’s based— Now I’m going to share my own Top 10 list: 1. Life like Donoghoe’s previous book Slammerkin—on real Mask by Emma Donoghoe; 2. Wild Dogs by Helen historical characters, and so required tons of Humphreys; 3. This Body by Tessa McWatt; 4. The research; and it’s got real literary heft. The book Beginning Of Was by Anya Szado; 5. Hopeful Monsters by unfolds in the late 1700s when British MPs, trying to Hiromi Goto; 6. What Casanova Told Me by Susan curtail the powers of the monarchy, start having sec- Swan; 7. Blind Night by Cordelia Strube; 8. Thieves by ond thoughts after France’s revolutionaries use the Janice Kulyk Keefer; 9. Waking Beauty by Elysse guillotine a little too eagerly. Friedman; 10. I Am A Red Dress by Anna Camilleri. In the meantime, Lord Derby, one of London’s Susan G. Cole is Entertainment/Books Editor at most influential pols, wants to make the city’s most Toronto’s NOW Magazine

HERIZONS WINTER 2005 15 A New Generation of Word Warriors A PASSION FOR REVOLUSHUN INSPIRES DUB POETS

by Sheila Nopper

ah-ee-lah and d’bi young are creating “i c u too,” in which she critiques the white male sparks with their word sounds. These sec- tendency to view black “womyn” as exotic creatures ond-generation dub poets—who are also and, correspondingly, the wannabe kids who try to nnoteworthy playwrights and actors—rhythmically “dress like who they think i be.” fan those sparks into flames of resistance against On the track “real evolution,” she reminds us of injustice as they burn new pathways toward social our individual responsibility to bring about change. liberation. Over the simulated sound of an old scratchy record, The roots of this poetic uprising were planted back nah-ee-lah proclaims, “real evolution will not be in the 70s by nah-ee-lah and young’s foremothers, covered packaged or broadcast/ in lies/ real evolu- who include Lillian Allen, Afua Cooper and ahdri tion/ true revolution/ begins on the/ inside.” zhina mandiela. Through their own artistic endeav- nah-ee-lah graciously explains that she is putting ours and community activism, these ‘elder’ dub some of those ideas into practice in her personal life poets inspired people of diverse cultural origins to by learning “to listen a bit more and change how I stretch the boundaries of their creative expression. speak to people.” This, she explains emphatically, They took their rebelliously empowering art to the “is expanding the possibilities of my relationships people by reciting their poems in the streets and in and my ability to love.” A recent example of that shift schools, as well as at protests; they confronted the occurred when—despite her disappointments with Eurocentric gatekeepers of the art world to demand academia, and bolstered by the encouragement of that their art form be taken seriously; and they people she respects—she decided to persevere helped develop the creative talents of aspiring poets, toward completing her master’s program in Fine all the while finding an affinity with a wide variety of Arts (Theatre—Playwriting) at York University. Her radical artists, musicians and community activists. critique of such so-called “institutions of higher Allen and Cooper were the driving force behind learning” will no doubt be cleverly infused into the the first International Dub Poetry Festival in 1993, script of her thesis play, entitled “No Knowledge as well as its June 2004 sequel, which featured an College.” She expects she may one day be teaching at intergenerational range of women and firmly estab- a university herself. lished Toronto as an epicentre of the “word sound In a similar vein, nah-ee-lah has designed multi- power” movement worldwide. It was at this latest media workshops on culture and language that festival that I first encountered the stimulating per- examine the role of the dominant culture in repress- formances of nah-ee-lah and d’bi. ing the creative expression of those it marginalizes. Several tracks from nah-ee-lah’s 2002 CD Free She is also enthusiastically preparing to launch a Dome—which received an award from the Urban new production company that will coincide with the Music Association of Canada—incisively expose the release of her next CD. multi-layered and intertwined levels of white Born in Jamaica, d’bi young, a self-described supremacy and sexist programming. One example is “blackbushoomaan,” grew up watching her mother,

16 WINTER 2005 HERIZONS Anita Stewart (also known as Anilia Soyinka), perform throughout that country during the 80s as the only woman member of the legendary politically- charged dub poetry group, Poets in Unity. Now residing in Toronto, young is an increasingly sought-after poet and actor. Like nah-ee-lah, she is interested in exploring the dynamics of power and identity. A participant on the recent Toronto dub fest panel, “Women of the Word,” young said, “If you are truly invested in revolution, you have to investigate your relationship to power—how power is balanced in our community, how we give and receive Dub poet nah-ee-lah believes that real revolution begins on the inside. love as women and men, how we capitalize on our Photo: Terri Jennina power, and how we also play into the roles of submission and gender stereotyping.” Theatre Passe Muraille next summer. These uncompromising values permeate young’s Blood is a recurring theme in d’bi young’s work. work. Presently, she is fine-tuning the production In the gripping track, “blood” on the demo of her of her “one oomaan play” entitled blood (claat), forthcoming CD, dubbin revolushun (recorded in which is a reclamation of the Jamaican use of a slang Havana), she boldly questions the silence surround- epithet associated with menstruation. Young ing the once celebrated monthly ritual of bleeding, explains that the play—the first of a trilogy—“is and audaciously wonders “from where the shame loosely based on my life, and what it means to be a around my cunt came.” She contends that “it’s a woman, an African woman, a black woman, what it covert operation” when “more than half the popula- means to be womanist, feminist, working-class, a tion—bleed.” Linking her ancestral blood of cen- full-time artist, and how we tell stories responsi- turies of slavery to images of women’s blood as a bly.” In it she plays eight characters, male and creative liberating force, while simultaneously mak- female, who, through conversations with each other, ing a diasporic goddess connection with her “reveal how they deal with blood—blood in violence, Cuban/Yoruba sisters, she proudly declares, “i bleed blood in molestation, blood as menstrual cycles cuz i am a warrior/ amazon dawta of yemaya.” leading to birth, and blood as ancestry and lineage.” Another exceptional track, “genda benda,” At Toronto’s 2004 Summer Works Theatre Festival, provocatively explores gender as a social construct blood (claat) was nominated for best play and young and encourages “tha sistas” to “redefine your femi- was credited with the best performance. She’s nist position” and “question the standards of beau- scheduled to present the play at Vancouver’s ty.” Later in the song, she offers a tribute “to all Sisterhood Festival next spring and at Toronto’s weirdos/ people who be responsibly different/ he

HERIZONS WINTER 2005 17 she/ she he/ transvestites/ transgendered/ queer gay bi lesbian straight….” In so doing, d’bi young offers a welcome alternative to the divisive stance of such male reggae megastars as Beenie Man and Sizzla, who frequently call for violence against their queer brethren and sistren. nah-ee-lah agrees that “the huge flare-up with the homophobia that’s pervasive in reggae music” needs to be addressed. “I don’t believe in ostracizing anyone for their beliefs,” she avows, “or killing anybody over any differences.” Yet she is also concerned that censoring people’s right to artistic expression could backfire and ultimately silence outspoken artists d’bi young explores her relationship to power. Photo: Hilary Leftick like herself. While maintaining a steady analytical pulse on tion to homophobic, misogynist or white suprema- issues related to identity, racism and sexism, both cist diatribes, nah-ee-lah hopes “there can be some d’bi young and nah-ee-lah venture beyond the soci- kind of ground that we can communicate on and etal taboos of their Jamaican heritage and expand learn to live in harmony in a way that respects the implicit limitations of polite Canadian etiquette. human life.” They do this by offering insightful commentary on Though distinct in their poetic styles and in their “cuntroversial” topics, what nah-ee-lah describes choices of musical accompaniment, these contem- as “women’s sexuality and sensuality—and owner- porary griots unabashedly slice through “the ship of that—you know, being able to discuss your clits.” Rather than advocating censorship as a solu- continued on page 45

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rom the earliest days of childhood, we’re Stand Your Ground separated into two camps: those who sit and F those who stand. Yet as recently as 150 years We’ve made strides in the corridors of Parliament, ago, women stood as often as men to relieve them- on the shop floor and in the boardrooms of the nation. selves and in many countries—India and the Now is the time to stand up for ourselves in the bathroom. Philippines, for example—it is still a widespread and acceptable practice. by Kim Bannerman Pigott In The Histories Herodotus wrote, “Women [in Egypt] urinate standing up, men sitting down,” a revelation that shocked his Greek sensibilities. Among the matrilineal Tualag people of the Sahara, this method of division has continued into the present day. When presented with a non-Western toilet,

HERIZONS WINTER 2005 19 most women born in Western countries are con- use, the same attendant to hand a clean towel, comb founded—unaware of their own abilities. We’ve been and brush to those who require to use them.” hoodwinked into believing that the efficiency of “Jennings buildings” offered a private and sani- standing to urinate is the sole capacity of men. The tary option for both genders of a certain class, and act of seated urination is neither a quick manner of by the 1870s public restrooms had gained conserva- voiding nor a sanitary one, but most women only tive favour. shrug helplessly and hover over the seat, praying The fact that Jennings’ buildings allowed women they won’t make a mess. the convenience of relieving themselves while away It was not always thus. Sitting was marketed in the from home does not indicate that their habits were middle of the 18th century as a to sit rather than stand. On the luxury, a process that required contrary, the lack of privacy with expensive appliances, and was bogs was the reason why they therefore restricted to a group of WE’VE BEEN were not used by women. (During pampered people who had both HOODWINKED INTO the Victorian era, there were time and money to spend on BELIEVING THAT public outcries against men their bodily functions. THE EFFICIENCY OF using them, for the same reason.) Early water closets offered STANDING TO Further proof that standing seats for resting and a weak swirl URINATE IS THE was still the norm for both sexes of water to remove the offending SOLE CAPACITY is the presence of plackets in matter, but this merely deposit- OF MEN. skirts during this era. Like a but- ed it in the ominously-titled ton fly on jeans, a placket in a “save-all” tray. In some styles, a skirt allowed the wearer to open cord was pulled which dumped a layer of ash over the the front so that she didn’t need to hold yards of fab- offending material to neutralize odours. ric aloft. Afterwards, it was closed with buttons or The designs were a vast improvement over the with hooks and eyes. bogs and metal grates that peppered many urban The modern valve-flush toilet was introduced areas. In 1851, George Jennings installed a public circa 1889. Most had the shape that we would attrib- lavatory in London’s Crystal Gardens for the Great ute to a urinal, while others looked like a simple Exhibition, and 827,280 visitors paid for its use. round bowl perched on a tower. Interestingly, many When the Crystal Gardens were re-erected in were decorated with intricately painted flowers or Sydingham, local authorities strongly rejected the their pedestals cast in the shapes of lions or dol- inclusion of a public lavatory on the grounds that phins. The valve-flush water closet was a piece of art, they did not wish people to visit Sydingham to wash but unmistakably uncomfortable for reclining. their hands. Jennings would not be dissuaded. The shift from standing to sitting occured at this Eventually, he won his argument, which began his time, but why didn’t women keep the option of crusade to construct “halting stations” throughout standing? It’s difficult to say for sure, but by the the Western world. 1900’s women’s fashions no longer included plack- Wrote Jennings: “The Civilisation of a People can ets, and lavatories boasted comfortable seats. In the be measured through their Domestic and Sanitary course of a single decade, the act of female urination appliances and though my proposition may be star- changed dramatically. Some theories expound that tling, I am convinced the day will come when Halting modern conveniences gave rise to more time for Stations replete with every convenience will be con- leisure, affording moments in relaxation instead of structed in all localities where numbers assemble. rushing to a urinal. At the same time, the migration Fancy one of these complete, having a respectable from a rural setting to an urban one caused many attendant, who on pain of dismissal should be obliged families to leave behind the outhouse. to give each seat a rub over with a damp leather after Neither story entirely explains the swiftness of the

20 WINTER 2005 HERIZONS cultural change, so I began to look for other factors. She writes, “both Cartesian dualism (resulting in the This was a time of increased education regarding the notion of the human body-as-machine) and the correlation of hygiene and disease; why was the phys- androcentric ideology (in which the young male ical contact required to use a sit-toilet not considered body is the normative body-as-machine) are to promote illness? Perhaps the act of sitting exuded responsible for pathologizing women’s bodies and refinement and wealth to those of lower classes, but physical processes in Western society. Female why then was this change restricted to women? reproductive events are seen as complications of This period falls squarely within the era of the suf- that normative body.” fragette movement and the rise in women’s demand Although Boddy discusses the birth process, her for equality and independence, which seems a idea can also be applied to the shift in urination strange coincidence. In 1889, Emmeline Parkhurst habits: If women no longer relieved themselves in and her daughters created the Women’s Franchise the manner of their ancestors—which is now consid- League in Britain, while in the 1870’s, and through ered ‘masculine’ rather than ‘human’—women could to 1919, the National American Suffrage Association be marginalized. They would require assisting petitioned to allow women to vote in all elections. In devices and special areas to facilitate their non- Canada women were doing the same. As female roles masculine bodily functions. Women could thereby were challenged and the power dynamics of Western be placed in a position which is passive and lowly. society altered, was the shift in private habits a response to assert dominance over women? DOING IT IN PUBLIC As Janice Boddy suggests in Pragmatic Women and The move from standing to sitting has had a lasting Body Politics (Cambridge University Press, 1998), impact regarding cleanliness and hygiene, as well as the masculine philosophy Western society follows efficiency and comfort. Public restrooms are notorious must place women’s bodies outside the sphere of the norm in order to ostracize and marginalize them. continued on page 45

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HERIZONS WINTER 2005 21 Expand Your Herizons Collection!

Fall 1999 Fall 2002 Winter 2004 Dionnne Brand—an interview Meet the editors of the third Flying High with Ann-Marie with one of Canada’s best- wave anthology, Turbo Chicks; MacDonald; Which Alternative loved feminist authors; Taking Judy Rebick on the anti- Menstrual Products are Best?; Aim at Toxic Tampons; Un- globalization movement’s lip Women and Depression. Germaine Thoughts on Greer. service to feminism.

Fall 2000 Winter 2003 Spring 2004 Why Women are On the March: Canadian comedian Elvira Kurt Margaret Atwood asks, ‘Is This Naomi Klein; Judy Rebick and talks about her career as a the Path We Want to be on?’; Shelagh Day: Why Are Women So lesbian comic; Taslima Nasrin Feminist Book Publishing; A Poor (If Canada’s Such a Great on the involvement of women in New Body Politic: Bellydancing; Place to Live?). patriarchal religion. Female Clergy Keep the Faith.

Winter 2001 Spring 2003 Summer 2004 Jane Siberry in Profile; Are An interview with Palestinian Elizabeth May “How to Change Periods Passé?; All the Rage: feminist and sociology professor the World in Your Spare Time”; Blaming Hormones; Five Nahla Abdo; Janice Ristock on Jane Doe asks, ‘What is a Rape Dangerous Hysterectomy why lesbians batter; Makeda Victim Supposed to Look Like?’; Myths. Silvera on themes of colonialism. Ann Hansen in profile.

Spring 2001 Summer 2003 Fall 2004 Will Women Save the Earth? A Weighting for Equality: Dub poet The Indigo Girls’ One Perfect Special Guide to Environmental Afua Cooper talks about black World; Nobel Peace Prize – Issues and Eco-women; Satire: heroes; Weighting for Equality: Is Winner Sherin Ebadi; The Raging The Surrendered Doormat. bodybuilding a feminist sport?; All Grannies. that Jazz: women strike a chord.

Summer 2001 What really happened at the Quebec Summit?; The All-Girl, BACK ISSUES ORDER FORM On-Line Revolution; Interviews: Yes, I would like to stock up my resource centre, coffee table or waiting room with Back Evelyn Lau, Deb Ellis and Anita Issues of Herizons. I have enclosed $5 each (or $10 for 3) plus $2 postage and handling Rau Badami. for my order. GST included. Total enclosed . Spring 2002 Send me the following issues: Where Do We Stand? The Charter Fall 1999 Fall 2000 Winter 2001 Spring 2001 Summer 2001 of Rights Turns 20; Why We Must Spring 2002 Summer 2002 Fall 2002 Winter 2003 Spring 2003 End Colonialism; What Women are Summer 2003 Winter 2004 Spring 2004 Summer 2004 Fall 2004 saying about Restorative Justice; Women in Ancient History. Mail this form with your Name: cheque to: Summer 2002 Address: Back Issues Herizons Sarah McLachlan’s Lilith Fair; City/Town: PO Box 128,Winnipeg, MB Why Feminists Love Buffy; Did Canada R3C 2G1 Bridget Jones Really Liberate Province: Postal Code: Subscribe on line Us? for $25.96 at Add 1 year subscription to my order ($25.96, includes GST) www.herizons.ca Crude Dudes LINDA MCQUAIG’S LATEST EXPOSÉ IS A PIPELINE BETWEEN THE IRAQI WAR AND THE FIGHT FOR THE PLANET

by Shannon Devine

Linda McQuaig investigates the ties between US foreign policy and US oil companies. Photo: Random House

ew of her contemporaries manage to inspire cy in the Middle East and large American oil compa- the kind of outrage that political commenta- nies. In doing so, she probes our collective addiction F tor Linda McQuaig does. During her nearly to oil and the high price we pay for it. 30-year career, McQuaig has established herself as a McQuaig’s interest in the Middle East dates back critical voice in the mainstream media. As a seven- to the 1979, when she was a journalist in Iran cover- time author and a journalist for the National Post, ing the Revolution. She describes the event as the Toronto Star, CBC, the Globe and Mail, Maclean’s and beginning of an organized anti-American move- other publications, she has gained a reputation for ment in the region. taking aim at policy-makers, corporate officers and It’s the Crude Dude argues that the invasion of Iraq journalists alike for what she sees as social irrespon- was motivated by the desire of the American govern- sibility and malpractice. ment to control Iraq’s vast oil wealth. While not a In the weeks leading up to the release of her startlingly new thesis, McQuaig extends this claim to newest book, It’s the Crude Dude: War, Big Oil and the all US military actions in the Middle East since the Fight for the Planet (Doubleday, 2004), the occupa- turn of the 20th century. Her corresponding analysis tion of Iraq reached a new milestone—a reported is meticulously documented and far-reaching, from 1,000 Americans dead, with an estimated 10,000 to the first investment by oil tycoon John D. Rockefeller 30,000 Iraqis killed since March 2003. in 1862 to a visit to the palace of Venezuelan From the downtown Toronto home she shares with President Hugo Chavez in 2004, the man credited her 13-year-old daughter Amy, McQuaig explains with the revitalization of the oil cartel OPEC. the impetus of her latest work: “You have this huge “One of the things I really try to do in the book is contradiction between what seemed self-evident or put oil in Iraq into the broader context of US oil- what millions of people were highly suspicious of, related interventions that have been going on for the and what the official commentators were saying. I past five decades,” explains McQuaig. “When you became very interested in the issue of oil as a defin- see the broader picture, you see that Iraq fits into ing question of our time.” that. It is a much more extreme example, because Almost two years after US bombs rained down on the Bush administration is more aggressive and Baghdad, official reasons for the war remain scant. imperialistic than the US has been in the past.” McQuaig attempts to fill the gap between the official Oil companies—and the various US administrators rationale and the escalating violence in Iraq by under their thumb—haven’t been benevolent dicta- investigating the close ties between US foreign poli- tors, either. They lobby government to adopt policies

HERIZONS WINTER 2005 23 that would slash environmental reforms, subvert the documentary Fahrenheit 9/11. While that film Kyoto Climate Treaty, undercut Third World govern- explores how the tragedy of September 11 was used to ments and lower corporate taxes. Most significant, engender public fear and support for both the Bush though, was the CIA’s toppling of Iran’s democrati- administration and the war in Iraq, it stops short of cally elected government and the installation of the looking at the US legacy in the Middle East. repressive Shah after Iran nationalized its oil indus- “Fahrenheit 9/11 was an important movie in that it try in 1953. opened up a badly-needed debate in mainstream It’s the Crude, Dude is easy to navigate, with the America,” says McQuaig. She notes that while she help of two maps of the Middle East and a timeline didn’t agree with some of his arguments, Moore plotting two centuries worth of major world events raised some vital issues, such as the legitimacy of and oil discoveries to be found at the onset. In Bush’s election in 2000. The difference is in the building her argument, McQuaig draws upon the level of analysis each offers. insight of a variety of experts—former Iraqi oil min- Her newest work stretches from the Middle East to ister Issam Al-Chalabi, Exxon chairman Lee R. North America, with a poignant critique of our con- Raymond Harvard and academic Michael Ignatieff, sumption habits appearing most clearly in a passage to name a few—but it is Wall Street oil analyst Fadel about the sports utility vehicle—the newest luxury Gheit who states it most flatly: “If Iraq did not have purchase for those with cash aplenty. oil, we would not give a damn about Iraq.” “The notion that there should be any curbs on With its colloquial title and focus on Iraq, the book consumption of fossil fuels is presented to offers an easy comparison with Michael Moore’s Americans as an infringement of some fundamental

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24 WINTER 2005 HERIZONS right,” she writes. The SUV sells itself as a freedom strong impact on women, because when you elimi- cruiser, a sort of antidote to those who wish to tram- nate programs for health care and services for the ple civil liberties. Not only do SUVs have the lowest family it has traditionally fallen on women to per- fuel efficiency of any vehicle in the last 22 years, but form those functions.” an SUV produces 40 percent more greenhouse gas For her unrelenting condemnations, McQuaig has emissions than a car! endured her share of criticism. “It’s so interesting that the whole argument about whether or not the US BIG OIL DRIVES POLICY went to Iraq over oil is just dismissed out of hand by The influence big oil wields over American policy this quick use of the expression ‘conspiracy theory,’” is inextricably linked to the growing participation she says. “In other words, we are not allowed to look of corporate interests in the public domain, a topic at the evidence, we are not allowed to consider how McQuaig explored in her last book, All You Can Eat: pressing the energy dilemma will be in the future, Greed, Lust and New Capitalism (2001). “The roll- and how important Iraq is to that whole equation. It back of the welfare state is also connected to the is just a shorthand way of eliminating an entire dem- status of women, because the social programs that ocratic debate that should be taking place.” make up the welfare state are particularly impor- In It’s the Crude, Dude, McQuaig is at her boldest. She tant to people on the lower end of the income argues that while oil wars stem from financial greed, bracket,” she says. they also prey upon our over-reliance on gas-guzzling “They provide services that people otherwise can’t afford,” explains McQuaig. “It has a particularly continued on page 46

HERIZONS WINTER 2005 25 Ember Swift and musical collaborator Lyndell Montgomery. Photo: Mavreen David Ember Ignites Change SHE OPERATES A RECORD COMPANY, PERFORMS 200 SHOWS A YEAR AND SPEAKS TO PARLIAMENTARIANS AND THE MICHIGAN WOMYN’S FESTIVAL ABOUT THE POLITICS OF INCLUSION. THEY DON’T CALL HER ‘SWIFT’ FOR NOTHING. by Nicole Cohen

inger-songwriter Ember Swift has been playing Swift’s latest album, Disarming (2004), tackles politically-charged folk/jazz/funk since 1997. such heady themes as political accountability, water S Blending politics, activism and a do-it-yourself privatization and consumer capitalism. Throughout philosophy into every record she makes, the 30-year- it all, Swift manages to breathe fresh air into the cor- old Swift has released eight albums on her independ- porate culture that clouds the music industry. And ently-run record label, Few’ll Ignite Sound, which she’s accountable for her views, too. In 2002, Swift also serves as a virtual resource centre for other did her part to protest Canada’s post-September 11 artists. A relentless performer, Swift and musical col- security legislation. She presented a brief to laborator Lyndell Montgomery (bass, electric violin, Parliament complaining that the feds were clamping backing vocals) play over 200 shows a year. down on civil liberties and giving too much power to

26 WINTER 2005 HERIZONS EMBER SWIFT’S BREAKTHROUGH-TO-OPTIMISM APPROACH IS THE FOUNDATION FOR HER QUEST TO DISPLACE GLOOM, AND IS BROUGHT TO LIFE THROUGH HER PUNK-INFLUENCED JAZZY VOCALS AND SOPHISTICATED ACOUSTIC GUITAR.

the state. Swift is committed to using the stage as a animosity like, ‘Who does she think she is?’ There’s platform for politics. She shared some of her views struggle, and then there are really open doors in with Herizons. every aspect of this industry.

Herizons: Is music still a sexist industry? Have your goals changed? Ember Swift: Oh, definitely. I deal with it every day. Ember Swift: In the early days, all I wanted was to make a living playing music, and I’ve been doing Do you think it’s important for women not only to that for five years. Then I was no longer in school be out there playing music, but also to be running and no longer working other jobs, and all I wanted record labels? was to travel and have great experiences. And that’s Ember Swift: When I started the label, I really want- just happened. ed to see the business side of it and develop that Now the goals include wider travelling and being aspect of myself. I also realized that there weren’t a able feel like I could take a break from the business— lot of women who were approaching it from this kind there are a lot of administrative tasks I don’t want to of perspective. I’ve always been a strong feminist. I do for the rest of my life! really believe that I am a musician, but I am not a On a more personal level, fewllignitesound.com is ‘female musician’—I am a musician who is a woman. the beginning of a greater goal—which will hopefully I think that’s very important because I don’t believe be realized next year—which is to create a resource we can first split off into genders and then play centre online. I’m a bit of a computer geek on the music. That really annoys me. side, I admit. I have both the left and right-brain As a woman running an independent label in an thing going on all the time. I’ve been working with a industry that hasn’t always been familiar with a programmer who is building the software so [bands] woman behind the desk, it’s been this double can manage an office from anywhere. It’s a huge whammy of feminism and pushing forward. We’ve project, but it’s been really rewarding because it’s done very well, and the increased visibility of women enabled me to move from Toronto to the country. has been amazing in the last 10 years. There was a I’m still running a label, but we don’t have a central- time when I would find myself the only woman on ized office any more. the bill of a compilation, or certainly I’d be the only woman at the networking group. But now that’s not That’s a nice mentality for musicians to have—to the case at all. want to create software that will help other artists’ careers in an industry where the corporate climate When you began playing music, did the fact that you can be so competitive, and not community-oriented. were running your own record label help legitimize you? Ember Swift: I think that’s the natural way to do it. Ember Swift: It both helped and hindered the jour- The unnatural way is to be competitive and capital- ney. It helped because people could see that I was ist. And it’s very cutthroat. It’s the paradigm of the strong-willed, determined and had the organiza- Western world, where we’re supposed to be in this tional skills. They figure, if the presentation’s there, then so is the professionalism. But I’ve dealt with continued on page 46

HERIZONS WINTER 2005 27 Rape Crisis THE DEBATE OVER PROFESSIONALIZED SERVICES

Jennifer O’Connor t’s a windy evening in June. As women arrive at the Toronto Rape Crisis Centre/Multicultural IWomen Against Rape, they are invited to sign a large strip of brown paper that marks various dates in the center’s 30 years of feminist rabble-rousing. “1981—CASAC conference in Ottawa—begin to address issues of diversity. Major divisions among collective results in half of the collective and volunteers leaving.” “1990–Assaulted woman leaves relationship never looks back again.” “1998–15,000 calls, 115 vollies, 8 staff, $650,000 budget.” This anniversary is bittersweet. The fact that the centre—where I volunteered for four years—has sur- Rosemarie Gjerek, director of community health and education services at Klinic in Winnipeg: “I also believe in the grassroots component.” vived is cause to celebrate. But the fact that there’s Photo: Marni Kalet still a need for places like this is cause to despair. Toronto Rape Crisis Centre/Multicultural Women selling service. Volunteers are screened and go Against Rape and other crisis centres like it have through a six-week program and a period of super- weathered many changes, both in the anti-rape vised training. The centre, which was started by two movement and in society in general. Diversity is women in 1973, favours hiring women who come better reflected; more calls are being answered; through their own training program. improved laws have been passed; funding has been “Professionalizing women’s services puts too frozen; and there is pressure to do more with less. much of a focus on paid work, rather than on organ- One of the most controversial changes in the anti- izing in the community and the possibilities for rape movement has been a shift toward profession- women as a group,” says to Suzanne Jay, a collective alization. Although it’s too simple to say that member and crisis worker at Vancouver Rape Relief, professionalization equals bad and grassroots equals the country’s oldest rape crisis centre. good, many feminists believe that moving away from The mid-70s were a heyday of feminist organiz- a collective, peer-counselling environment means ing, and the first rape crisis centres began as grass- watering down the feminist principles that nurtured roots feminist-run organizations. After Vancouver the growth of rape crisis centres. Do credentials Rape Relief was established, centres in Toronto and affect political organizing? Does a hierarchy create a Ottawa followed the next year. In 1975, when the first gap between directors and front-line workers? Do national conference of rape crisis centres was held, counselling degrees mean a better level of service? there were 21 across the country. Today there are Rape crisis centres across the country have differ- about 30. Some cities—Montreal, for example—have ent perspectives on the issue of counselling. For several centres, while there is only one centre in all instance, The Montreal Sexual Assault Centre of Newfoundland. requires that all of its counsellors have a university The centres remain a major source of support. “It degree. Although the centre is autonomous, it was is the everyday experience of workers in sexual set up by the CLSC (le centre local de services com- assault centres, women’s centres and transition munautaires), a body of the provincial government. houses that most events of male violence against In contrast, Vancouver Rape Relief is a peer coun- women are not reported to the criminal justice sys-

28 WINTER 2005 HERIZONS tem,” writes Lee Lakeman in Canada’s Promises to that was about wanting to be listened to. Some of it Keep: The Charter and Violence Against Women, a new was about wanting to be taken seriously. Some of it report for the Canadian Association of Sexual was about wanting more money,” says Maclean. Assault Centres. “There are no charges recorded, for “Professionalism isn’t necessarily a problem,” instance, that match the number of reports in gov- according to Suzanne Jay, a collective member and ernment findings of attacks.” crisis worker at Vancouver Rape Relief. The debate around professionalization has been “Professionalizing is what I see as the issue. If I have going on for almost as long as centres have been in a good work ethic and standards—that’s what a lot of operation. people consider professional—that’s good. “As soon as we started to be taken seriously in the Professionalizing the movement means that there’s early-to-mid-80s, people started asking questions somebody else in charge of deciding whether or not about ‘What are your credentials?’ and ‘What you’re able to assist another woman, and are capable authority do you have to do counselling?’” recalls or competent based on the criteria that’s often set by Marilyn McLean. She’s a counsellor at the Toronto the state. And the state is a very conservative body.” Rape Crisis Centre/Multicultural Women Against According to Deborah Trent, director of the Rape and an educator at George Brown College’s Montreal Sexual Assault Centre, a degree can help a Assaulted Women’s and Children’s Counsellor/ counsellor become better-equipped to support Advocate program. Those questions have come from clients, and this doesn’t necessarily subvert a femi- without and from within. nist perspective. “There are a number of forces, and sometimes the “What we have to remember is that anybody can be government is the force that’s moving towards profes- sexually assaulted,” Trent says. “You can be dealing sionalization,” Maclean notes. “Other times, it’s men- with a whole host of all kinds of sub-issues [and] tal health professionals and therapy communities. people who require the knowledge of someone who There was a period in the 80s when the movement has a little bit more formalized training.” itself was beginning form into hierarchies…. Women were running around getting degrees, and some of continued on page 47

HERIZONS WINTER 2005 29 WEAR YOUR POLITICS, WEAR DOWN PATRIARCHY.

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30 WINTER 2005 HERIZONS out of bounds BY LISA B. RUNDLE

SUPER-SOLIDARITY! I ran into a young woman I know in the grocery store cated for so long suddenly become utterly simple. I after work one day. I was feeling like crap. Not want- didn’t need better coping skills, a thicker skin, or an ing to dump on someone I didn’t know well, it felt improved employee attitude—I needed to get out. awkward responding to her friendly “How are you?” I gave two weeks’ notice. So did another colleague. I was sick of faking it, but also sick of complaining I didn’t have any work lined up, but it didn’t matter. about something that wasn’t changing—my work As I scrambled to get everything done I’d promised environment. I mumbled something about being to do before I left, and to prepare for my uncertain rundown and assumed the conversation would soon future, Mira would pop into my mind in stolen end. But the genuineness of Mira’s* question made downtime. Finally, on the day before my last, I sent me want to answer her honestly. her a message: “I’m leaving tomorrow! I know it’s I spilled the beans as I squeezed the organic man- the right thing! It’s too late for you to ceremonious- goes. Life at work was miserable. I’d weathered ly help me move out, but I wanted to let you know.” innumerable storms, tried to make positive change, The next afternoon, a very special guest appeared tried to become invisible, felt hope, felt despair, in the bleary fluorescence of the workplace in ques- rinse, repeat. After over a year of dancing the toxic- tion. A superhero—wearing Viking horns and psy- workplace shuffle, I realized that I’d been throwing a chedelic shades with a flowing cape and bitchin’ whole lot of good energy after bad. The problem for boots—flew in on her lunch hour. She soared around me was the one thing that wasn’t changing: my the office with her arms held high, stopping in front boss’s behaviour. of the departing workers. She presented them with Layers of illusion made me feel like an actor in a inspirational messages on Top Secret! Wonder reality TV show, and my character was doomed. Still, Woman notepaper and mixed CDs of women who’d I wanted to keep my job. The work I got to squeeze in helped put hip hop on the map but never got the cred when I wasn’t dealing with the latest crisis was they deserved. She whisked the awestruck women dreamy enough—and important enough—to keep into the all-taupe hallway where she performed a fighting for. But several staff members had resigned, bad-boss rap. Confronted by a member of the man- and the outlook for my happiness was truly bleak. agerial team about her identity, she said only that Mira understood. Really. She’d had a horrible she was a superhero—wasn’t it obvious? experience with a boss she found bullying and Her voice echoed out, overpowering deadening unpredictable. She described a person who seemed acoustics: “To all the oppressed/ workers of the to favour those who serviced his ego. When chal- world/ every woman, every man/ every boy, every lenged—even gently—she felt the response was vin- girl/ be you an office clerk/ or a factory worker/ if dictive. By the time Mira gave up her dream job, she your boss is a jerk/ he can no longer hurt ya/ cuz i’m felt damaged by the experience and didn’t want to go here!/ shouting loud and clear!/ i’ll be ringin’ in the back into another office environment. ear/ of every bad boss far and near!” “That sounds like…” my voice trailed off as we And she flew away as quickly as she’d come, leav- realized that, while bad bosses abound, we were ing behind a situation transformed. Using only soli- talking about the same guy. darity, guts, creativity, a strong voice and a healthy “I know you’re not ready to go now,” she said. “But dash of personal interest, she managed to take when you are, call me. I’ll help you carry your stuff out.” something enormously personal and put it into a A few months later, not only was I ready to go, I healing political context where it belonged. was raring. Sometimes decisions that are so compli- Lisa Rundle is a writer and editor. *Mira is a pseudonym

HERIZONS WINTER 2005 31 arts culture MUSIC

CITYSONG DRIVING NORTH siren.A fixture on the Vancouver Island Andrea Revel Chris Pureka coffee house circuit since the age of 15, Independent, 2004 Independent, 2004 Crowe has developed a style that sets her Review by Cindy Filipenko Review by Cindy Filipenko apart from her contemporaries. Driving North,another Composed on the piano, Crowe’s songs sophomore record, are built on a solid melodic foundation. should go along way to Her pop-perfect voice has a surprising establishing Chris amount of power that complements her Pureka as someone impassioned playing.With a voice that toward watch on the “new folk” scene. pulls you into her emotional states, Crowe Currently residing in the folk epicentre is reminiscent of Tori Amos—but with- of North America, North Hampton, out the fragility. Massachusetts, this born-and-bred The lone cover song she includes on the Andrea Revel’s sophomore disc, Citysong, Canadian is poised for big things. Having CD is from one of her icons, Leonard proves that the marriage of electronica toured this fall with the likes of Ember Cohen. She tackles his “Joan of Arc”and and folk need not be an unholy alliance. Swift and Alix Olsen, Pureka’s brand of manages to make it her own—not an easy The style that emerges from this combi- Indigo Girls/Ani DiFranco-inspired song- task, considering the amazing version nation of genres is reminiscent of writing is definitely getting out to the Jennifer Warnes added to the canon with Suzanne Vega circa “Tom’s Diner.”Yet to right audience. Famous Blue Raincoat. That, at 23, Crowe dismiss Revel as a poor man’s Vega would Pureka is a hell of a guitar player, a should have the maturity to make her be a disservice to this Montreal-based competent lyricist, and a strong writer interpretation of this complex song sound former Calgarian. who knows her way around a melody and sincere and authentic is truly impressive. Revel’s Alberta roots are evident in a the value of a hooky refrain. Her slightly The only complaint I have with Secrets is few of the countrified tunes on raspy alto voice is instantly familiar—a the minimal liner notes that accompany Citysong—ballads with just enough mainstay of soft-spoken, earnest folk the disc. I suspect there’s probably more to twang to make listeners perk up their music. the music than the lyrics, but hey—that’s ears and take note. However, the balance Driving North is a collection of intro- worked well for McLachlan. of Citysong has been executed in a style spective songs that outlines what pop To order: www.allisoncrowe.com that is uniquely the singer-songwriter’s culture pundits have called “quarter-life own. Her lyrical imagery is pretty nice as crisis”—the quest for truth, honesty and SO JEALOUS well, as typified in “Ella:” meaning in a world that tends to offer Tegan and Sara “Tea with Ella Fitzgerald/ At the Royal those things in miserly quantities. Universal, 2004 York/ So long ago, you know, He keeps it To order: www.chrispureka.com Review by Anna Lazowski in his head/ Cream and sugar for the songbird.” SECRETS Most of the CD’s 10 songs incorporate Allison Crowe the narrative structure evident in the Independent, 2004 aforementioned “Ella,”with Revel’s Review by Cindy Filipenko straightforward poetry refocusing atten- Secrets, the debut CD tion on her voice.While generally quite of 23-year-old singer- pleasant, it’s a voice that can tend towards songwriter Allison sounding a little breathy and thin. But Crowe, showcases a when her vocals are in balance with her performer who could, Calgary twins Tegan and Sara Quin have music, it’s something to revel in. with the right management, unseat Sarah made a name for themselves as folky girls To order: www.andrearevel.com McLachlan as the West Coast’s premier with guitars—though since releasing

32 WINTER 2005 HERIZONS their debut, This Business of Art, in 2000, poetry of acclaimed Canadian writers preached to by someone who is finding the duo has never shied away from their Dorothy Livesay and Di Brandt to the their way onto a disc by virtue of their punk rock leanings. music of a live stage work entitled politics, rather than by their talent. At 24, Tegan and Sara already show a Awakenings: In Two Voices. That work has Happily, this is not the case with Toronto’s great flair for songwriting. Their music been rendered into a collection of 15 Sara Marlowe. has attracted the attention of artists from songs that are at once highly accessible While the aforementioned description Sarah McLachlan to Neil Young. The duo and incredibly challenging. fits Marlowe like a glove, she’s also a great toured as part of McLachlan’s Lilith Fair Weaver and Campbell’s compositions singer-songwriter. The production on in 2000 and signed to Young’s Vapor run the gamut from typical New Age Times Like These is up to that of any Records the same year. ethereal soundscapes to more melodic mainstream artist. However, unlike the Their third CD, So Jealous, kicks off pieces. The song cycle, which comple- creators of most consumer pop, she’s put- with a couple of power-pop songs. The ments the poetry cycle, creates an overall ting her energy into writing about rele- first two cuts,“You Wouldn’t Like Me”and mood that is calming and meditative and vant issues. The dominant theme here is “Take Me Anywhere,”add the kind of allows the listener to focus on the poetry. of anti-violence, with many of the songs, edge that’s been polished off most 20- Each song combines the words of both including “War Child,”“Trigger Happy” something singers. Despite the strong the late Livesay and Brandt, with the two and “Not in Our Name,”being explicitly start, things start to waver with the third differentiated on the liner notes by italics. anti-war. track,“I Bet It Stung.”Strong tracks are It is compelling how easily their words fit Other songs, like “The Right Thing,”are paired alongside weaker ones, which together to create a whole which is more upbeat calls to action:“Talk about makes you long to skip backwards to greater than the sum of its parts. it/ Never stop questioning that funny feel- repeat one, or else dive ahead. To hear two of the great Canadian ing/All around us and yet nowhere to be Fortunately, there is such a great vari- poets presented in this format is an excit- found/ Until we ask the right question.” ety of emotion and song styles on So ing addition to both the literary and In these uncertain times, Times Like Jealous that you’re sure to bumble into musical canons of this country.As a These provides the inspiration not to give something for almost any mood.“Where recording, it is solid; as a document of the in to complacency. Does the Good Go”and “Speak Slow”are emotional complexities of women’s lives, To order: www.saramarlowe.com two strong tracks that prove Tegan and Awakening is astounding. Sara will be worth keeping an eye on for PEACHES years to come. TIMES LIKE THESE Fatherfucker Anna Lazowski is a producer/music pro- Sara Marlowe XL recordings, 2004/Beggars grammer at CBC Radio in Winnipeg. World to Win Records, 2004 Review by Anna Lazowski Review by Cindy Filipenko If you like a little X AWAKENINGS chromosome in your Carol Ann Weaver and rawk, look no further Rebecca Campbell than this. Peaches, Independent, 2004 a.k.a. Merrill Nisker, Review by Cindy Filipenko counts Madonna and Trent Reznor as Good lyrics make strong fans, has opened for Marilyn Manson, has poetry,but does good written a track with Pink, and turned poetry make strong down a collaboration with Britney lyrics? In the case of Spears.As mainstream artists look to Carol Ann Weaver and Socialist, feminist, folk artist—these raunch up their styles a little, it’s no won- Rebecca Campbell’s Awakenings,the descriptive nouns often strike fear into der they’re turning to this Canadian answer is a resounding “yes.” the hearts of music-buyers. The image underground sensation to do it. The two musicians initially set the these words paint is one of being While mainstream music glorifies

HERIZONS WINTER 2005 33 female sexuality and pretties it up, Peaches has an unusual ability to sing is an album that creates a reasonable Peaches knocks it back down. She may about blatantly sexual material with an expectation of an angry, fem-punk expe- wear hot pants on stage, but Peaches odd kind of tenderness. Check out “The rience. Combined with a cover that shows offers a more realistic image of rip- Inch” and “Bag It.” Reich in Goth regalia against a back- snortin’sweaty sexuality,and she doesn’t With Peaches, there’s no grey area— ground of hands, the expectation seems tame unruly body hair for photo shoots. you either like her or stand wide-eyed to be an inevitability. It’s been a long time since music fans had staring at the speakers with total disbe- Boy was I surprised when I popped a female icon with this much edge, lief. If you don’t shock easily and are this one in the CD drive of the old iBook! though not everyone’s buying what this looking for something that pushes the Like new American jazz sensation Nellie icon’s got to offer. boundaries, check this out.You’ll either MacKay, Reich is writing exceptionally Her music fuses elements of rock, rap love it or hate it, and she probably could- dark songs using conventional jazz, oper- and electronica as it swings between foul- n’t care less either way. atic and Broadway musical structures. mouthed rage and tender intimacy.On “I And like her American counterpart, she’s U She”she sings,“I don’t have to make STRANGER THINGS damned good. the choice, I like girls and I like boys.” Her lyrics range from the wry,“I’m glad Then there’s her answer to Sir-Mix-A- HAVE HAPPENED I could be there for him/ My little devil Lot’s hit,“Baby Got Back”—“Back It Up, Athena Reich Seraphim/ My love for him is intense and Boys.”One of the high points on the Independent, 2004 real, sometimes it hurts/ its no big deal”— album comes with the fourth track,“Kick Review by Cindy Filipenko of “I Am Just A Hole”—to the truly dis- It.”This duet with Iggy Pop is where Stranger Things Have turbing in “Limbs”—“Pretty girl/ pretty Peaches really shines, as she plays off his Happened proves that girl/ I wanna rape you/ until I don’t.” energy and kicks up her game in the you can’t judge a CD by This CD’s got it all: great songwriting, process. Peaches isn’t afraid to swear like its cover, or, for that fabulous vocals and lyrics that will scare a sailor, or to tell you very clearly about matter, by the titles of the shit out of you with their honesty.Not what she wants to lick and suck. its songs.With tracks such as “Contra for the faint of heart. There’s sex and violence here, yet *dick* tions”and “I Am Just A Hole,”this To order: www.athenareich.com

34 WINTER 2005 HERIZONS MEDULLA As she continues along new musical Björk paths, her fans are not passive listeners Warner, 2004 observing from a safe distance, but an Review by Anna Lazowski engaged audience that tries to keep up Björk has never been with her.After all, she’s challenging her- afraid to experiment. self—shouldn’t we be challenged too? Fortunately for the Icelandic singer, she’s at COMING HOME a point in her career Dominique Reynolds where she can dabble in whatever takes Independent 2004 her fancy. Review by Cindy Filipenko With some hits over the years, Björk’s successes have been more critical than commercial. By no means a mainstream artist, there’s something about Björk that continues to fascinate. After leaving The Sugarcubes, Björk found success in the clubs with 1993’s Debut. Over the years, massive success in the UK combined with alt-rock goddess status in North America to propel the Dominique Reynolds’ debut album, singer to new heights. By the time Björk Coming Home,announces the arrival ofa signed on to star in Lars Von Trier’s film major songwriting talent. She describes Dancer in the Dark, her musical path had herself as “a female Ben Folds,”which is a already diverged drastically from that of pretty accurate description. Introspective the average club singer. without being a downer, intelligent with- Known for her instantly recognizable out being pretentious and clever without singing voice, on Medulla, Björk contin- being gimmicky, Reynolds is an artist ues to explore that voice as an instru- who appears to have had the wisdom to ment—in this case, the primary one. hone her craft before going public. She’s done away with traditional instru- “Looking back on my mistakes/ You ments on this album, choosing instead to were the best one I could have made/ All rely on singing and vocal samples, with those times when we were wrong/ We the odd backbeat thrown in for good were so young, thank god we were measure. But this experiment isn’t just strong,”Reynolds laments in “It’s Never with her own vocal chords; she drafted Too Late,”before launching into the witty help from Inuit throat singer Tanya Tagaq refrain of “It’s never too late to have a Gillis and ex-Faith No More frontman happy childhood.” Mike Patton, and rounded it all out with At least half of the 10 songs on Coming appearances from the Icelandic Choir. Home could be released as radio-friendly Not surprisingly,the result is by no singles. Reynolds’ commercial sound is the means an accessible pop record. But result of avoiding the common indie pitfall Björk has managed to create a unique where the artist also serves as producer. aural landscape that transports the lis- Production duties fell to Murray tener into her world.“Who Is It,”“Desired Pulver, who worked with Reynolds’ fellow Constellation”and “Mouth’s Cradle” are Winnipeggers The Crash Test Dummies. high points. Pulver’s tight, clean production showcas- At this stage in her career, Björk has es Reynolds’ tunes with uncluttered proven she can craft hit songs, grab inter- arrangements that emphasize her pop- national headlines and receive awards for perfect vocals. her acting abilities (Dancer In the Dark Reynolds is definitely one to watch. won her the best actress nod at Cannes). To order: www.dominiquereynolds.com

HERIZONS WINTER 2005 35 arts culture WINTER READING

DEGREES OF intense images—of sex, motherhood and descriptions of sex, fetish clubs and NAKEDNESS complex family relationships—against a domestic violence, but in the next breath Lisa Moore variety of backdrops. Often these stories charm the reader with delicate quirks are set in extreme circumstances: fires, and oddball characters—a man riding a House of Anansi, re-released 2004 snowstorms, blackouts, domestic rages. black bicycle in circles, or a travelling Review by Kerry Ryan The narrators are all women dealing roadkill taxidermist. Since Lisa Moore’s with similar issues: fidelity, blended fam- In turns challenging, engaging and second book, Open, ilies, death and pain. Their perspectives delightful, Degrees of Nakedness is a became a national shift by degree—from a hard-as-nails lovely collection by an extraordinarily bestseller and was woman who fantasizes about killing her fine writer. shortlisted for the husband’s lover, to a thoughtful artist Giller Prize in 2002, who misses a flight while staring at her- MEET ME IN her 1995 debut has self in the mirror of an airport wash- been re-released.And THE PARKING LOT room, trying to decide if she’s pretty. Alexandra Leggat that’s good news for those of us who Although the stories are recorded from Insomniac Press, 2004 missed this piercing collection of short slightly different angles, much is constant Review by Megan Butcher stories the first time. with the narrators—all are women; most This collection of sto- Degrees of Nakedness takes its name are mothers; many are artists. Despite the ries tells of hidden from the title of one of the stories in the spectrum of characterizations, the stories pasts, secrets collection, and nothing could more aptly feel as if they are being told by the same revealed, fear and label its contents. voice. ignorance. Some writ- “I have become interested in naked- While the telling varies in its degree of ers would use plot to ness.All the different kinds,”says the tenderness and toughness, each story is tell these stories; oth- story’s narrator as she reveals her desire brightly coloured by intense emotion and ers would focus on to be photographed naked at various vivid, wonderful language.The tales characters.Although Leggat’s characters local landmarks. waver between being stark and matter- are interesting and her narratives well- In a sense, that’s what Moore’s doing of-fact, or richly decorated with detail. structured, she builds the stories through with this collection: capturing raw, They take no prisoners with frank detail. The things people touch and how they do it; the quiet gaps between actions; whispers of meaning in a line of dialogue. Short sentences and small moments make these stories. Leggat skilfully uses details to grip readers in “Impala”—one of the stories that kept retelling themselves to me. It is a story of a man who misses his children, although we never find this out from him.“Through the crack in the side door of the garage he can see the passenger window of the car. Like a sad eye, it stares at the wall. He wonders how the car feels ... not really wanted by anyone.What must it be like not to be wanted?” That the man knows that feeling becomes clear at the end of the story,with a tender hand on the roof of the car and his wife’s observation. It’s a story that sneaks up on you and holds you, sad and empath-

36 WINTER 2005 HERIZONS ic, the last sentence the key to under- interviews with 14 younger women in standing the nuance in the lines before. Toronto, Handa exposes some of the This last-sentence “Aha!” moment is a secrets and silences that collude to fash- recurring trick for Leggat, and the only ion myths of discrete, static and stereo- weakness in Meet Me in the Parking typed identities in Canada. Lot. “Good and Happy”and “Cradle Me” These groundbreaking, courageous both slam the door shut on themselves. and critical insights break the silence of a TROUBLING WOMEN’S STUDIES generation and begin to make sense of The latter story, particularly, is grating in PASTS, PRESENTS AND POSSIBILITIES its clichéd finality. some of its trajectories. They shatter a by Ann Braithwaite, Susan Heald, Nonetheless, Leggat’s style and tone stale cultural binary that has stymied Susanne Luhmann & Sharon Rosenberg are consistent throughout, marking her previous portrayals. No one interested in Women’s as a strong and interesting voice. The dia- However, Handa’s disclosures are not Studies can afford to miss these logue rings true and her language is without their own omissions. The young four deeply considered and plain, well-suited to her characters.And women she meets appear to be exclusive- provocative essays. every so often, a description of some- ly of (north) Indian and Pakistani CHRISTINE ST. PETER, UNIVERSITY OF VICTORIA thing zings out:“The closet door is an descent. Their cultural markers are overwhelmingly welcoming, warm Hindi, Punjabi, bhangra and shalwar $28.95 paper 248pgs mahogany that makes you want to hang kameez. There is no mention of the SUMACH PRESS yourself behind it. She wonders why a Tamils or other south Indians, Sri [email protected] Lankans, Indo-Caribbeans or other South man obsessed with doors finds himself www.sumachpress.com in a situation with no way out.” Asians of Toronto, of the palpable gravi- Leggat packs more into these two tational pull with which some of her sentences than many writers do into respondents transform themselves from paragraphs, and will keep me reading Pakistani or East African to Indian in the beautifully moody more. same breath, nor of the hidden class riotously rocking Megan Butcher is a poet, sex educator dynamics that feed into a dominant and and librarian in Ottawa. increasingly homogenized “South Asian” identity construction. OF SILK SARIS AND Who are the recent refugees, and who Allison MINI-SKIRTS: SOUTH are the middle-class immigrants from a newly neo-liberalized India, and under Crowe ASIAN GIRLS WALK THE what conditions will the catch-all bear TIGHTROPE OF CULTURE the tensions within our diversity? There piano-based music of Amita Handa is no wondering over the curious phe- transcendent quality Women’s Press, 2003 nomenon that none of her respondents Review by Laila Malik seem to self-identify as “South Asian.” In this poetic, per- Of Silk Saris and Mini-Skirts is a sonal and scholarly tense work, with high political risks and reflection, sociologist aims. In a time of hyper-accelerated and writer Amita change, when diasporic populations swell Handa charts the and shrink around violent political and channels between economic conflict while Bollywood hero- white Canadian and ines are cast in wax at London’s Madame South Asian diasporic Tussauds, one might expect a project like constructions of nation as navigated by this to be open-ended, a beginning rather one and a half generations of young than the final word. In the end, Handa’s South Asian women.Weaving between book perhaps represents only one ever- www.allisoncrowe.com memories of her own adolescence and expanding trapeze web of tightropes.

HERIZONS WINTER 2005 37 THE APPLECROSS the man says or does and almost every- sion and capitalist exploitation. SPELL thing to do with what she perceives to be Most of all, I enjoyed reflecting upon Wendy McIntyre going on in the his head.Any reader who intelligent and politically aware women has been blindsided by intense erotic and how they find their own brave paths XYZ Publishing, 2003 attraction will suspect that Suzanne’s of resistance to social injustice, even as Review by Judith Blackwell judgment may be dangerously clouded. they stumble along the way. Like Wendy Thus the stage is set for a beautiful McIntyre’s first novel, suspense novel with overtones both goth- ALIEN HEART: Mairi, this book ic (the dramatic setting, a haunting old THE LIFE AND WORK OF deals with a question mansion in the Scottish countryside) and MARGARET LAURENCE of epic proportion: In romantic (is he an utter cad or the a union of male and Lyall Powers answer to her dreams?).As the mystery University of Manitoba female, can there be a unfolds and we get to know a cast of well- mystical fusion of Press, 2003 rounded characters, we are encouraged to Review by Helen Fogwill Porter opposites, of fire and water, of yin and reflect upon contemporary social issues Late in 1984, just over yang? For the protagonist of The and interesting historical information. two years before her Applecross Spell, this conception is Suzanne has written two books on visual death, Margaret more than mere metaphor; it is a representations of women: one on the Laurence faced the deeply-felt belief in a transcendental virgin and one on the whore. She is spectre of censor- marriage of souls. researching a third on witches, and that ship.A woman circu- As the novel opens, Suzanne, a provides an opportunity for readers to lated a petition to renowned feminist author, believes she learn about their vicious persecution. submit to the can create this mystical union through Adding spice to the mix, Suzanne’s moth- Peterborough Board of Education for marriage to a man three decades her sen- er was both a follower of Wicca and a the removal of Laurence’s novels The ior and of relatively recent acquaintance. non-traditional healer/therapist; she is a Stone Angel, A Jest of God and The She holds her secret vision so deeply that powerful and seductive influence, both Diviners from all high school courses her decision mystifies her friends. on Suzanne and on the novel as a whole. and libraries as “a threat to public The reader is given clues early on that This novel’s poetic, vivid language and morality.”All the members of the town- Suzanne may be in for a profound disap- its narrative are compelling. Readers will ship council, none of whom had read pointment. Hints are dropped that the evi- be engaged by the social issues it raises, the novels, signed the petition. dence on which she has based her belief in regarding feminism, lesbian separatism, Laurence, who had tried to ignore ear- this relationship has little to do with what violence against women, colonial oppres- lier calls for censorship, decided to fight back,giving numerous television,radio and press interviews.“I thought I was a Give Your Friends the Gift of Geist! Christian writer,”she said. It is fitting that Lyall Powers, acclaimed for his work on Henry James and William Faulkner, has written this literary biogra- Three gifts for $50 phy of this powerful literary icon. Powers met Margaret Laurence, who was then Peggy Wemyss, in 1945. Both were stu- To order: dents at United College (now the 1.888.GEIST EH University of Winnipeg) where they were drawn together by a shared interest in tthew wheeler (1.888.434.7834) English literature and socialist politics. [email protected] Later, while Laurence was slowly becom- ing known as a powerful and empathetic www.geist.com voice in Canadian fiction, Powers was teaching the American novel at the University of Michigan. ice lens photo: ma Powers brings a unique perspective to geist magazine: canadian ideas, canadian culture this literary biography—that of an

38 WINTER 2005 HERIZONS admirer, a scholar and an old friend. He insisted on more intelligent and less obe- tells how, in the much-publicized censor- dient nurses, and she described in ship battle, Laurence’s supporters mobi- minute detail how patients should be lized to defend her work. The board treated.At the same time, she strongly MOVING? received 218 letters of complaint about believed in using research and statistics Don’t miss an issue. the books named in the petition, but 800 to back her theories. You will not automatical- in support of her work. Nightingale insisted on cleanliness and ly receive your next issue of Herizons unless you Alien Heart takes us from Margaret fresh air, and as a strong believer in pre- send us your new mail- Laurence’s birth in Neepawa, Manitoba ventive health she campaigned for ade- ing address. in 1926 to her brave death in Lakefield, quate housing and nutrition. To get rid of Ontario in January 1987. In between, mildewed, unhealthy cottages, she cam- she lived and wrote in Somaliland, paigned to have bogs drained, and she Ghana, England,Vancouver and urged the government to better look after Ontario, married, had two children, sep- Aboriginal people. arated from her husband and was a In an era when there was no public treasure to her friends. heath care, no unemployment insurance The end of Laurence’s life harks back and no workers’ compensation, indigent to the conclusion of The Stone Angel.A people were crowded into horror holes week before she died, she wrote in her called workhouses, where medical care was almost non-existent. Nightingale journal:“Please, Lord, help me to do this Name one last thing.... I have lived an incredible insisted on better treatment. life.Amazed by love.” Her writing throughout her life was voluminous, in part because she spent FLORENCE much of her time in bed due to ill health. Many of the letters in this volume are NIGHTINGALE ON New address personal accounts of how she tried to PUBLIC HEALTH CARE: help former employees and friends get VOLUME SIX IN THE adequate health care. COLLECTED WORKS OF For this series, original material was gathered from over 180 archives and pri- FLORENCE NIGHTINGALE City/Town Edited by Lynn McDonald vate collections.Available for the first Wilfrid Laurier University time in years in print and electronically, Press, 2004 it’s a truly impressive body of work. Review by Doris Anderson Editor Lynn McDonald is a professor of Province Over 150 years ago, sociology at the University of Guelph and few homes had hot a former president of the National Action Committee.As a Member of Parliament, water or indoor toi- Postal Code lets, and wells were she introduced a private member’s bill often next to the sta- which was adopted as the Non-smokers ble.With no antibi- Health Act in 1988. Doris Anderson is a Toronto author otics, many diseases and activist. She was the rabble-rous- just ran their course. ing editor of Chatelaine in the late 60s But as a result of her experiences nursing during the time of the Royal soldiers in the Crimean war, where seven Commission on the Status of Women. times as many men died of dysentery, PHONE 1-888-408-0028 diarrhea, malaria and typhoid fever as they did from wounds, Florence WONDER WOMEN: FAX (204) 786-8038 Nightingale revolutionized nursing care. FEMINISMS AND EMAIL [email protected] This volume, number six in a series of SUPERHEROES MAIL PO Box 128 16, contains her most famous work, Lillian S. Robinson Winnipeg, MB Canada R3C 2G1 “Notes on Nursing.”Published in 1860, it Routlege, 2004 was exhaustive for its time. Nightingale Review by Shannon Devine

HERIZONS WINTER 2005 39 Contemporary femi- ter part of the book that delivers a critiques. Feisty new female heroes jump nists seeking models refreshingly scrupulous and much-needed from its pages to help us find bite for of female empower- theoretical analysis. Heavy on autobio- when we don’t feel up to a bark. ment may want to graphical detail, she doles out as much Sometimes the bite comes in tasty look in the direction insight on comic books as on her own morsels, as in “Crisis Girl,”Marc Ngui and of the comic book life—an element that may prove dis- Magda Wojtyra’s comic about a flying aisle. In her latest pleasing to readers seeking a less casual hero who makes spring rolls in a hurry work, Wonder investigation.Yet this feminist interpreta- (recipe included). Sometimes the book Women: Feminisms and Superheroes, tion of mainstream comics lights the translates male heroes into female form, Lillian S. Robinson explores the relation- imagination as it demonstrates both the as in “Bond, Jane Bond.”Halli Villegas’ ship between the women’s movement and creativity of feminist thinkers and their heroine has the glib sexuality and the scantily clad women of mainstream far-reaching influence over culture in its machismo of the original. American comic books. many forms. Author Hiromi Goto’s contribution, Robinson provides an insightful cul- “Stinky Girl,”finds the protagonist tural critique of the production of hero- GIRLS WHO BITE BACK: repelling those around her with her girth ines, situating them within politics, the WITCHES, MUTANTS, and foul body odour.This magical realist struggle for equality and an ever-chang- SLAYERS AND FREAKS tale underlines the subtext of the book: ing conception of female beauty.She sug- Edited by Emily Pohl-Weary girls who bite back are often out of place, even in their own home. gests that the superheroes, with their Sumach Press, 2004 The book’s artwork transforms female immense physical strength and skill, have Review by Rachel Thompson archetypes into something new. In the a revolutionary potential that is yet to be Like Emily Pohl- tapped. Ironically, it is the character cre- series Slumpyheroes, Sherwin Tjia’s Weary, I cut my girl- Wonder Woman has laugh lines and ated in 1941, before the emergence of the power teeth on fare second wave feminist movement, that belly rolls. like She-Ra (from Get ready to sink your teeth into this comes closest to the radical actions He-Man Nancy ), super-powered trip through fantasy worlds Robinson desires. Wonder Woman, with Drew and reruns of her Amazonian queen mother and band where girls can get their freak on. Charlie’s Angels.But Rachel Thompson’s superpowers of supportive Holliday girls, best emu- it left a bad taste in lates modern ideas of female solidarity include creating kick-ass web sites my mouth when my heroes relied on (herizons.ca., bluemuse.ca) and and empowerment, while her successors over-the-top girlyness, or on men, when have failed. writing from her teeny Vancouver things heated up. Look around in these home office. Wonder Women is divided into three post-Buffy times and you will find parts:“Genesis,”consisting of early ren- strong female pop icons to make the early ditions of Wonder Woman; “Chronicles,” ones seem just plain silly. TRANSFORMING which includes heroine descendants Enter Girls Who Bite Back,armed to FEMINIST PRACTICE: from the 1950s onward, like Mary the teeth with 332 pages of analysis and NON-VIOLENCE, SOCIAL Marvel, Super Girl and Invisible Girl; heroism how-to’s.This collection of JUSTICE AND THE and “Revelation,”featuring postmodern essays,poems,fiction,comic strips and POSSIBILITIES OF A heroines such as She-Hulk, Invisible artwork explores the stuff of superchicks. SPIRITUALIZED Woman, Scarlet Witch and Firestar. Each The forecast is not all good.As section explores the historical and Herizons columnist Lisa Rundle writes, FEMINISM socio-political context responsible for “superbabes are stereotypical heterosexu- Leela Fernandes the character’s creation, along with the al male sex fantasies writ large, and as Aunt Lute Books, 2003 gender norms of the day.“Revelation”is much as they kick ass, they wiggle it.” Review by Maya Khankhoje by far the most intellectually rigorous. It Candra K. Gill’s chapter,“Cuz the Black Writing about non- uses postmodern theories to probe the Chick Always Gets it First,”takes on the violence, social justice paradoxical depictions of women who grim state of racial diversity (or the lack and the possibilities have benefited from the gains of the thereof) in Buffy the Vampire Slayer. of a spiritualized fem- women’s movement without ever having Likewise, artist Sonja Ahlers’ collage inism as a cohesive seen it in their pages. series “… And the Myth that Things whole, as this book’s Robinson spreads on layer after layer Have Progressed” says it all. subtitle suggests, of anecdotal information, so it is the lat- Fear not, for the book creates while it takes tremendous

40 WINTER 2005 HERIZONS conviction and courage—both of which FRAMING THE WEST: Leela Fernandes abundantly possesses. It RACE, GENDER AND Out ‘n About Travel Inc. also takes a keen intellect and a solid THE PHOTOGRAPHIC grounding in feminist and political theo- DOES NOT2XW¶Q$ERXW7UDYHO,QF CHARGE SERVICE FEES FRONTIER IN THE on'2(6127&+$5*(6(59,&()((6 Westjet, Jetsgo, Tango, Zip, Canjet ry to manage to convince even the most RQ:HVWMHW-HWVJR7DQJR=LS&DQMHW and Skyservice. disillusioned idealist that spirituality is PACIFIC NORTHWEST DQG6N\VHUYLFH not only a moral imperative in any kind Carol J. Williams of social struggle, but a prerequisite for Oxford University Press, 2003 enduring change. Review by Barbara M. Freeman The key word here is “enduring.” Recasting photo- Fernandes strongly believes that utopias graphic images to fit are realizable, provided that activists are ingrained stereotypes $PHPEHURIWKH,QWHUQDWLRQDO willing both to make demands for social has been going on *D\DQG/HVELDQ7UDYHO$VVRFLDWLRQ change and to give up their own class, since photography racial or gender privileges. Profound was invented in the social transformation requires an equally 19th century.Carol J. profound transformation of the self. Williams, who teach- There is nothing wrong with Marxism, es women’s studies and American history nor with other utopian visions of society, at the University of Lethbridge, presents contends the author. The failure of several fascinating examples of this prac- utopias to survive has not resulted from tice as she explores photography and its an inherent flaw in their conception, but relationship to Aboriginal peoples in this ² 2VERUQH 6W 6 0F.LP &RXUW\DUG :LQQLSHJ 0DQLWRED 5/ < from the failure of their leaders to avoid tightly focused study. SK WROO IUHH from the very hierarchical structures they The surveyors, government agents, ID[ HPDLO RDW#PWVQHW attempted to destroy. Nor is spirituality at missionaries, commercial photographers, odds with secularism, as is proven by anthropologists, tourists and settlers who Gandhi, King, the Dalai Lama, liberation came to British Columbia during the theology in Latin America and peace mid-19th to early 20th century took marches throughout the world today. many photographs. They were especially wild women Such examples do not show spirit pre- fascinated by Aboriginal peoples, who expeditions vailing over matter, but spirit working quickly became the exotic subjects of the Canada's Outdoor Adventure with matter. camera’s eye. They used these images to Company for Women In fact, Fernandes warns her readers to sell the land, God’s work and the beware of secularism as an ideology that assumed superiority of their own race often incorporates elements of the domi- borh to potential settlers and to benefac- nant religion without actually separating tors overseas. religion from the state. She strongly Williams centres her study firmly in makes the point that spiritualized social the labour and social history of the transformation does not and cannot rep- Pacific Northwest and interprets several resent a political struggle against secular- key images accordingly, many of them ism, because its goals are not focused on photographs of women. One of the the seizure of political authority and state strengths of Williams’ study is the atten- power. She is careful to distance the word tion she pays to discovering how and why “spirituality” from hierarchical religious Aboriginal people themselves came to institutions intent on monopolizing truth use the camera. For example, mixed-race and power. She understands spirituality mothers and daughters of prominent set- as the transformation of suffering into tler families posed for formal, studio 2005 online now! love, as manifested in women’s and photographs to signal prosperity and canoe trips • mountain biking adventures • sea kayaking • indigenous peoples’ struggles. respectability and to counter settlers’ flyfishing • girls’ camps • artistic retreats • cross-country skiing • dog sledding and more! Fernandes encourages us to heed assumptions about Native people, espe- Gandhi’ words:“Be the change you want cially women.Aboriginal people also www.wildwomenexp.com to see in the world.” recorded images of their ancestors, [email protected] 1-888-WWE-1222

HERIZONS WINTER 2005 41 important village meetings and children Net: The Female Experience of brides and grooms. Even I, a staunch who had just died. Growing Up Working Class. Editor opponent of marriage for over three Much of the textual evidence support- Michelle Tea has put together a collec- decades, found myself at two weddings ing the images cames from white settler tion of non-fiction essays on topics such last summer! records that are often racist and class- as lining up at 5:30 a.m. to wait for meds In the past decade, Canada has wit- bound. This left Williams with the diffi- at the county hospital, covering up Sally nessed enormous changes in the legal cult choice between taking those settler Ann duds with a $200 coat and doing and social status of lesbians and gay accounts at face value or allowing drug studies to pay the rent. men. From custody and adoption rights Aboriginal people as much self-determi- Contributors include Dorothy Allison to marriage and divorce, the changes nation and agency in their use of the (Bastard Out of Carolina), Eileen have been nothing short of breathtaking. camera as possible, even if there are few Myles (Cool For You) and Daisy While politicians in the US aggressively supporting textual or oral records from Hernandez (co-editor of Colonize pursue defence-of-marriage acts, the them. She chose the latter approach, and This!: Young Women of Colour on Supreme Court of Canada is poised to the results are not always effective. Today’s Feminism). force Parliament to enshrine full mar- Nevertheless, Native people clearly In “The Lower-Working-Class riage rights for lesbians and gay men. learned from settler technology, as set- Narrative of a Black Chinese American Same-Sex Marriage: The Personal tlers learned about Aboriginal ways. Girl,”Wendy Thompson writes,“I had and the Political provides an up-to-the- The exchange was rarely equal and was grown up half Black and poor and had minute account of these dramatic commonly painful a experience for felt ashamed of myself and where I came changes. The book is really two separate Native people.Williams’ study, with her from ever since I got thrown into schools texts, each written by a single author. In positive interpretation of their inten- with other kids who could afford to buy the first hundred pages, legal scholar and tions, is a challenging contribution to their social status.And the girls—from lawyer Kathleen Lahey documents key what we know of the history of those elementary to high school—always had developments in the struggle for mar- encounters. the luxury of looking pretty, while I had riage rights in Canada, the US and Barbara M. Freeman teaches media only what I could afford, and even if I Europe.Accessible and thoroughly docu- history at Carleton University in could afford it, would it ever be enough?” mented, this section of the book provides Other pieces, such as Lis Goldschmidt Ottawa. an excellent resource for both researchers and Dean Spade’s “My Memory and and activists. Witness,”which is written as letters The second section details the lives of WITHOUT A NET: THE between the authors, break away from the FEMALE EXPERIENCE 16 couples interviewed by Kevin strict essay format. It would have been Alderson, a professor of counselling psy- nice to have more pieces such as this. OF GROWING UP chology at the University of Calgary.The Still, Without A Net provides honest, WORKING CLASS stories are deeply personal and inspiring, insightful and entertaining stories of Edited by Michelle Tea as they tell of the couples’ evolving rela- working-class women. I read it with a Seal Press, 2003 tionships and their many roads to mar- mixture of sadness, joy and hope. Review by Jennifer O’Connor riage and family.Included are interviews University was an with the first couples to marry in eye-opening experi- SAME-SEX MARRIAGE: Massachusetts, Manitoba, Toronto and ence for me. THE PERSONAL AND Quebec. “Typically,people THE POLITICAL Both authors are strong advocates of from poor families Kathleen A. Lahey and full marriage rights and staunch oppo- aren’t as smart as kids Kevin Alderson nents of segregated alternatives to formal from professional Insomniac Press, 2004 civil marriage. Lahey represented three of families”was among Review by Katherine Arnup the couples in the British Columbia mar- the comments glibly tossed about. My Marriage, it seems, is riage challenge. In the face of virulent roommate once suggested that student back in style, and les- opposition to same-sex marriage by the loans should be done away with and the bians and gay men Christian and political right, this spirited, money used to improve things for people are at the front of the well-argued book is a timely addition to who could afford school on their own. It line. No longer just the debate on lesbian and gay marriage was those loans, however, that helped me the bridesmaids and in Canada. enter the world of the middle class. groomsmen, they are Katherine Arnup is a writer, teacher So I was really interested in Without a standing proudly as and mother living in Ottawa.

42 WINTER 2005 HERIZONS THE GOOD VIBRATIONS most thorough sex index I’ve seen—or name a few. GUIDE TO SEX (3RD ED.) you can read it cover-to-cover and then Ever had a fantasy but weren’t sure Cathy Winks and Anne Semans impress your friends with your extensive exactly how your particular yen would Cleis Press, 2002 sexual know-how. play out? Buy this book.You can read it Review by T.L. Cowan Even if you think you don’t need a sex alone or with a partner, or you can leave guide, you do.Winks and Semans have it conspicuously open to an especially When I was a kid, compiled information on every possible pertinent page. whenever I had a question about the subject relating to sex and how it’s done No partner? Hey, there’s a whole world—about any- in a way that makes the information mat- wealth of information and tips on mas- thing —my mother ter-of-fact and accessible.You never feel turbation, too.And if you’ve got a prob- made me look it up in stupid reading TGVGS,but I guarantee lem, TGVGS will more than likely give the encyclopedia. My that you’ll have more than one oh-so- you access to the vocabulary, and possi- younger brother never asked questions, that’s-how-it’s-done moment. bly the tools (sometimes battery-operat- he just spent hours leafing through the This book is as important to have ed), to deal with it. tomes, memorizing tidbits, so that he around the house as the Encyclopedia Ultimately, TGVGS is appropriate for could broadcast his knowledge of every- Britannica—arguably more so, since the every sexual being. It makes no assump- thing on the planet with little or no web can provide fairly reliable informa- tions about the orientation of its readers. encouragement. tion about most other topics, but accurate In fact,Winks and Semans make only You will find that The Good sex information is hard to find. one assumption: that everyone has the Vibrations Guide To Sex (TGVGS) is Furthermore, TGVGS deals extensive- right to a pleasurable sex life. Not a bad an encyclopedic door-stopper of a ly with topics many people are still scared place to start. resource on all things sexual (337 big to ask about: sex toys, postpartum sex, T.L. Cowan is spoken word artist, pages).You can pick it up when you have teen sex, sex after 60, sex and depression, writer and Ph.D. student currently a question—the index at the back is the sex and disability, gay sex and S & M, to living in Edmonton.

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HERIZONS WINTER 2005 43 THE AWAKENING tude and motherhood, The Unfortunately, 19th-century society Kate Chopin Awakening stands the test of time as a will not sustain an independent, Penguin Classics, originally poignant story about a dissatisfied strong, rebellious woman. Edna even- published in 1899 married woman who tries to change tually realizes that she must claim total Review by Stacy Kauder her life and to be true to her self. ownership over her body and soul, as Readers are introduced to Edna In the late 19th society will not allow her to exist inde- Pontellier, who is vacationing with her century, Kate pendent of a man. family in the Caribbean. Her senses are The Awakening serves a dual pur- Chopin was a cele- awakened to the feeling that she is not pose in providing two strong female brated literary leading the life she wants, and she heroines: Kate Chopin, who chose to author who begins to feel that the “anchorage of write in opposition to conventional received much marriage”is stifling her. society, and Edna Pontellier, who grows acclaim for her A rejuvenated woman emerges from insights into Creole the family vacation, awakened from a to become an independent, passionate, and “local colour” existence. That was, “grotesque, impossible dream”and intelligent woman and learns to put until the publication of The resolved “to never again belong to herself above everything else. Awakening, when both the novel and another than herself.”Edna rebels It’s a lesson that most 21st-century Chopin were engulfed by a bevy of crit- against pressures to be a “mother- women still struggle with, as society icism that essentially ended her literary woman”and exclaims that she “would continues to pressure women to put the career. Criticized for its objective per- give my life for [her] children; but I needs of husbands and children ahead ception of matrimony, adultery, soli- wouldn’t give myself.” of their own.

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44 WINTER 2005 HERIZONS “there is no and children … continued from page 18 (Word Warriors) revolushun and sorrow institutionalized shit” (young’s words) and “democ- without passion and burnout racy’s hypocrisies” (nah-ee-lah’s words) without and spirit and rebirth apology. and love and apologies The compelling issues evoked by these artists res- and pain and confusion onate with the concerns and aspirations of people and sacrifice and forgiveness seeking social justice. and mistakes and vulnerability “Revolution as I understand it, in terms of creating and dancing and strength equality for everyone, can’t happen without women’s and sensitivity and passion liberation,” states young. “If we’re going to challenge and celebration there is no revolushun capitalism and imperialism, then we have to look at and funerals without passion.” how misogyny, sexual oppression, gender stereotyping and gender conditioning help to keep capitalism Sheila Nopper’s last Herizons article was “Belly Wisdom: and imperialism in place.” Defiant yet compassion- A New Body Politic,” Spring 2004. For more information ate, d’bi responded to an email query about the pas- on the d’bi young: www.dbiyoung.net. nah-ee-lah can be sion that defines her artistic work by writing: reached through: [email protected].

Although standing is faster and more hygienic in a … continued from page 21 (Stand Your Ground) public place, recent studies have shown that sitting with for germs and general uncleanliness, and there are feet firmly on the floor and with elbows on one’s knees many female stalls that cry out for the devoted atten- is the healthiest manner in which to perform this func- tion of Jennings’ eager attendant. Denise Decker, tion. Yet Yosh Taguchi discusses the idea of sitting only director of Caring Hands, writes, in “A Woman’s once in his men’s health book, Private Parts: An Owner’s Guide on How to Pee Standing Up” (www.rest- Guide to the Male Anatomy (McClelland and Stewart rooms.org), that 59 percent of women hover over the 1996), and only then in reference to men who have suf- toilet seat to avoid touching it. This leads not only to fered amputation due to penile cancer. As Lane Dawson greater urine spillage, but can contribute to eventu- said on the topic of men sitting to urinate in an inter- al health problems for the hovering woman. view for He Said, She Said, “We’re men. We’re in a rush Squatting to urinate only empties one-third of the to bring home the bacon.” bladder, and the strain required on the striated Among many species of animals, urination is a sphincter, which restricts the urethra, can cause method of establishing dominance among pack incontinence over time. members and for exhibiting size or strength. Human Queues for the women’s washroom are often beings seem to do the same, yet far more deviously. unavoidable at events, and it is not uncommon for That the shift from standing to sitting should have women to sneak into a vacant men’s washroom out such an impact on women’s health and comfort is of desperation. The human body creates between surprising, but more shocking still is the way in 800 and 1,000 cubic centimetres of urine daily, and which Western culture has ‘forgotten’ that standing while a man voids between 400 and 600 cc’s per to urinate is not the sole prerogative of men. session, a woman voids 120 to 360 cc’s each time. In The urination position is another instance where most places, there are twice as many individual pub- the roots of sexism have reached into the intimate lic urinals and toilets dedicated to men as to women territory of human habits under the guise of scien- because toilets take up a greater amount of space tific fact, that are less than two centuries old. If such than urinals. That women urinate more frequently thing as the urination position for women can be than men, yet have access to half the facilities, is an challenged, what other biological differences will injustice by any standard. crumble under equal scrutiny? Only when women

HERIZONS WINTER 2005 45 question these ‘natural’ acts can the hegemony over no pee went down my leg. The stream went forward our most private inclinations be broken. about 24 inches, but was a coarse spray. With each new attempt I got better. The whole key to success in HOW TO PEE STANDING UP my case was knowing exactly where to put my fin- While sitting is generally recommended for both gen- gers, how much pressure to apply, and in what ders, standing does have its advantages when camp- direction to push. ... In a way, it’s like learning how ing, travelling or trapped in a filthy public restroom. to whistle. You have to learn how to position your Like any new skill, it takes practice! You may want lips for the best results.” to start practicing in the shower. For those who can’t quite get the hang of it, there The easiest method is to make a “V” with two fin- are aids available for women: strange little funnel gers to hold the outer labia aside, and then, using as creations that you stick down the front of your pants much pressure as possible, release. and wash with vinegar. I must admit, I’ve never used Denise Decker of Caring Hands recalls: “On my one. They seem overpriced and difficult to explain if first attempt, most of the pee went down my left leg. someone looks in your coat pocket. That was because I was applying too much pressure Further information: www.restrooms.org, www.gettin- to one side of my lips. I tried an hour later. This time git.com, www.whizzy4you.com, www.lamfemme.com

polluting, the multi-billion dollar oil-industry would … continued from page 25 (Crude Dudes) be reduced to a mere fraction of itself. One small way vehicles. While activists across the country continue to live this change: hop on your bike or take public to don their “No blood for oil” buttons, more of us transit (instead of driving your car) to your local book- need to grasp the nuance of the oil problem that store to pick up a copy of McQuaig’s latest. McQuaig so clearly articulates. With a greater Shannon Devine is a freelance writer and adamant reliance on alternative forms of energy that are less pedestrian living in Montreal.

too—I’m not a rich person. But even with my traces … continued from page 27 (Ember Ignites Change) of oppression, I can see that trans women deal with individualist culture where people are trying to fight other layers of oppression I will never feel in my each other to get ahead, and I just don’t agree with life. So it really alerted me to the need to talk more that. I wouldn’t be where I am today if it weren’t for and within the women’s community about trans people who helped me. oppression. I’ve done a lot of that in the last little while, and I thought I could do that by taking the You’ve written quite extensively on your website opportunity to play at Michigan. Some people see (www.emberswift.com) about your decision to play me as a traitor, but I knew if I didn’t play I would at the Michigan Womyn’s Festival*. It seemed like a lose an opportunity to walk into the system, which is hard decision to make. a great thing to do. Ember Swift: I’m glad you read it. That’s probably the most articulate I can be on the topic. I just real- Do you think the policy will ever change? ly struggled with it. I really believe in trans inclu- Ember Swift: I really hope so. That’s the ultimate sion, and I really believe in women-only spaces. goal I’m working toward. Changing the policy can be After working with two trans women, I’ve seen that a slow, natural folding into a new era. And it will take they feel more oppression than I’ve ever felt in my time, and it will take a lot of acknowledgement of life. I’m an out queer woman, and I’m a feminist and tribute to women who came before, but who working in an industry that is sexist, and I’ve felt a haven’t experienced trans awareness as we have. But degree of oppression in my life. Class oppression, it’s thanks to them that we have a chance to do so.

46 WINTER 2005 HERIZONS How did it feel to present a brief on Canada’s so- through, but I felt that was one of the first opportu- called ‘anti-terror’ legislation? nities I had ever had to put my foot in the door, to Ember Swift: The legislation was awful, but it passed really be in the system. Here I am operating outside really quietly and quickly in the wake of September the system all the time, fighting the system all the 11. I happened to meet [former foreign affairs minis- time. And in many ways I’m very anti-establish- ter] Bill Graham, and he asked me if I would like to ment. But I also believe that if you get the chance to write something. I wrote a brief about how I felt about walk in the establishment’s door, you should run what was happening and submitted it to his office. It through it. It’s rare that they open the door. was read at hearing and obviously had no effect. * The Michigan Womyn’s Festival’s women-only policy excludes transgendered women. You can read more on Ember Swift’s views on Michigan It was really unfortunate that the bill went under ‘musings’ on her website at www.emberswift.com

aries get crossed,” Trent says. “And you’re not … continued from page 29 (Rape Crisis) always providing an environment where women feel Another complaint is that more professional envi- free to explore their concerns and their issues.” She ronments operate as hierarchies, which creates bar- adds, “If there’s a little bit more distance, the per- riers that aren’t found in a collective. son can really feel that ‘this is a time for me.’” “You have larger and larger gaps between man- There are also some pluses for professional coun- agement and front-line workers,” according to sellors who work at rape crisis centres. Rosemarie McLean. “And people at the top of the hierarchy are Gjerek, director of community health and educa- less and less informed by what front-line workers tion services at Klinic Community Health Centre in are doing. Among front-line workers this is a big Winnipeg, notes that because the clinic’s rape crisis discussion, but front-line workers have less and services are part of a larger health care centre, the less of a voice in how things are being run, what’s program has more funding security. And because going on.” employees there are unionized, they make a better Another view is expressed by Irene Smith, exec- living. Like most crisis centres, Klinic maintains a utive director of the Avalon Sexual Assault Centre team of trained volunteers who perform phone cri- in Halifax. The centre made the move toward pro- sis work, hospital support, and in-person coun- fessionalization around 1995, when an independ- selling. Staff counsellors provide long-term ent, internal look at programs and services support and counselling for clients whose needs revealed the need for professional counselling. exceed the expertise and time commitment of peer Smith maintains that the centre is still a grass- counsellors. roots, feminist organization. In the end, an approach that combines the best of “Although we don’t look like a collective, any deci- both may be the answer. A grassroots approach may sions that are made are done as a collective,” she be a better way to agitate to end violence towards says. “We participate in developing policy on how women and girls. A more professional approach we’re going to do our work. We collectively came up focussed on individual clients might work well at the with our mission statement and guiding principles.” service-delivery end. Smith adds that she still does front-line work, like “I do understand that in today’s world there’s a taking calls from women who phone the centre. need for management and some of those levels of At the same time, there are women who prefer a hierarchy, simply because sometimes the struggle for more professional relationship. They may feel bet- ongoing funding needs people committed to doing ter able to focus on their experience while not hav- that. Sometimes that becomes your entire job,” ing to address issues that arise with a counsellor who Gjerek says. “But I also believe that the grassroots is sharing her own experience. component and the volunteer component—to have “I think that when you do counselling from a women from all walks of life involved—are integral to purely peer perspective … sometimes the bound- promoting safer environments for women.”

HERIZONS WINTER 2005 47 on the edge BY LYN COCKBURN

FIGHTING FIRE In an ongoing dispute, Burnaby firefighter Boni Favour of a Man Syndrome (POPAFMS). Prokopetz filed a complaint with the British Columbia “Who cares?” she said tiredly, leafing through a Human Rights Commission relating to harassment copy of Herizons while filing her teeth to points. and discrimination over an 11-year period. She also I started with the first nurse who came into her filed a report of sexual assault with the RCMP. room—Dave, his name was—and he got quite chatty Prokopetz maintains she was subjected to crude once he realized I like baseball and am prepared to dis- sexual jokes, exposed to pornography and grabbed cuss the Boston Red Sox at length. (I’m happy they won and kissed by her boss. the World Series, but why was St. Louis so boring?) She said that when she considered applying for “My butt was sore my whole first year on the job promotions she was called a “dumb bitch” by one from all the pinching,” Dave volunteered. “I was of her superiors. unprepared for all the groping from my female col- No wonder. She obviously didn’t understand the leagues,” he added looking around quickly to see if complexity of the situation. anybody was listening. She obviously wasn’t listening when a Burnaby “But who would you complain to when all the official explained it. “These things take time,” he bosses were women?” he asked in an annoyed voice said succinctly. while rubbing his ass in remembrance. Eleven years is, after all, an excessively short peri- “I couldn’t believe the number of times female od in which to expect an end to sexual harassment. A nurses pinned me against a counter and tried to hundred years would be far more reasonable. hump me,” said another nurse, Peter. “I tried to tell Reasonable however, does not seem to be one of my wife about it and she just laughed and told me I Prokopetz’s favourite words. was such a flirt at parties that I probably I liked it.” “This sort of thing is fairly common in male-dom- “I didn’t,” he went on. “Those were unwanted inated professions,” the official continued while I advances. Disgusting. But at that time there was no nodded my head in agreement. one to complain to.” “It’s the same when you have any occupation dom- Then I talked to Steve, who said: “Five of them inated by one group,” he went on. “It’s like baseball ganged up on me one night in the coffee room and when the first black player came into the majors.” started fondling me. I didn’t know whether I should He was right again. When Jackie Robinson made tell them I’m gay. I’ve since come out and they most- his debut, a mere 57 years ago, he was heckled, had ly leave me alone.” balls thrown at his head and had to earn the respect “They have that stupid firefighters’ calendar up in of the white players and fans. That’s just the way it is. the coffee room,” complained Ed, working the I thought some more about what the Burnaby offi- morning shift the next day. cial had said. After a moment or two, I said to myself: But the complaint that shocked me the most came “Nursing! There’s a profession once totally domi- from Doug, who said in a near whisper, “When any of nated by one group—women.” us gets a promotion, they’re really pissed. They curse “I wonder if guys had to undergo sexist behaviour us up and down and accuse us of trying to take over.” when they first tried to bust a move into nursing,” I Shocked and not a little sad at this discrimination asked myself. in a profession I’d always admired, I went home In order to answer my question, I discussed my from the hospital a wiser woman. premise with a friend who is recovering in the hos- For obvious reasons, none of the male nurses I inter- pital from Passed Over for Promotion Again in viewed would permit me to use their last names.

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