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WOMEN’S NEWS & FEMINIST VIEWS • Fall 2002 • Vol. 16 No.2 • US $5.75/Canada $5.75

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table of contents FALL 2002 / VOLUME 16 NO. 2 THE FUTURE OF FEMINISM

WOMEN’S LIBERATION Features 27 IS COMING Third-wave women are expressing their sexuality like never before. Find out why books like Jane Sexes it up: True Confessions of Feminist Desire are so hot. by Jennifer O’Connor CREATING 30COMMUNITY What does the future of community activism hold in a post-globalized world? In Vancouver it’s a future where First Nations’ rights, the rights of immigrants and refugees and human rights come together. by Sook C. Kong CONCEIVABLE 34OPTIONS What will technologies like genetic testing and in- vitro fertilization mean for women in the future? An Page 24: Members of Speak Out Against Fundamentalism encourage debate interview with reproductive technology-watcher and on the role of fundamentalism in citizens’ forum in Porto Alegre, Brazil. McGill University professor Abby Lippman on Canada’s latest reproductive technology bill. TURBO CHICKS: by Leigh Felesky 16 TALKIN’ ‘BOUT MY GENERATION This interview with the three co-editors of Turbo Chicks: Young Feminisms, addresses the question, “What does it mean to have grown up in Canada after the women’s movement influences of the 1970s?” by Krista Scott-Dixon WHAT DO 20WOMEN THINK? A cross-generational look at the views of first-wave, second-wave and third-wave women. How has the women’s movement shaped their thinking about the past and future? by Brenda O’Neill

Photo by Monique Oyagi/Masthead. LIP SERVICE: 24THE ANTI-GLOBALIZATION BUSTING OUT: MOVEMENT ON GENDER POLITICS 38WOMEN’S INK & THE FUTURE Judy Rebick takes the anti-globalization movement OF FEMINIST MAGAZINES in North America to task for adopting the culture of Feminist mags from Bust to Herizons—who publishes feminism, but not the politics. by Judy Rebick them and why? by Mirah Kirshner her-001 01-15.qxd 9/4/02 8:58 PM Page 1

Arts & Lit READING 43New books by Editor: Penni Mitchell Jodi Lundgren, Mary- Business Manager: Alissa Brandt Lou Zeitoun, Karen X. Board of Directors: Ghislaine Alleyne, Alissa Brandt, Tulchinsky, Paula Penni Mitchell, Aurelie Mogan, Valerie Regehr Kamen, Annis May Editorial Advisory Committee: Wendy Abendschoen, Timpson Gio Guzzi, Alissa Brandt Advertising Sales: Penni Mitchell (204) 774-6225 MUSIC Design: inkubator.ca 60New releases Retail Inquiries: Disticor (905) 619-6565 by Gwen Swick, Proofreading: Gerri Thorsteinson, Kelli Wagner, Irene Melissa Ferrick, D’Souza, Lisa Tremblay Ember Swift, Sue Cover Photo: Andrej Kopac Foley, Anthology of Ember Swift. Photo by Suzy Malik. Words by Women HERIZONS is published 4 times per year by Herizons Inc. in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. One-year subscription price: $24.96 in Canada (includes GST). Two-year AUTHOR PROFILE: subscriptions are $39.98 in Canada. Subscriptions to US 54LORNA TURNBULL addresses are $29.99-Canadian funds or $24.96 in US Making Motherwork Count, an interview with Lorna funds. International subscriptions are $32.99. Cheques or Turnbull, the author of Double Jeopardy: Motherwork money orders are payable to: HERIZONS, PO Box 128, Winnipeg, Manitoba, CANADA R3C 2G1. Ph (204) 774- and the Law. by Michelle Gallant 6225; Fax (204) 786-8038. [email protected] or [email protected] ARTIST PROFILE: http://www.herizons.ca 59ROKIA TRAORE HERIZONS is indexed in the Canadian Periodical Index. A New Groove in Malian Music. by Sheila Nopper HERIZONS is available on CD-ROM through Micromedia Ltd., 20 Victoria St. Toronto, ON M5C 2N8. GST #R131089187. ISSN 0711-7485. The purpose of HERIZONS is to empower women; to inspire Columns hope and foster a state of wellness that enriches women’s lives; to build awareness of issues as they affect women; to FIRST WORD promote the strength, wisdom and creativity of women; to 5BY PENNI MITCHELL broaden the boundaries of feminism to include building The Future is Now coalitions and support among other marginalized people; to foster peace and ecological awareness and to expand the COLE’S NOTES influence of feminist principles in the world. HERIZONS aims to reflect a feminist philosophy that is diverse, 13 BY SUSAN COLE understandable and relevant to women’s daily lives. Fearless at 40 Views expressed in HERIZONS are those of the writers and do not necessarily reflect HERIZONS’ editorial policy. No ON THE EDGE material may be reprinted without permission. Submissions 42BY LYN COCKBURN and queries will be returned if accompanied by a stamped, Feminism is Dead. Long Live Xerox self-addressed envelope. Due to limited resources, HERIZONS does not accept poetry or fiction submissions. THE GUEST ROOM We thank the Manitoba Arts BY LISA DALE Council for its contribution 63 towards this Special 10th Patriarchy Rules (Still) Anniversary issue. We acknowledge the financial support of the Government of THE BUZZ Canada, through the Publications Assistance Program 64BY IRSHAD MANJI (PAP) towards our mailing costs. Canada Post Agreement #40008866 PAP Registration #07944. When Decency Erupts

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the letters FALL READING

TRIVIAL PURSUITS I would like to point out that Rachel Thompson’s arti- season five, and Buffy and Spike began their sexual cle on Buffy the Vampire Slayer, (“Staking it to the Man,” relationship midway through season six. Herizons Summer 2002 issue) got a couple of facts Janelle Pramberg wrong. Buffy just wrapped up its sixth season, not fifth. Vancouver, B.C. Plus, when Spike told Buffy, “I may be love’s bitch, but at least I’m man enough to admit it,” it was in regards HEY! WHAT ABOUT US? to his despair over his ex-vampire girlfriend, Drusilla. It was both interesting and depressing to read Penni Spike didn’t have feelings for Buffy until late in Mitchell’s report, “Women’s Policy Units Wiped Out” (Herizons, Summer 2002). There is no doubt that the women’s movement is under attack, and it is useful to have her province-by-province account. But how could she miss out Newfoundland and Labrador? Women here have suffered from the federal cuts like their sisters in other provinces, but the losses have been offset to some extent by provincial increases in support to women’s centres and transi- tion houses, which have been growing in number. This is no accident. Women in this province have stood together regardless of political differences, as women across the country once did at NAC. We have worked hard and successfully to demonstrate to the provincial government the importance of these Phone essential agencies. MOVING? 1-888-408-0028 Don’t miss an issue. Over the past 25 years we have had successive advi- Fax sory councils which have worked independently on (204) 786-8038 behalf of all women and at arm’s length from the gov- Email ernment. As a New Democrat, I have been gratified to [email protected] see the work of the women’s movement receive truly Mail effective support from ministers in both Tory and PO Box 128 Liberal governments. Winnipeg, MB There is much more to the Newfoundland and Canada R3C 2G1 Labrador story. Maybe some day it will find a place in Herizons. Dorothy Inglis St. John’s, NF Name: New address: MORE OF SAME City/Town: I was very disappointed at the exclusion of Province: Postal Code: Newfoundland and Labrador from your article, “Women’s Policy Units Wiped Out,” in the Summer 2002 edition. Within Newfoundland and Labrador,

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we maintain a strong infrastructure for gender inclu- ritorial and federal jurisdictions and the need for a sive policy and program analysis. Some of the key ele- national Advisory Council on the Status of Women to ments include: a Women’s Policy Office attached to be reinstated. our executive council with six staff and an assistant I invite your readers to check out our newly deputy minister reporting directly to the minister enhanced web site: http://www.mwac.mb.ca, which responsible for the status of women; a fully-funded, has links to the web sites of other coalition members arm’s length provincial advisory council on the status and women’s organizations. of women with three staff and broad representation; Kim Clare, Chairperson, and eight status of women councils operating Manitoba Women’s Advisory Council women’s centres throughout the province. Winnipeg, MB I hope that you will update your information on Newfoundland and Labrador SUPREMACISTS in the next edition. KNOW NO Sandra C. Kelly, BOUNDARIES Minister responsible for the As a long-time subscriber, it Status of Women is about time that I express my Newfoundland and Labrador, appreciation for your won- St. John’s, NF derful magazine. Most of the time, I agree with your phi- NOT A COMPLETE losophy and I always feel WIPE OUT stimulated by your writings. Your readers may be interested Unfortunately, one more to know that the Coalition of easily writes if one disagrees, Provincial and Territorial so this is in response to Judy Advisory Councils on the Rebick’s article, “How to Stop Status of Women confers via Militarized Capitalism,” in teleconference calls through- Herizons’ Summer issue. out the year and meets annual- Ms Rebick listed the extreme ly to share strategies and to right in three different ways: collaborate on issues that are of national importance 1) “social conservatives in North America,” 2) and under federal jurisdiction. For example, the New “Neo-nazis in Europe;” and 3) “Moslem and Hindu Brunswick and Manitoba Advisory Councils were invit- fundamentalists.” ed to present submissions on the review of The I would have liked to see all of them described as Employment Equity Act before the Standing Committee national supremacists and religious fundamentalists; on Human Resources Development and the Status of they are not restricted to one continent or to one Persons with Disabilities in Ottawa earlier this year. people. At the Coalition’s annual meeting in February, In the same issue, “The Last Word” by Suzanne Jay, 2002, the Coalition focussed on issues related to the was superb in content and in writing! economic status of women, gender analysis in the Ursula Litzcke development of social policy, the need for advisory Vancouver, BC councils on the status of women in all provincial, ter-

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Joanne Abbensetts Bette Durst Bev Lowsley Tziporah Russell Wendy Abendschoen Ann Dyble /Linda Cunningham Flora Russell Become a Sustaining E. 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Become a Sustaining Subscriber to Herizons Joan Frommer Selma McGorman Annette Beauvais Lynn Sloane Jennifer Beeman Esther Fyk Margaret McHugh today. You’ll be making a monthly contribution to Angela Smith Leslie Belloc-Pinder Karen Galler Debra McIntyre Muriel Smith ensure Herizons, a non-profit organization, can con- Sharron Bertchilde Lee Gauthier Mary McKim Thorin Smith tinue to meet publishing costs. Kimberley Bewick Sonja Greckol Nancy McKinnell Connie Spataro Lynne Bingham Paula Greenwood Margaret McKinnon Your contribution will be transferred from your Penelope Squires Judith Blackwell Lorraine Gregson Ivy McNiven Marie Sternberg account on the first of each month. Best of all, your Candice Bodnaruk Virginia Grinevitch Marilou McPhedran Ursula Stetter Herizons subscription will never expire as long as Pat Bonell Joanne Grout Neire Mercer Pamela Booker Genevieve Guindon Rosemary Miguez Margaret Stephens you are a Sustaining Subscriber! By reducing the /Dovona West Gio Guzzi M.K. Miniely Lynn Stevens Randa Stewart need to print renewal letters, you will also help Margaret Boycce Kay Hanson Christina Mills Margaret Booth Rosalie Harriott Jai Mills Virginia Stikeman reduce paper use. Sandusky Debra Hathaway Donnafaye Milton Claire Sylvan Just send in this form, along with a cheque marked Jane Boulet Laurie Hill Dawn Mitchell Beverly Suek Nancy Bowes Brook Holdack Mary Moreland Lynne Supeene “Void.” When you make a monthly donation of $8 or Susan Boyd Becky Hollingsworth Gail Mountain Bethany Sutton more, we’ll send you a free Herizons ceramic fridge Margaret Boyce Heather Howdle Gail Mounteer Sharon Syrette Allison Brewer Deborah Hudson Judy Moynihan Caroline Taylor magnet designed by artist Judy Springer. 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first word BY PENNI MITCHELL

THE FUTURE IS NOW ‘postmodern feminism’ is all about. If you still don’t A decade ago, Anita Hill entered the living rooms of get it, flip to “Women’s Liberation is Coming.” North America, raising the consciousness of middle- Paradox. Ambiguity. Contradiction. These are the aged fathers and elementary students. Roberta Bondar monikers of third-wave feminism. Radical. Anarchist. came back from space and the Royal Commission on Anti-capitalist. These are too. Poet Sook Kong New Reproductive and Genetic Technologies released observes that, “All that is Frankensteinian is out of the its mammoth report. Herizons relaunched. And I had a belfry,” while Judy Rebick takes the anti-globalization brand new 386 computer— top of the line. movement to task for paying lip service to feminism. The world was changing and the staff and volunteers Change is ongoing, and the meaning of our work is who published Herizons set out to expand the frontiers never understood until it becomes the past. At the of feminism. Megan Williams wrote one of the first historic Seattle protest of the World Trade Organization articles about the link between organochlorine toxins meeting, the granola crowd scared the pants off the and breast cancer, in Herizons’ Spring 1993 issue. And mighty men of the world by taking off their clothes and was it really only 10 years ago that Gwen Jacob graced exposing Nike’s obscene fetish for sweat labour. Two our cover (with her top on, of course)? years later, the CEOs of U.S. corporations have taken It’s easy to get trapped in memory lane—remember oaths of ethics in a bid to salvage their credibility in the when the National Film Board had an entire studio— wake of the Enron fiasco. It reminds me of what Council Studio D—dedicated to women’s films? The Secretary of Canadians’ chairperson Maude Barlow said a few of State Women’s Program? years ago, “I would like to be remembered as someone Sigh. who helped to build the global citizen’s movement that Well, we’re not going there. We are far more finally brought the rule of law to stateless and lawless interested in the future, and specifically in the future transnational corporations.” This is how change starts, of feminism. Ten years is a good time to take stock and with a dream as we began thinking about what we wanted Herizons to No sign of a revolution in the House of Commons, look like in the future, we also started thinking about though. As Lisa Dale writes in her guest column, “The what feminism might look like in the future. Naturally, women of this country live with political apartheid every our Special 10th Anniversary issue would combine a day.” She tells us what we can learn by following the lead new look for Herizons and take a new look at feminism. of our sisters in France, South Africa and Norway. Curious? So, what do you think of Herizons’ new look? We hope Read on. You might start with Brenda O’Neill’s you find it more readable, attractive and inviting. We’re article, “What Do Women Think?” Named after a 1912 thrilled to be working under the art direction of Sandra essay by Nellie McClung (which was cheekily subtitled Zukanovich and Alen Zukanovich of Inkubator design. “Not that it matters”), this piece talks about how We hope that you will enjoy this Special Issue on the different generations view feminism differently. If Future of Feminism. Please pass it around; encourage there are lessons to be learned it is that feminism has your friends and co-workers to take out subscriptions! never been a monolith, not in 1898 when Manitoban We had fun working on it! Margret Benedictsson started publishing Freja, Winnipeggers Unite: We’re having a party to celebrate Canada’s first suffrage newspaper, and not 70 years Herizons’ 10-year anniversary on Saturday, October 5th. later when Betty Friedan wrote The Feminine Mystique. You’re invited. A special guest that night will be one of the Or in 1979 when a group of Winnipeg women started a editors of Turbo Chicks, Lisa Rundle, who travels to feminist newspaper and called it Herizons. Winnipeg to speak to women’s studies classes, courtesy of Read the interview with the editors of Turbo Chicks the Margaret Laurence Advisory Panel. We’ll have food, to catch a glimpse of the future. You may be surprised, live music, a silent auction and groovy cocktails. Call 204 as I was, to find yourself understanding what 774-6225 for details. Tickets are $20.

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nellie news grams WAL-MART EATS CROW A Florida Supreme Court ruling that upheld a $2.16 million verdict against Wal-Mart for illegally selling ammunition to minors who killed a Pensacola man, has lent credence to singer Sheryl Crow’s on-going battle with the discount giant. In 1996, Wal- Mart refused to Sima Samar was dismissed as minister for women and now heads stock Crow’s CD Afghanistan’s Human Rights Comission. because of offending lyrics from her tune, “Love Is a Good Thing”: “Watch out Fundamental Violations sister, Watch out brother/Watch our children as they kill each other/With Reported a gun they bought at the Wal-Mart by Penni Mitchell discount stores.” Wal-Mart routinely refuses to sell The Taliban no longer officially ing and post-conflict reconstruc- records laced with profanity or reigns in Afghanistan, however, tion. However, implementing objectionable art, but it was the women in many parts of the country women’s rights is another matter. first chain to boycott an album endure unspeakable terror at the When 200 Afghan women (14 per- because company officials were hands of the warlords, or cent) were elected to attend the offended by lyrics about its own Mujahideen of the Northern Loya Jirga, or grand council meet- stores. Alliance, which dominates the inter- ing, in June, it was seen as a strong im government. indication that women would par- THERE IS A GOD “For us, there is no difference ticipate in rebuilding their country. According to Occupational between the Taliban and the Today, the women’s ministry has a Medicine, a survey of Northern Alliance,” says Marina payroll of 200 and female cabinet gynaecologists conducted in Matin of the Revolutionary ministers head the departments of Northern Ireland discovered that Association of Women of public health and women’s affairs. more than 70 percent of these Afghanistan (RAWA). However, the estimated $67 mil- professionals reported pain in the Six months after U.S.-led forces lion needed to establish the thoracic and lumbosacral regions. invaded Afghanistan, there has women’s ministry’s programs Researchers did not investigate the been a rapid disengagement of (including legal advocacy, educa- specific causes of the back pain but political pressure on Afghan leaders tional, vocational training and surmised that “work-related to ensure that women benefit from health programs in 30 provinces) postures” might be the culprit. No international aid and are involved in has not been secured. studies are in progress, however, to the rebuilding of their country. Furthermore, there are no guar- survey the pains experienced by the Officially, women’s roles have anteed targets for involving women patients of the same been enshrined in documents such in Afghan political or social life and gynecologists. as United Nations Security Council no framework to monitor and evalu- A Friend Indeed Newsletter Resolution 1325–designed to ensure ate progress. women’s involvement in peacekeep- Outspoken women’s rights advo-

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cate Sima Samar was dismissed this assaulted by civilians and armed nelliegrams summer as minister for women and men who belong to political factions condemned as a “Salman Rushdie” for not adhering to former Taliban in a newspaper published by Islamic edicts on women’s behaviour, dress, fundamentalists, which demanded expression and movement. that she suffer the “appropriate In some parts of the country, KOREAN WOMEN penalty”—death. She has now been Northern Alliance forces order FIRST CLASS appointed as head of the country’s women to wear burqas. There are The Korean government plans to new human rights commission. reports that women have been kid- abolish the male family head The stubborn persistence of fun- napped and raped for non-compli- system over the next five years. The damentalist forces in Afghanistan ance. The majority wear the burqa, current head of household code stems in large part from the fact the report notes, though some do so defines family members as that the International Security A through positive choice. descendants along the male line, Force’s mandate does not extend But there are signs of progress. preventing the children of remarried beyond Kabul. And despite a clear The rebuilding of Afghanistan’s women from taking their mother’s need for peacekeeping and security Women’s Institute in Kabul is a family name. expansion (until the domestic infra- positive sign of change. Another is Kwak Bae-hee, structure is created to ensure civilian the emergence of a new women’s president of security), human rights observers say magazine, Malalai, focussed on the Korea there appears to be no international politics and culture. A major Legal Aid will to commit to a more permanent accomplishment of the interim Centre for peacekeeping effort. government has been the opening Family Personal security is the number of the schools, which were closed Relations, a one concern of Afghan women to girls under the Taliban. Many Kwak Bae-hee key figure according to a new report, Taking women have returned to work. behind this movement says, “The Stock: Afghan Women and Girls Six However, while the world’s atten- current family head system defines Months On. Compiled by tion has moved on, the need to pro- men as first-class people and Womankind Worldwide in collabo- tect the rights of Afghan women is women as second-class people. It ration with the Working Group on urgent. violates the Constitution concerning the Rights of Afghan Women, the basic human rights.” July report confirms that security SOLUTIONS With the increasing divorce rate, outside Kabul–and in parts of Taking Stock says that the interna- the number of single mothers is Kabul–is poor. The Working Group tional community, through bodies increasing in Korea. The law on the Rights of Afghan Women was like the United Nations, must ensure currently requires children of a established in November 2001 to that President Hamid Karzai divorced mother to keep the monitor and evaluate progress on involves women in local security and surname of their father, regardless the rights of Afghan women in light civil society security building. It of whether he abandons the children of the international community’s further recommends a guaranteed or stops supporting them. involvement in removing the women’s representation (target Kwak believes that public Taliban from power and commit- level 30 percent) in the Transitional sentiment has rapidly shifted. “I ment to rebuilding an inclusive and Government, including the believe that over 50 percent of the equal Afghanistan. Constitutional Commission and the Korean people are for scrapping Banditry and lawlessness have Human Rights Commission. the head of household code,” replaced military conflict and Money is another deal-killer. The Kwak noted. Taliban brutality. Meanwhile, European Parliament has called for According to the National Human Rights Watch confirms that Afghan women to be the direct Statistical Office, 135,000 couples members of the Taliban’s Special beneficiaries of between 25 and 30 divorced last year, up from 120,000 Police for the Protection of Virtue percent of the economic aid pro- in 2000 and more than an 11-fold and the Prevention of Vice still vided for Afghanistan’s reconstruc- jump from 12,000 in 1970. The total patrol remote districts of southern tion. In January, the international number of marriages amounted to Afghanistan. Women have been community pledged $4.5 billion in

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nelliegrams aid over five years. Of the $1.8 bil- members are hand-picked by lion due in 2002, the U.N. received President Hamid Karzai. $870 million by June. • The trafficking of women and girls This snapshot from Taking Stock has increased. Girls are pur- illustrates some key challenges: chased in Afghanistan, trafficked 324,000 last year, among which 14.7 • In Kabul there are 40,000 widows through Pakistan and sold into percent of men and 16.4 percent of but there is no development prostitution or marriage in the women were remarried. action plan to involve widows in Persian Gulf. reconstruction. SLEEP ON IT • There is virtually no involvement Canada is among the countries that Why do women live longer than of women and civil society in have not complied with internation- men? Researchers at Penn State peace building. al promises of financial aid and University think it’s because we • There is no structure for other assistance. To find out how sleep better. According to the human/women’s rights monitor- you can urge Canada to support the research team, women get 70 ing and reporting. women’s ministry of Afghanistan, minutes of deep sleep per night, • There is little recognition of the log onto the web site of the compared to about 40 minutes for needs of women when assessing International Centre for Human men. When we don’t get a good security with the return of Rights and Democratic Development amount of deep sleep, hormones refugees to Afghanistan. at http://www.ichrdd.ca . are released that generate toxins in • There is no democratic process The Working Group on the Rights the bloodstream that build up over for the women elected to the of Afghan Women report is on-line the years. Loya Jirga to move into the at: http://www.womankind.org.uk/ Transitional Government–all documents/balance.htm . RECIPE FOR MIDDLE EAST PEACE The UN Security Council was told by a delegation of Palestinian and Israeli women in May that international intervention is needed to bring peace to the region. As well, they recommend the establishment of a women’s advisory committee and a 50-50 gender balance in all negotiating teams. Maha Abu-Dayyeh Shamas, founder/director of the women’s centre for Legal Aid and Counselling in East Jerusalem, and Terry

Greenblatt, director of Bat Shalom, Says Greenaway: “It is not the legality that is at risk; it’s the availability of an Israeli women’s peace group, services.” Photo by Mark Laking. made their pitch based on UN Security Council Resolution 1325, which calls for equal participation Teach Your Doctors Well of women in conflict-resolution. by Audra Williams Shamas said that when “both communities are gripped with fear, (Halifax) Kate Greenaway is the include reproductive health training, that leaves no room for wisdom and Canadian director of Medical especially abortion training. long-term thinking.” International Students for Choice, a group of Herizons interviewed her in Halifax, peacekeepers are needed to allow 7,000 medical students across the the day before she left to spend the space for constructive dialogue. U.S. and Canada working towards latter half of her summer—what improving school curriculums to should be her time away from

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studying and interning—learning how Association has a policy saying that if nelliegrams to perform an entirely common a doctor has an objection to procedure not covered by her medical counselling and referring women for student curriculum: abortion. an abortion they have to inform the patient and send her to someone who What is new on the choice front in will make the referral. So doctors have RAPE RELIEF APPEALS Canada? to at least tell women what their Vancouver Rape Relief and All trials working towards legalizing options are. Some doctors trick their Women’s Shelter filed a petition for mifepristone (RU-486) for patients though. Some will say that a judicial review of the decision of abortions have stopped here, abortion is not legal, or that they have the British Columbia Human Rights placing us way behind. The U.S. referred them for an abortion when in Tribunal in the case of Kimberly legalized mifepristone years ago. I fact their files have been hidden. Nixon v. Vancouver Rape Relief think the best news we have right Society. A ruling by the tribunal in now is the acceptance of emergency If medical students are not being January this year held that the contraception in Canada as a back trained in this area, then how does organization was wrong when it up for birth control. Most doctors one become an abortion provider? disqualified Nixon, a post- are willing to prescribe this method Currently, we have to seek this out operative trans-sexual woman, of pregnancy prevention, and ourselves because it is not included from participation in its rape Canada is looking towards having it in our gynaecology rotations in counselling volunteer training available over the counter as well. undergraduate medicine. Medical program. The tribunal awarded Students for Choice has developed a damages of $7,500 to Nixon. Is the right to abortion in jeopardy? program of a month-long internship It is not the legality that is at risk; for medical students in the U.S. and SPIDEY SENSE it’s the availability of services. In Canada who want to learn abortion ON LINE many cases, our medical schools techniques. This program matches Planned Parenthood of Toronto has and hospitals are not offering up interested students with launched a new sexual and abortion training for future physicians who are willing to teach. reproductive health website for physicians. This will make the legal This is the first step for us in youth. Spiderbytes.ca uses a peer- right to abortion meaningless, as becoming providers. From there, we based approach to provide there will be no providers. This is the can continue our training by seeking information and answer questions real problem. Women in rural areas out pro-choice residencies. from teens. It provides inclusive and may have difficulty finding a accessible information, referrals pro-choice doctor, let alone a How has Medical Students for and interactive services pertaining provider. The shortage of trained Choice made a difference? to health sexuality. providers and/or facilities which will Until this group was formed 10 years Teens can ask a question and do abortions results in women ago, there were almost no medical receive a response from a trained having to travel long distances to schools in North America offering volunteer peer educator by phone, obtain care. Often, they have to pay abortion training. This is changing email or through an instant to obtain services once they have through the work of the group, as messenger. travelled, since some provinces each campus group challenges its own InfoSexNet Bulletin won’t allow billing for abortion administration to include women’s services. Women often discover that health in the curriculum. Medical NO REGRETS their family physicians are pro-life, Students for Choice has shown me A National Institute of Child Health and won’t refer them to the that there are a number of activists and Human Development study appropriate doctors. out there who are determined to keep published in Obstetrics and women’s reproductive freedom Gynecology reported that about 93 Isn’t a doctor obligated to refer a top-priority. It is very inspiring! percent of those who voluntarily patient for an abortion if she undergo sterilization procedures wants one? Audra Williams is the editor of do not regret their decision. The The simple answer is yes, but there are marigoldzine.com study examined data from couples ways around it. The Canadian Medical

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nelliegrams

in the United States who had voluntarily undergone sterilization between 1985 and 1987. Of the 3,672 women who underwent tubal ligation, 7 percent expressed regret five years later. Those who experienced conflict with their spouse about the decision to have the procedure were more likely to express regret. InfoSexNet Bulletin It’s time to get angry again, as BC elderly women protest cuts. TRAILBLAZING TOBANS GET EQUAL RIGHTS A Thousand Cuts… Opposite and same sex and Still Kicking common-law By Marni Norwich couples in Manitoba will (Vancouver) Negotiating the med- the Collective, an information now have the same rights and ical maze can be difficult at the service for women in B.C., will lose obligations as married couples, best of times. But for women mar- its provincial funding in 2004. thanks to new legislation ginalized by language and cultural Throughout the province, women introduced by NDP Justice Minister barriers, poverty and disability, are being dealt the harshest blow in Gord Mackintosh. dealing with the medical system can the ongoing torrent of health care Dividing family property upon be an overwhelming and disempow- cuts, from health care services to separation, the right to joint ering experience. sexual assault and sexual abuse adoption and the right of For the past couple of years, the counselling. Furthermore, an esti- common-law spouses to inherit Vancouver Women’s Health mated 90 percent of the 10,000 when their spouse dies without a Collective has provided guidance health-related positions slated for will are among the hundreds of and support for such women with cuts and an additional 20,000 jobs amendments passed. Oodles of their Patients’ Rights Workshop, targetted for privatization are held babies and lesbian co-moms, which deals with themes such as by women. along with senior gay couples, access to medical records and the The B.C. Liberals have announced crowded into a committee hearing right to refuse treatment. The work- over one million dollars in cuts to room at the legislature at the end shops include education for women counselling, medical and legal of June to praise the who were immigrants, low income, assistance to victims of sexual comprehensiveness of the two aboriginal or HIV positive. assault and violence. Hikes to the latest bills. The changes include In June, a number of B.C. Liberal province’s Medical Services Plan everything from the right to make government initiatives resulted in a premiums, the delisting of services health care decisions for a spouse cut to the funding of this work- and extensive cuts to seniors’ serv- to the right to spousal survivor shop. And that’s only the beginning ices harm low-income people and benefits under workers’ of the grief for the Vancouver seniors most. Both groups are pre- compensation. The bills exceed the Women’s Health Collective and its dominantly women. requirement established in the M v. clients. Along with 38 other Hospital Employee Union (HEU) women’s centres in the province, spokesperson Chris Allnutt said,

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“This is an attack on women’s “domino effect,” where necessary nelliegrams work.” He believes that the cuts are supports for women in crisis are no designed to undermine confidence longer available. in the public health care system. As Woodsworth wants the provincial an example, Allnutt uses the case of government to do a gender impact Kimberley Hospital, which closed study on its cutbacks. Senior women H Supreme Court case on spousal due to cuts and has already make up two-thirds of those who support and extend to Manitoba received a bid for purchase by a pri- apply for subsidized home care, gay and lesbian couples more vate company. says Caryn Duncan of the Vancouver rights (and obligations) than Privatization can make services Women’s Health Collective. And the anywhere else in North America, inaccessible to low-income people median annual income for senior covering over 100 statutes. and often result in poorer quality women is $16,000, making them Most provincial family law care. It can also create conflict-of- among the lowest income groups in regimes in Canada do not include interest scenarios. For example, a the province. common-law couples in family cleaning contract at B.C. Women’s And it’s low-income people, the property and intestate law (dying Hospital was awarded to a private majority of whom are women, who without a will). The move puts company owned by a well-known will suffer most. For example, peo- heterosexual common-law couples anti-abortion supporter. Several ple living on a fixed income will be in the province ahead of other Vancouver women’s health organi- affected most by increased Medical provincial jurisdictions, too. zations called for a moratorium on Services Plan user fees, says the privatization of hospital servic- Duncan, adding that the formula for HARD FACTS es and demanded an independent the subsidy is complex—if you work ON VIAGRA investigation into the launching of full-time but make minimum wage, The June issue of the journal AIDS the cleaning contract. you’re not eligible. reports an association between “A lot of seniors would not choose It’s generally understood that Viagra use and sexually to be active but are getting active low-income and marginalized transmitted infections (STIs), again,” observes Ellen Woodsworth, women have less access to health particularly among men who have chairwoman of Vancouver’s Bridge care, good housing and good work- sex with men. Housing Society for Women. Seniors ing conditions, points out Rachel Of 844 men who sought STI are especially concerned to watch Rosen of Vancouver’s Grassroots treatment at health clinics, 17 social programs they fought for Women. There’s always been a gap, percent had reported using Viagra in being eroded by government. The she says, but “More and more, our the last year. Men who have sex with phasing out of the seniors’ supple- wellbeing is being turned into a men were four times more likely to ment, the closure of long-term care commodity, something for people to use the drug than those in the study facilities and cuts to home support profit from.” who exclusively had sex with services have galvanized many sen- At Moberly Manor in Revelstoke, women. The rise in STD cases has iors, she notes. residents, staff and community been linked to a current trend of Community-based victim assis- members fought against this com- taking Viagra with recreational tance and sexual assault programs modification last spring. The long- drugs such as ecstasy and crystal have worked for 20 years as a bridge term care facility was scheduled for methamphetamine. The researchers between women, police and the jus- closure but overwhelming protest are concerned that mixing Viagra tice system. Cuts to public services prevented the closure. with recreational drugs leads to mean that women will have less To make this happen, many reduced use of condoms. The study access to counselling, the justice Health Employees Union members recommended a label to warn users system and life-saving safety plan- risked their jobs. “That’s what soli- of these findings. ning, according to Tracy Porteous, darity is all about,” says Allnutt, Kaiser Daily Reproductive executive director of the B.C. adding, “That’s what will stop the Health Report Association of Specialized Victim cuts.” Assistance and Counseling Programs. Porteous says the inter- For more info, check out: B.C. action of all the cuts create a Coalition of Women’s Centres:

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nelliegrams www.bcwomen.cjb.net; or contact: [email protected], Premier Gordon Campbell: 250.387.1223 (ph), 250.387.4312 [email protected], (fax); or write Ministry of 250.387.1715 (ph), 250.387.0087 Community, Aboriginal and Women’s (fax) or write c/o Legislative Services, Room 323, Parliament Buildings, Victoria, B.C., V8V 1X4; Buildings, PO Box 9056 Stn. Prov. COME AGAIN Lynn Stephens, Minister of State for Govt., Victoria, B.C., V8W 9E2 Naturally, it Women’s Equality: took a woman to set the record straight. In the first major revi- sion of the Kamasutra since Sir Richard Burton’s Victorian transla- tion of the sexual arts text over 100 years ago, Wendy Doniger has revealed all. Big things, like the G-spot, were simply omitted by Burton, confirms Doniger, who co-wrote the new edi- Karlisima, born in San Salvador, is one of 177 artists whose tion with Sudhir Kakar of Harvard work was shown online. University. “The [original Sanskrit] text knows all about the G-spot. It was always there,” according to A Museum of One’s Own Doniger, a University of Chicago history and religion professor. The new (San Francisco) “A museum tells of women worldwide. book, published last spring by society what’s important to There is wide support for the Oxford University Press, should remember,” according to Elizabeth women’s museum in the community. make a lot of people happy. Colton. As chair of the According to Jim Chappell, International Museum of Women president of San Francisco Planning Doniger adds that Burton’s board, she is explaining the and Research Association, “We’re Kamasutra translated “homosexu- reasoning behind the 120,000- dealing with 50 percent of the world als” into “eunuchs.” Burton also square-foot plot in San Francisco’s population that’s been written out took liberties with women’s rights. harbour front district being of traditional history. You’d look According to Doniger, the 2,000- developed at a cost of $117 million. pretty venal opposing a museum year-old Sanskrit original stated “We’re losing our history as it’s that commemorates 50 percent of that women do have the right to yell being created, so we need to work the population.” at their husbands. Burton conve- to have an institution created for At press time, the museum’s web niently inserted the word “not.” us,” says Colton. site (http://www.imow.org) The Kamasutra, roughly translat- The museum, scheduled to open in featured an art exhibit of 177 ed means “the book of desire” and 2006, will feature multi-lingual female visual artists from around was written by a scholar in the third exhibits and exhibits on everything the world, developed in partnership century known as Vatsyayana from women in science to childbirth. with the University of New England It will be the only international and curated by Claudia DeMonte. Mallanaga. museum exclusively dedicated to The museum is expected to draw chronicling and honouring the lives about 500,000 visitors per year.

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cole’s notes BY SUSAN G. COLE

FEARLESS AT 40 She’d fought back by going out and buying a bikini. One of my younger friends turned 40 recently. Many I remember doing the exact opposite. When I of those invited to the celebration had already passed turned 40, I hadn’t been to a club in five years. I felt into their fabulous 40s—I’m 50, since I know you’re like I was out of the loop, thanks to co-parenting a wondering—and were asked to give a few tips on how toddler and never going out. My trivia knowledge, to manage being officially middle aged. What struck once nonpareil—was becoming distressingly unreli- me, as the gales of laughter cascaded from the hon- able. Every single young person I saw looked stagger- ouree’s patio across a full square block, was the ease ingly beautiful. I needed reading glasses. with which we found common threads. And there could be no doubt that I was thickening We may have been an unusual gathering—none of us out. When your body’s toned, when your skin is supple talked about mid-life crises regarding our work and and your metabolism is pumping in such a way that you career. The talk was all about bodies, much of it about can wolf down 10 sugar doughnuts without too many those parts of our beings most likely to degenerate as consequences, it’s easy to say that size doesn’t matter. I we hover around the big four-oh—teeth, lower back, couldn’t. I went into a panic. And then I went on a diet. eyes and, of course, memory. Not a really bad diet. Just the high-protein, low-fat, There were a few suggestions about getting to know no sold-sugar snacks kind of diet I cribbed from your gum specialist and some hilarious and mortifying Weight Watchers, a plan I’d followed when I was in tales about incremental memory loss. One woman made high school (Don’t ask). In this instance, the strategy a point of saying that she’d turned all of her instances of effectively cut down the amount of food going into my increasing decrepitude into opportunities. She’d come system by about 40 percent. Plus, I started to do a few to the point where she had to put her reading material so exercises—sit-ups, stretches, push-ups. far away from her eyes in order to see it properly that she I’m a bit of an addictive personality, so when I start was convinced her arm was getting longer and that a campaign that requires self-discipline, I can really explained why she was suddenly able to reach high get into it. I lost about 20 pounds over a one-year shelves that she couldn’t get close to previously. And who period and I thought I looked terrific. But I wasn’t get- cared if she couldn’t remember why she’d walked into a ting the kind of feedback I was looking for. Almost no particular room or what exactly she was there to get? one told me how great I looked. Instead, people kept She’d just walk back to the room she came from to twig asking me if I was all right. Looking at the shrunken her memory, walk into the room to complete her mis- creature I’d become, they didn’t see a beautiful speci- sion and consider it an addition to her exercise regimen. men; they saw someone who looked sick and drawn. We talked about turning 40 and trusting yourself. You see, it doesn’t matter what you weigh, you will Turning 40 and no longer worrying about what people never look like you did when you were 25. think of you. Except when it came to personal body I did get something out of the experience. I stuck to image. Every women at this party was a long-time fem- the exercise part of my campaign and I feel stronger inist, hip to the most sophisticated analysis of the and easier in my body. I learned that middle-aged fetishization of youth and the oppressive demands women look healthier when they don’t interfere with Western culture puts on women. And yet there wasn’t the aging process. According to Susun Weed, whose one of us who didn’t feel pain about what was happen- book Menopausal Years, The Wise Woman Way is now ing to our bodies. One woman wrote to the birthday girl my Bible, menopause is an easier process to go that turning 40 was the time when we begin to feel the through when you’re carrying an extra 10 pounds. contradiction between our feminist idea that our bod- I’m trying to adjust my thinking. But I have a feel- ies are beautiful no matter what—thinness, femininity ing I’m not the only one who finds it hard, because and fashion model beauty are not something we want to there’s no greater test of a feminist’s body conscious- aspire to—and the unavoidable fact of our body’s decay. ness than turning 40.

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mqup.ca

Nuvisavik the place where we weave Edited and with a preface by Maria von Finckenstein Paper ISBN 0-7735-2335-9 • $44.95

Nuvisavik, the first major publication about the weavers of Pangnirtung, is especially welcome. It celebrates the achievement of the tapestry weavers and presents a vivid portrait of their community and its history.” Dorothy Harley Eber, author of When the Whalers Were Up North and Images of Justice

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Body Wise by Kathleen O’Grady

Body Wise is provided by the Canadian Women’s Health Network, a non-profit source of quality health information that brings together over 1,400 women’s health organizations in one location. Check it out at: www.cwhn.ca or call: 888-818-9172. THE PAINFUL TRUTH and Norway. Drawing from a 1998-99 sons and plastic surgeons do not For years, sufferers of fibromyalgia National Population Health Survey, always provide full details of the have been greeted by skepticism. the researchers state that 22 percent health risks to their patients. Many in the medical community of Canadian women over 35 years of Only saline breast implants are cur- believed the condition, a chronic ill- age have undergone a hysterectomy— rently permitted in Canada. However ness marked by fatigue and general- more than 1.8 million women. they also carry risks. According to a ized musculoskeletal pain and Researchers concluded that hys- 2001 FDA study, more than half of sensitivity, had psychological origins. terectomy is too frequently used as a women with saline implants for 6-10 But a new study using an advanced first line of treatment for non-can- years, and 80 percent with implants form of brain scan called functional cerous conditions, such as fibroids for more than 10 years experience at magnetic resonance imaging (FMRI), and heavy menstrual periods, and least one broken implant. Other com- confirms that fibromyalgia patients that women are not informed about mon health complications arise when experience unusual amounts of pain other possible medical and surgical implants—both silicone and saline— from ordinary contact. methods. The report also notes that rupture, leak or migrate to another Researchers applied varying there are too few health care practi- area of the body. degrees of mild pressure to the tioners trained in these other surgical thumbnail beds of fibromyalgia therapies, such as uterine artery EFFECTS OF VIOLENCE patients and compared their FMRI embolization, myomectomy and LONG-LIVED ablation therapy, and that rural and scans to a non-afflicted control A recent study in the Archives of remote women, in particular, do not group. Those with fibromyalgia regis- Internal Medicine confirms that have access to the most current med- tered more than double the level of domestic violence results in long- pain signals in the brain compared to ical techniques. (See Herizons’ Winter term and immediate health problems. healthy individuals receiving the 2001 “5 Dangerous Myths about From a sample of over 2,000 women, same stimuli, and their pain response Hysterectomy” and Herizons’ Fall 2001 researchers found that those women reached different areas of the brain. “Natural Relief for Fibroids.”) who had been assaulted by their Researchers concluded that spouse had more headaches, back fibromyalgia is a physiological illness IMPLANTED EVIDENCE that it is characterized by an Over the last two years more than pain, sexually transmitted diseases, increased neurological capacity to 1,350 Canadian women have received vaginal bleeding, vaginal infections, process pain. silicone breast implants, even though pelvic pain, painful intercourse, uri- the devices have been prohibited in nary tract infections, appetite loss, REWRITING HYSTERY the country for a decade. abdominal pain and digestive prob- A new study by The Ontario Women’s Health Canada maintains a special lems than those who had not experi- Health Council says that women too access clause that permits medical enced domestic violence. Victims of often undergo hysterectomy for device implants for “emergency use” assault also experienced more chronic benign uterine conditions when other, or in cases where no other conven- stress-related problems and total less invasive methods of treatment tional therapy is available, as long as overall health problems. are available, effective and have the patient is informed of the poten- The women also had a 50 to 70 per- fewer long-term health consequences. tial risks of the procedure. Option cent increased rate of gynecological and Achieving Best Practices in the Use Consommateurs, a consumer-advo- stress-related disorders. Unfortunately, of Hysterectomy notes the rate for cacy group in Montreal reports that the health problems associated with hysterectomy in Canada is double that the majority of the silicone gel domestic violence did not disappear of Britain, Sweden, the Netherlands implants are used for cosmetic rea- after the abuse stopped.

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Turbo Chicks: Talkin’ ‘bout My Generation “ THIRD-WAVE FEMINISM IS COMFORTABLE WITH CONTRADICTION BECAUSE THAT'S THE ONLY WAY THE WORLD MAKES SENSE.”– LISA RUNDLE

By Krista Scott-Dixon

hird-wave feminism” is a catchy yet con- women were doing with feminism. Finding out about tested term for the ideas and activism of the activism that young women were doing around “T young North American women. Lara zines, music, actions and film made so much sense to Karaian, Allyson Mitchell, and Lisa Rundle created an me. It was the place where all of my school learning fit anthology that reflects the issues and experiences of into actions that weren’t just about writing essays. At these women. Their book, Turbo Chicks, (Sumach the same time, I was concerned by some of the senti- Press, 2001) challenges the image of young women as ments that ‘older’ feminists were voicing about young apathetic, apolitical dupes of an anti-feminist back- women like me. My experiences contradicted their lash. Instead, the contributors to Turbo Chicks present a accusations of apathy. I thought, if I’m going to pursue lively, intriguing series of opinions and perspectives this as a career, I want to help set the record straight so which are by turns thoughtful, provocative, funny, my colleagues wouldn’t be so dismissive or threatened angry and poignant. In this interview, the editors by women my age and younger. reflect on third-wave feminism. Lisa Rundle: I’m a writer and now the editor of the on- line alternative media portal rabble.ca. I write a lot on Q: What inspired you to create Turbo Chicks? issues involving young women and feminism. My inter- Lara Karaian: I always wondered how it was that I est in young feminism came from the shock of discover- “became” a feminist, and because of this, I started a ing that there were generational appreciation gaps research project on the influences and barriers to between feminists. I hoped Turbo Chicks would help women taking on the feminist label. make space for some of the perspectives of younger Allyson Mitchell: I started on the path of creating the women in and about feminisms and encourage the kind book because I was genuinely interested in what young of great discussion feminism has always inspired.

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Turbo Chicks editors, from left to right, Lara Karaian, Allyson Mitchell and Lisa Rundle are bridging the generation gap. Photo by Andrej Kopac.

Lisa, in the book’s introduction you ask, “What does it had changed and many more would change before I mean to have grown up in Canada after the women’s became a conscious political being. My world was dif- movement’s influence of the 1970s? A lot of the structural ferent than my mother’s. And my feminism is differ- equality rights had been won by the time we came along ent. My challenges are new. and we grew up with different expectations.” Can you It’s different being told, ‘You’re just a girl and you can expand on this a bit? only be a nurse, a secretary, a teacher or a full-time Lisa: I mean that political movements and personal mom,’ like my mother was, and being told, ‘You can do experiences change as the world changes. For example, anything; there aren’t any boxes,’ but finding yourself I was just reading an article written in 1968 about the in them anyway and trying to find your own way out. I first organized protest of the American women’s move- think the boxes change for women, depending when ment—against the Miss America pageant. They were and where and who you are. fighting against a system of patriarchy and exploitation that hadn’t been widely critiqued yet—or at least all the Allyson, you work a lot with pop culture. Many of the feminist critiques that were out there hadn’t seeped pieces in the book use pop culture in some way. What do into mainstream culture. They were naming things for you feel is the influence of pop culture on young feminism, the first time and, in a way, fighting clearer foes because and how can young feminists engage productively with it? sexism was so unchecked. Allyson: The term ‘third-wave feminism’ began as a By the time I was born in the mid-70s, the world positive assertion of feminism after a media blitz about had already changed because of the work of second- post-feminism or the death of feminism. To me, this wave feminists, as well as average people who thought seems positive on many levels. On the other hand, I that the world needed to be fairer. Many unfair laws understand how things get co-opted and watered down

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by the media. There is much discussion about whose the ‘anything goes’ retort as a way to dismiss a gener- third wave gets portrayed in pop culture, how it is ation of feminists who embrace complexity and fight attached to sexy and confusing ideas about “liberated oppressions in multiple, unique and creative ways. women,” “sexual agency” and “girl power” and steers Allyson: I’m very suspicious of some sort of party line clear of anti-globalization, anti-racism or anti-pover- written in stone. Who gets to decide what are the things ty. Pop culture limits and constricts what gets repre- that can’t fit into “anything goes?” Who is threatened sented and third-wave feminism is just one of them. by people expanding the arena of feminism? How the There are two basic ways of engaging with pop cul- hell are you going to control it anyway? ture. The first is to be media literate and selective with Lisa: Digging your heels in and telling other women pop culture. It is unavoidable but you can also choose how to be the ‘right’ kind of feminist is not helpful in not to buy and read fashion magazines or watch so any way. There is no one feminism because there is no much television. It is like realizing when I eat too much one woman. The reason we put together Turbo Chicks was to show a diversity of voices; we wanted to coun- “ I WANTED TO HELP SET THE RECORD teract the idea of a monolithic feminism where every- STRAIGHT SO MY COLLEAGUES one thinks alike, dresses alike, acts alike. That’s not WOULDN'T BE SO DISMISSIVE OR real life. We disagree. We complement. We come from THREATENED BY WOMEN MY AGE different places. Yay. Why suppress that? Third-wave AND YOUNGER.” feminism is comfortable with contradiction because that’s the only way the world makes sense. –ALLYSON MITCHELL It has also been suggested that young feminists are being candy I feel dizzy. Same for pop culture: if I ingest too encouraged to be ‘consumer feminists’ who live their fem- much, I get low self-esteem and a claustrophobic world inism through consumption and acquisition of “girl view. Boycotting (or girlcotting) or cutting down is the power” goods. How do you respond to this? first and easiest method of disengagement. Lara: I think that the co-opting and the commodifica- The second is to use it. Pop culture is everywhere and tion of feminism and revolution in general is a real this makes it cheap. It is an excellent tool for arts and problem, but I don’t think that that’s young women’s crafts. Use it to make your own culture. Rip it apart and fault. I bet there is something to wearing underwear that re-fashion it; cut and paste the words so that they tell a says “pussy power” for even the least socially-conscious story about your own existence, not someone else’s. gal. Still, the relationship of feminism to consumerism has to be interrogated and challenged because of the It has been suggested that part of young feminism is the oppressive nature of both patriarchy and capitalism. ability to choose a feminist path that is right for each of Allyson: Of course ‘consumer feminism’ isn’t an us, and that there are many ways to be feminist. How do ideal. At the same time, for some people, this is the you respond to people who say that this type of diversity only strategy they know. represents an “anything goes” attitude which dilutes the What needs to happen is education about the effects political power of feminism? of globalization and consumption. People need alter- Lara: If anyone thinks that there’s ever been a single natives. As well, if slogan T-shirts and Lilith-type unified feminism, they’re delusional. Any criticism fairs make feminism accessible and sexy to a segment that rejects complexity in favour of simplification is of the population that would not have identified as the real threat to the political power of feminism. I see feminist before—it can be seen as positive. I don’t

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think that these things make the feminist movement Lots of learning and wisdom risks being lost, and then in Canada any weaker. Do we lose members to con- it’s a typical divide and conquer, except we’re dividing sumerism or do people make the switch to an easier ourselves. It happens across all kinds of fault lines in politics that has a price tag attached? social justice movements and one of the priorities of We live and move in the world around us. Politics third-wave feminism as I see it, is to be more multiple don’t exist in a vacuum. That is the contradiction: and supportive across political priorities. people buy Subway subs on the way to or from an anti-globalization demo. Where do you see young feminism 10 years from now? What currents or themes do you see as significant? Postmodernism is a theoretical current that has Allyson: I see young feminists continuing on in areas informed some feminist theory in the academy. Lara, of workers’ rights, environmentalism, anti-racism, you teach these ideas to undergraduate women’s studies anti-poverty and cultural critique. We are continual- students; can you explain the role of postmodernism in ly opening up, not closing down. I hope that my nine- third-wave feminism? Lara: Postmodern feminism is a position that rejects “ IF ANYONE THINKS THAT THERE'S rigid and simplistic binaries like men/women, EVER BEEN A SINGLE UNIFIED active/passive and so on. Postmodern feminism FEMINISM, THEY'RE DELUSIONAL.” rejects a simplistic opposition between the sexes, where men are bad and women are good, and instead –LARA KARAIAN focuses on the differences within the sexes. This means recognizing that our identities are complex, year-old niece (also a contributor to Turbo Chicks) contingent and fluid. We are not women first and doesn’t feel like she has to re-invent the wheel or act then a person of colour, rich or a person who is dis- out against my generation of feminists. I hope that abled. Postmodern feminism focuses on the fact that the significant work that is getting done now by we are all parts at once. Our identities are the result young feminists around anti-globalization, accessi- of the intersection of our sex, gender, class, race, bility and education isn’t lost and ill-recorded so that ability and sexuality in a particular time and place. we look like a bunch of ‘consumer-only feminists’ to Therefore, our subjectivity and identity is complicat- future generations. ed, fluid and everchanging. This challenges ideas of Gloria Steinem talks about this sort of misrepre- people’s selves as uncomplicated, unified and whole. sentation or eroded history in her introduction to This, I think, has had the effect of making feminism Rebecca Walker’s To Be Real, one of the first third- about more than just sexism first and foremost. wave texts. I think it is really sad and I feel the responsibility to do as much archiving, story telling What do you envision as a positive relationship between and accounting as possible now so that we can con- older and younger feminists? What challenges might tinue on instead of stepping back. have to be overcome before this can happen? Lara: I hope that complexity and diversity will be Lara: I think this means taking seriously the history recognized as more of a strength than a threat and of different feminists that came before us, as that feminism will keep changing the times and with opposed to dismissing it or their struggles as “done” the times. or not worthy of attention. Krista Scott-Dixon is a Toronto writer and regular con- Lisa: It’s crucial that we try to understand each other. tributor to Herizons.

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Guess what? All women don’t think alike. Photo by Geoff Mandsee/PhotoDisc. What Do Women Think?

by Brenda O’Neill

The first wave of the feminist movement in the early twen- feminist activists who came into their consciousness in tieth century won basic legal rights such as the right to the 1980s and 1990s. The most recent wave has been char- own property, to vote and to sit in the Senate. The second acterized in part by its acceptance of gender as only one of wave in the 1960s and 1970s fought for substantive equal- women’s many identities. ity—an end to workplace discrimination, the imposition Political studies professor Brenda O’Neill set out to of equal division of property upon divorce, the introduc- assess the attitudes and beliefs of different generations of tion of anti-rape laws and reproductive rights that women to find out whether the attitudes of women in the included legal birth control and abortion services. general population reflect the differences in the three A more recent wave, the third wave, identifies younger waves of feminism.

here is a commonly held view that younger movement’s goals and favour policy positions that are women are less willing to adopt the feminist in line with feminist thought. label than women who came of age in the sec- T WOMEN WITH ATTITUDE ond wave, in spite of their support for women’s equality more generally. The “But I’m not a feminist” Barbara Arneil’s Politics and Feminism (1999) docu- phenomenon has been attributed in part to the back- mented the transitions that feminism has undergone. lash against feminists in mainstream culture and Briefly, feminists of the first wave included among media explained in Susan Faludi’s 1991 book Backlash their goals the acquisition of liberal rights for women and more recently by Jennifer Baumgardner and Amy within a public/private framework that presumed an Richards in Manifesta. However, my research on the existence of gender difference. In contrast, second- attitudes of women from distinct generations reveals wave feminism, despite its many manifestations, that women in the youngest age group feel as positive- adopted an acceptance of universality, with its empha- ly towards feminists as older women, support the sis on the differences between women as a group and

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men as a group. This claim rests uneasily with the often gorize the 1,456 women who responded to the 1997 employed argument of the “sameness” of the genders, Canadian Election Study which included questions adopted in part to allow for a basis on which to demand directed at feminist attitudes. equal treatment and the challenging of the public/pri- • Third wave II: respondents born between 1969-1979; vate and culture/nature dichotomies. The difficulty, as • Third wave I: respondents born between 1958 and 1968; identified by Naomi Black, in her essay “The Canadian • Second wave: respondents born between 1943 and 1957; Women’s Movement: The Second Wave” in the book • Pre-second wave: respondents born before 1943. Changing Patterns, was that, “Women wanted to stay The first step was to find out how respondents felt different without being disadvantaged.” While still about feminists. The second step was to assess their socialized to assume domestic responsibilities, many attitudes towards the various positions associated women entered the workforce, in part to escape the with feminist thought. feminine mystique identified by Betty Friedan. Respondents were asked how they felt towards The Royal Commission on the Status of Women various groups, using a scale that ranges from 0 served as a lightning rod for Canadian feminists in the (strongly dislike) to 100 (strongly like). late 1960s and 1970s, documenting many of these bar- Table 1. How do you feel towards…? riers and generating public awareness of such issues as Third Third Second Pre-Second access to abortion, equal pay, pension discrimination Wave II Wave I Wave Wave and violence against women for the first time. Feminists 48.4 45.5 44.1 42.2 Gays and Lesbians 61.2 55.3 51.9 40.6 However, many women, particularly lesbians and Racial Minorities 66.1 61.7 59.7 58.9 women of colour, failed to see themselves reflected in Aboriginal Peoples 58.8 58.8 59.5 59.6 Big Business 60.5 56.8 56.2 56.1 the second wave’s discourse. Third-wave feminists Average for all Groups 57.9 55.6 55.7 53.8 “grew up with feminism as their birthright,” accord- Number of Respondents 317 363 463 313 Note: Entries are average thermometer rating (ranging from 0 to 100). ing to Candis Steenbergen in her article, “Feminism The sample sizes for each cohort are the minimum recorded across all variables. and Young Women: Alive and Well and Still Kicking,” in Canadian Woman Studies, (Winter/Spring 2001). As you can see, feminists were ranked below the mid- Now they are “pushing the boundaries of who and point by all age groups, with younger respondents pro- what constitutes feminist community and defines viding the highest average ranking for all groups. Taking feminist theorizing,” writes Natasha Pinterics in the this higher average ranking into account means that same issue of Canadian Woman Studies in her article, women across all age groups ranked feminist equally. “Riding the Feminist Waves: In With the Third?”. An acceptance diversity, particularly vis à vis gays and Third wave feminism embraces a strong belief in the lesbians but also towards racial minorities was the multiplicity of identity, reflecting the difficulty many defining characteristic of the third-wave respondents. women feel towards categorizing themselves into unique Respondents were asked to assess the influence and singular identities based on gender, race, sexuality that they believed various groups possessed as well as or ability. Third wavers also tend to express a desire to the influence they believed these same groups openly address the contradictions within feminism should possess. As you can see, each age group while challenging perceived rigidities in the ideals of believed that feminists should have less influence second-wave feminist politics. Continues Steenbergen, than they currently possess. “To many, those pursuits have revolved around continual self-analysis and personal negotiation, an attempt to Table 2. Should Groups Have More or Less Influence? Third Third Second Pre-Second reconcile the desire to create their own version of femi- Wave II Wave I Wave Wave ninity and the fear of betraying their allegiance to femi- Feminists -.19 -.17 -.30 -.30 Gays and Lesbians .25 -.13 -.50 -.91 nism and the struggle for female empowerment.” Racial Minorities .06 -.15 -.47 -.52 Needless to say, feminist thought among feminist Aboriginal Peoples .05 -.12 -.08 .42 activists is distinct from feminist thinking in the Number of Respondents 168 206 284 184 Note: Entries are the average difference between how much influence a group should broader public opinion. It was the views of women in possess and how much influence they currently possess. The measure ranges from -6 to 6. Negative values suggest the group has too much influence; positive values the broader public arena that were the subject of my suggest the group should have more. The midpoint (0) identifies respondents who desire research. I used the following age groupings to cate- no change in the group’s influence level.

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There was a larger gap in agreement, however, on the tion between age group and workplace attitudes, level of desired influence change for gays and les- although not always in the anticipated direction. For bians: while the third wave II age group believed the example, although a majority of women in each age group should possess more influence, the remaining group agreed that “Discrimination makes it extreme- age groups believed they should have less. ly difficult for women to get jobs equal to their abili- Interviewees in the youngest age group were also ties,” this share was highest among the three oldest willing to accord a slightly higher level of influence to groups. By comparison, only 59 percent of women in racial minorities. When the group in question was the third wave II age group agreed that systemic bar- Aboriginal, it was the Pre-Second Wave age group riers exist in the workplace. This pattern may reflect that was most willing to accord greater influence to the fact that the youngest age group has yet to experi- the group. ence such discrimination first hand. Interestingly, Respondents were asked for their opinion on the however, on the issue of quotas to increase the num- goals of the feminist movement. As you can see, a ber of women in certain jobs, the youngest age group majority of all respondents believed that the feminist was most willing to support quotas for job hiring. movement tries to get equal treatment for women and Equally puzzling was the unwillingness of the pre- that the movement encourages women to be inde- second wave age group to adopt quotas, despite their pendent and to speak up for themselves. overall agreement that discrimination in job hiring is a problem for women. Table 3. Attitudes towards Feminist Movement Third Third Second Pre-Second Wave II Wave I Wave Wave Table 5. Attitudes on Women and the Workplace Feminist movement tries Third Third Second Pre-Second 68.1 71.3 62.9 70.1 to get equal treatment for Wave II Wave I Wave Wave women (144) (181) (251) (184) Discrimination makes it 58.7 68.9 63.7 71.9 Feminist movement 79.8 80.9 81.3 hard for women to get jobs (172) (209) (300) (213) encourages women to be 78.3 (152) (203) (277) (198) independent Support use of quotas in 18.4 10.5 9.4 8.7 job hiring (163) (209) (286) (218) Note: Entries are percentage of respondents selecting a particular statement. (The sample sizes for each cohort are in parentheses.) Note: Entries are percentage of respondents agreeing with or selecting a particular statement. The sample sizes for each cohort are in parentheses. Abortion continues to be one of the key political lightning rods for the feminist movement: equal rights for In conclusion, respondents who came of age at the women. The results in Table 4 confirm that younger time of the third wave possess many opinions and respondents were the most supportive of this one ele- values that are in line with the most recent period of ment of the feminist movement’s agenda: at least two feminist thought and activism. out of three women in both third wave age groups and As a group, the younger women ranked feminists as more than 60 percent of women in the second wave favourably as older respondents, tended to be more believe that abortion is a matter of personal choice. tolerant of racial minorities, gays and lesbians and were solidly pro-choice. In some respects, therefore, Table 4. Attitudes on Abortion feminism has found a home among the values and Third Third Second Pre-Second Wave II Wave I Wave Wave attitudes expressed by the youngest respondents in Abortion never permitted 7.4 7.1 7.2 15.6 this research. Permitted only after need 23.8 26.7 32.1 37.3 established by a doctor This article is based on a research paper by Brenda Should be a matter of the 68.7 66.2 60.7 47.1 O’Neill, who teaches political studies at the University of woman’s personal choice Number of respondents 323 382 499 359 Manitoba. The paper will soon appear in an edited collec- Note: Entries are percentages. Columns may not add to 100 due to rounding. tion, Women and Electoral Politics in Canada, edited by Manon Tremblay and Linda Trimble, to be published Table 5 breaks down attitudes towards gender and the in 2003 by Oxford University Press. workplace. The results suggest a significant associa-

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Members of Speak Out Against Fundamentalism encourage debate on the role of fundamentalism in citizens’ forum in Porto Alegre, Brazil. Lip Service: The Anti-Globalization Movement on Gender Politics

by Judy Rebick

couple of years ago, I asked Gloria Steinem the anti-globalization movement. And perhaps more whether she was concerned that young women importantly, the critique of patriarchy and capitalism A seemed more attracted to the anti-globaliza- that was developed over many difficult years by section movement than to the women’s movement. Her ond-wave socialist feminists. reply was, “The anti-globalization movement is the According to Klein, “There is a sophisticated and women’s movement.” complex understanding of the role that gender and There is no question that women are among the lead- race play in corporate globalization. But women’s ers of the anti-globalization movement. In Canada, the issues that fall outside that analysis get lost. There is a first names that come to mind are Naomi Klein and profound critique of patriarchy as it relates to power.” Council of Canadians chair Maude Barlow. In fact, the anti-corporate globalization movement Internationally, we can add Vandana Shiva, Susan has taken its critique of power from the early second- George and Starhawk to the list. In a world with so few wave women’s movement. So much so that some of the visible women leaders, this is no small accomplishment. same mistakes made by feminists who abandoned Among young anti-globalization activists, feminist organized structures in a bid to equalize their movement critiques of power and patriarchy have had a pro- are being made again. An article written in 1972 by Jo found impact on the methods of organization. In the Freeman called “The Tyranny of Structurelessness” South, as well as in the North, women play a major observed that unspoken power within collectives or role at a grassroots level. In addition, the impact of among anarchists is still relevant. She wrote: globalization on women has been documented by “During the years in which the women’s liberation women’s groups and feminist authors. movement has been taking shape, a great emphasis has However, there is a very real risk that specific been placed on what are called leaderless, structureless issues of concern to women such as male violence and groups as the main—if not sole—organizational form of reproductive rights are getting lost in the agenda of the movement. The source of this idea was a natural

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reaction against the over-structured society in which anti-globalization activists supported the Pope Squat most of us found ourselves, and the inevitable control to protest poverty and homelessness. Challenge the this gave others over our lives, and the continual elit- Church raised some sexual issues by giving out con- ism of the Left and similar groups among those who doms, but only a handful of activists protested the were supposedly fighting this overstructuredness. The Vatican’s policies on women’s rights. idea of ‘structurelessness,’ however, has moved from a And yet, at almost every United Nations meeting dur- healthy counter to those tendencies to becoming a ing the last 10 years, the Vatican has allied with other goddess in its own right… . A ‘laissez-faire’ group is conservative forces to stop progress on women’s rights. about as realistic as a ‘laissez-faire’ society; the idea At the Vienna conference on human rights in 1993, the becomes a smokescreen for the strong or the lucky to Vatican used its observer status at the U.N. to mobilize establish unquestioned hegemony over others… .” against the recognition of women’s rights as human Thirty years later, the young anarchist scene tends to rights. Throughout the 90s the Vatican led a coalition of criticize traditional leadership traits such as public conservative forces to ensure that women’s reproductive speaking, media interviews and writing. In some circles, rights were dropped off the agenda of U.N. documents. observes Klein, “You are not allowed to admit that you Ironically, at these international meetings, it is often value these things, so there is no training for them. Still, the same forces opposing both corporate globalization someone has to do it and, by default, those who already and women’s equality. Likewise, the forces pushing have the skills do it and mostly that means men.” trade liberalization the hardest are often those most As a result, some women in the movement are strongly claiming to support women’s rights. thinking long and hard about their involvement. In a As Gita Sen of Development Alternatives with recent article in rabble.ca, activist Krystalline Kraus Women for a New Era (DAWN) describes it in her described her experience with the Black Bloc, a mili- paper “Gender Justice and Economic Justice,” “The tant anarchist group that marches in demonstrations irony for some women is that, on the one hand, the in masks and dressed all in black. supporters and promoters of a globalized world econo- ‘Blocking up’ to become the Black Bloc is a great my are often also the ones who support the breaking of equalizer. With everyone looking the same—every- traditional patriarchal orders. On the other hand, one’s hair tucked away, our faces obscured by masks, some of those who oppose globalization do so in the I’m nothing less and nothing more than one entity name of values and control systems that strongly moving with the whole…,” she writes. oppress women. The challenge for women, therefore, “It’s once the mask comes off, the problems begin. is how to assert the need for both economic justice and And it’s no surprise that in public debates around gender justice in an increasingly globalized world, in violence/non-violence it’s always two men yelling which at the same time we witness the proliferation of their heads at each other, while women can’t get a diverse forms of moral conservatism that systematical- word in edge-wise. Sure, women are gaining popular ly target women’s self-determination.” ground in the movement, but some topics are still The most dramatic example of this contradiction taboo for us. And with machismo still ruling the came with the U.S.-led invasion of Afghanistan. During streets—especially during a riot—what women have to that time, a caller to a Winnipeg CBC radio phone-in say often gets lost in the tear gas fog.” show where I was a guest berated me for not supporting Kraus said in an interview that when the need for a U.S. President George Bush’s attack on Afghanistan. women’s caucus arises at political meetings, women are “As a feminist,” he said, “you must admit that, without often accused of dividing the movement. “We are all sup- the bombing, women would still be enslaved there.” posed to be equal; if you suggest that we are not yet equal, Whether women in Afghanistan will be better off you are accused of being divisive,” she explains. It all after the war is an open question. But the claim that the sounds depressingly familiar to someone who has been United States is a liberator of oppressed women is con- struggling for decades to raise feminist issues on the left. tradicted by the history of U.S.-led corporate global- When the Pope came to Toronto this past summer, ization in creating the conditions that enable

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fundamentalist regimes like the Taliban to gain power. ernmental organizations) is to leave gender equality to Not to mention U.S. support of Saudi Arabia, where be struggled over by women’s organizations alone.” gender apartheid is almost as severe as it was under the Lorraine Guay, one of the founders of the World Taliban. Yet, on the surface, it looked like the U.S. was Women’s March agrees. “Men, too, have to struggle helping to liberate the women of Afghanistan. against patriarchy, it can’t just be left to women. Meanwhile, in the Middle East, Asia and Africa, anti- Despite the presence of feminist leaders, like feminist forces continue to draw strength from their Vandana Shiva, it seems to me that a political analysis opposition to neo-liberalism. There, feminism and eco- of patriarchy has been eliminated from the political nomic liberalization are viewed as twin evils of Western analysis of the New Left.” society. Feminists in the South recognize the dangers in As corporate globalization grows more and more both extremes—neo-liberalism on the one side and reli- militarized, a combined critique of patriarchy and gious fundamentalism on the other. Feminists in the capitalism is becoming more and more important. Yet anti-globalization movement in the North have not the women who form the backbone of the anti-global- focussed much energy on the issue of fundamentalism. ization movement in North America and Europe have “Religion has been a huge blind spot for the move- not raised these issues as much as women’s groups in ment,” says Klein. “Fundamentalism itself is the the South. Part of the reason for this might be the greatest expression of patriarchy… . Since September weakening of the autonomous women’s movement in 11, there have been baby steps in recognizing the twin North America in the last decade. dangers of economic and religious fundamentalism, Throughout the Americas, where women’s rights but we have a long way to go.” have made tremendous gains in recent decades, a fero- The global women’s movement is unquestionably a cious backlash against feminism has accompanied the full participant in the ‘movement of movements,’ rep- rise of neo-liberalism. As feminists have always argued resented at gatherings like the World Social Forum in for stronger social programs, marginalizing and under- Porto Alegre, Brazil last February. There, 60,000 peo- mining feminism is an important ideological adjunct to ple from all over the world—more than 40 percent of neo-liberalism, which seeks to cut social programs in them women—met to discuss alternatives to neo-lib- the interest of reducing taxation and maximizing profit. eralism. One worldwide campaign, Speak Out Against But there is also a backlash in the movement. I Fundamentalism, uses big lips as its campaign sym- don’t know how many times I have heard male lefties bol. Overall, however, there was little gender analysis say that identity politics have ruined the left. There is or discussion of the impact of religious fundamental- little question that identity politics focusses more on ism on women’s lives in hundreds of seminars and what divides us than what unites us. Nevertheless, the workshops. Instead, women were more vocal in the fact remains that our public policies and laws affect corridors of the conference through demonstrations, women and men, people of colour and Caucasians, theatre pieces and individual testimonials. rich and poor, gay and straight differently—and our While it was inspiring to see the World March of politics must reflect those differences. Women, comprised primarily of Brazilian women, it The anti-globalization movement has embraced was disheartening that so many of the movements at the culture of feminism in many ways, but it has not the forum have not integrated a gender analysis of fully integrated feminist politics into its core. It is not corporate globalization. enough that individual women raise issues related to In a statement published after the World Social patriarchy or male domination inside the movement. Forum, DAWN challenged the annual event to take up And it is not enough that women who name these gender issues. “Unfortunately, there are still far too problems have a strong gender analysis. Unless there many at global and other levels whose commitment to is a strong women’s movement inside the anti-glob- gender equality is weak, and whose beliefs and political alization movement, issues of women’s equality will practice are fraught with patriarchy,” the women’s drop off the political agenda. And patriarchy will con- group said. “But for too long, the tendency among even tinue to be alive and well. the more progressive development NGOs (non-gov- Judy Rebick is publisher of rabble.ca.

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Third-wave sexuality is characterized by a ‘nobody can tell us what to do’ attitude, said Shelley Taylor, of Venus Envy. Photo by Ryan McVay/PhotoDisc. Women’s Liberation is Coming

by Jennifer O’Connor

Imagine a Tupperware party…or a quilting bee. Now add teaching tool scaled large enough to impress any size a harness and numerous other sex gadgets. Seven women, queen. They talk about female ejaculate, why silicone varying in age, size and body piercings, sit in a living lubes should not be used with silicone toys and discuss the room, surrounded by sex paraphernalia, safety gear and merits of plug-in vibrators versus portable. the famous ‘vulva puppet’—an anatomically-correct

hese women are discussing the joys of sex in Venus Envy stores describes the attitude as, “Nobody the film Please Don’t Stop: Lesbian Tips for Givin’ can tell us what we can and cannot do with our bodies. T & Gettin’ It, a Sex Positive production that is the Don’t tell us who we should be partnered with or how first film of its kind to be made by a cast and crew of many people we should be partnered with or even that lesbians of colour. But such adventures aren’t just we need a partner.” The result, Taylor explains, is that happening on videotape. In books, e-zines (on-line it’s becoming more and more acceptable and sexy to publications), performance, and activism, women be knowledgeable and forward and assertive about are claiming their sexuality. sex. And if it means bending their boyfriend over, For Shelley Taylor, third-wave sexuality is charac- these gals know how to do it safely. terized by “a much more assertive belief that we own Not that it’s as simple as grabbing some lube and latex. our bodies and we can do whatever we want with Young feminists in particular, writes Merri Lisa Johnson them.” The owner of the Halifax and Ottawa-based in Jane Sexes It Up: True Confessions of Feminist Desire,

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“feel the edges of feminist history grind against the conservative cultural contexts in which our lives unfold.” They live inside the contradiction of a political movement that affirms and encourages expressions of sexuality, and the “real world of workplaces, families and communities that continue to judge women harshly for speaking of sex, much “WHEN WE DENY less expressing one’s ‘deviant’ acts and OURSELVES SAFE complex erotic imagination.” AND SHAMELESS Examples of this deviance are every- EXPLORATION where. Shar Rednour and Jackie Strano’s AND ACCESS TO S.I.R. Video Productions make films such RELIABLE as Hard Love & How to Fuck in High Heels INFORMATION, (lesbian porn) and Bend Over Boyfriend (a WE DAMAGE OUR straight couple’s guide to male anal pleas- ABILITY TO EVEN ure). Bust magazine provides readers with KNOW WHAT sex-positivity in sections such as The Sex SEXUAL PLEASURE Files, Susie Q’s (an advice column by Susie FEELS OR Bright) and an erotica section aptly called LOOKS LIKE.” “One-Handed Read.” And women are sign- ing up for workshops on female ejaculation –REBECCA and introduction to BDSM (bondage and WALKER discipline, sado-masochism) at women- focused stores, such as Good For Her in Toronto, where I’ve worked for the past year. But you don’t have to venture that far to find sexy- girl media. Mainstream magazines such as Chatelaine have a sex advice columnist and television programs such as the W Network’s (formerly WTN) Sunday

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Night Sex Show are as close as your cable provider. director of Planned Parenthood, “Heterosexual, Of course, women didn’t invent sexuality sometime bisexual, lesbian, two-spirited and transgendered around 1991. No, the stops on this tawdry tour include women will define their sexuality in different ways early feminists at the turn of the century advocating and each individual’s definition will be affected by for birth control, articles about the legalization of many determinants of health.” abortion that appeared in Chatelaine under the edi- And while there is still much work to do to promote torship of Doris Anderson and, more recently, Little healthy sexuality in all its forms, along with safer sex Sisters’ battles with Canada Customs over gay porn. practices and reproductive choice, Capperauld says However, as Lee Damsky writes in Sex and Single that many women are increasingly taking advantage Girls, most of us don’t live in this blithe bubble. As of birth control methods. “Since women are making she explains, “We grew up with a mix of social-sexual choices about sexually transmitted infection preven- contradictions: the conservative backlash and the tion and the postponement of pregnancy, taking AIDS epidemic, the queer movement and gender- charge of one’s sexuality has become an integral part fuck. We got divorced parents and ‘family value,’ of many women’s lives,” she says. homophobia and lesbian chic, ‘Just Say No’ and ‘Ten Predictably, to provide a counterpoint to all this Ways to Drive Him Wild.’” In short, “[W]e simply pro-sex revelling, we have books such as Wendy grew up surrounded by sex, where the old rules were Shalit’s A Return to Modesty, full of guard-your- not so much overthrown as internalized, displayed, hymen wisdom. “Indeed, the primary and most contradicted.” For all the accomplishments of femi- direct consequence of a recovery of modesty’s mean- nism, women still can’t be sure they’ll be able to get ing would be an end to a culture that objectifies an abortion if they choose to have one. We still see women and inadvertently encourages the violent act- women’s sexuality used to sell everything from sham- ing-out of any deep misogynous impulses. Yet, just as poo to surfboards. And we don’t talk about sensuality it would save many women from harm, so, too, it nearly enough, if at all. would confer on women a new version of an old obli- “It is obvious that the suppression of sexual gation—the obligation to serve as the civilizing force agency and exploration, from within or from within a culture that seems increasingly uncivilized.” out, is often used as a method of social control and Not everyone agrees that women should rely on domination,” according to Rebecca Walker. In her Miss Modesty to protect them. No, sisters are doing it essay, “Lusting for Freedom,” in Listen Up: Voices for themselves. Says Krista Jacob, editor in chief of From the Next Feminist Generation, she beckons the online journal Sexing the Political: A Journal of women to reclaim their sexual power. “Witness Third Wave Feminists on Sexuality, “My generation is widespread genital mutilation and the homophobia challenging many forces that suppress our sexuality— that dictatorially mandates heterosexuality; imagine from our puritanical culture that shames women for the stolen power of the millions affected by just their sexuality, to the sexual violence of our culture these two global murderers of self-authorization that wounds our sexuality and takes our power away, and determination.” to the lack of empowering sexual images within our The lesson is that the personal is still political. own movement.” Continues Walker, “Without being able to respond to Sexuality is, therefore, an integral part of third- and honour the desires of our bodies and ourselves, wave feminism. Jacob explains that, “Sexuality and we become cut off from our instincts for pleasure, feminism are as inextricably linked as sexuality and dissatisfied living under rules and thoughts that are human nature. It’s difficult to think of them as being not our own. When we deny ourselves safe and separate in any way.” shameless exploration and access to reliable infor- Kind of like the silver-sparkly dildo and coordinat- mation, we damage our ability to even know what sexing pink vinyl harness I sold to a guy and a grrrl. ual pleasure feels or looks like.” Jennifer O’Connor is a Toronto freelance writer, zine And there is no one description of what pleasure publisher (www.cherrymag.com) and a sex toy saleslady. feels or looks like. Says Linda Capperauld, executive

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Mary-Woo Sims (standing, right), Rita Wong (standing, left), Sook Kong (front left) and Fatima Jaffer (right) pose on a map of the world in a Vancouver schoolground. Photo by Kira Wu. Creating Community

by Sook C. Kong

These are strange times, surreal and hyper-real, at the local It is also a world where citizens are organizing and the global level. The violence of modernity haunts the against cutbacks in public-sector services, from homes world. The beast is everywhere. Never has it been more for the elderly and inner city lunch programs to a refer- important to stay engaged with the turmoil of civic life. endum that undermines the right to self-government of In the city where I live—Vancouver—this representative Native communities. North American world is full of contradictions. There is the These things were on my mind as I talked to five femi- Downtown East Side, an intense catchment of all that nist organizers in the Lower Mainland about their vision Canada chooses not to deal with. It is also a world where, for community organizing in the future. I began by asking just kilometres away, people are sitting down to $300-a- how economic and social issues are tied to the local and piece dinners. All that is Frankensteinian is out of the belfry. global political economies…

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“ IF WE ARE TO SURVIVE ON THIS PLANET, FEMINIST ORGANIZING WILL HAVE TO HAVE AN IMPACT ON THE ENVIRONMENT.”–RITA WONG

ania Willard, of the Secwepemc people, tells me that globalization is the biggest issue facing T indigenous women, whether they are in Canada, the Philippines or the Americas. “It often hits women the hardest and indigenous women even more so, from sweatshop labour to sexual exploitation.” The exploitation of natural resources is another pitfall of globalization. “B.C. is a seen as a resource base for many capitalist countries—from our mountains to our water. This is why the provincial government is moving ahead with dictated treaties to limit our rights to resources.” A contributor to the Native magazine RedWire, Willard adds that, “The devouring of resources and the search for profit has only recently been called globalization, but it still looks the same to us and it looks like colonization and assimilation.” When I ask author and professor Lee Maracle about issues facing First Nations women, she tells me that First Nations women do not have the luxury of being able to detach any aspect of their lives from their colonial condition. Photo by Kira Wu. “Sovereignty is not ‘an issue,’” Maracle explains. “There is an unprecedented attack on the rights of “It is a totality, an entire condition, a historical phe- Aboriginal peoples by the government,” she says. nomenon which governs all possible issues.” “The (recent B.C.) referendum on treaty principles Rita Wong, a poet, scholar and founding member of was just an appalling waste of money and a gross Direct Action Against Refugee Exploitation (DAARE), human rights violation against the First Peoples of concurs that, “There can be no justice for anyone on this this province.” land until there is justice for First Nations people here.” Making matters worse, the Campbell government DAARE was set up to aid about 100 Fujianese women has taken away the independent official voice that detained upon their arrival in B.C. three years ago. spoke out on human rights in the province—the Although most of the Fujianese women have now been human rights commission. “If I were to prioritize sent back to China where they face fines and possible jail where I would spend my energy, I would be fighting terms, Wong continues to work with marginalized people. alongside with Aboriginal peoples for their rights and As she tells it, “The gap between the wealthy and the poor trying to get the commission back,” says Sims. is man-made. It’s not inevitable. It can be changed.” Former Human Rights Chief Commissioner of NEW MODELS B.C., Mary-Woo Sims, spends much of her time In Willard’s community, Secwepemc people recently organizing politically these days. reoccupied a territory to protest a ski resort expansion

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and the encroachments of a billion- tored through aunties and dollar tourist industry. The way she grannies and stories of my ances- sees it, a new negotiating model will tors … ,” says Willard, who is also “ THEY WERE be the key to working and living a writer and artist. “They were TEACHING ME TO together in the future. teaching me to care for others and CARE FOR OTHERS “The whole method of the way to respect each other and some- AND TO RESPECT the government negotiates with how today that is radical thinking. EACH OTHER AND First Nations needs to be melted My vision for the future is to see SOMEHOW TODAY down,” she believes. “ We are com- the people returning to their tra- THAT IS RADICAL munities and people. We are not ditional territories and learning THINKING.” only chiefs and councils; we are how to balance life again. That grassroots and we demand a voice.” future will be based on those –TANIA WILLARD Part of negotiating that future principles my mother and my means incorporating lessons elders taught me: respect and from the past. “I have been men- love, caring and acceptance.” Whether it is Fujianese women compelled to leave China, First Nations seeking sovereignty or raising feminist consciousness, creating community begins with a vision. ENVISIONING THE FUTURE Anti-violence worker Fatima Jaffer observes, “There is a general sense in society that we have somehow ‘arrived’ on issues of gender. It’s not uncommon to hear progressive women and men dis- parage the women’s movement as ‘archaic’ or ‘too political.’” She adds that many people seem to THE WINNIPEG take for granted that “women’s COMMERCIAL PRINT DIVISION SUN issues will be ‘covered’ without making special efforts to make the

We are one of the few printers that offer a role of feminists central in defin- combination of sheetfed and web printing. We have complete prepress services in Mac and ing the issues.” PC platforms, providing a one stop shop Maracle believes that sovereign environment for all of your printing needs. We offer over 95 years of experience in self-rule for First Nations would printing publications, newsletters, posters erode patriarchal power struc- and marketing material. The Winnipeg Sun Commercial Print Division is a division of the tures. “The vision of First Nations Sun Media Corp, a Quebecor Company. colours and influences the femi- Linda Terry, Account Executive Phone: 204 632 2665 Fax: 204 697 3401 nist work. Sovereignty would lead Cell: 204 292 5157 1700 Church Avenue Winnipeg Manitoba R2X 3A2 to serious feminist organizing ... .” Email: [email protected] In the meantime, she believes Sheetfed & Web printers that, “influencing the nature of the struggle for sovereignty will

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diminish the need for feminism as patriarchal notions and attitudes slattern muse www.slattern.ca within begin to crumble.” writer extraordinaire To Jaffer, recent events have clear & crisp communication on-line design web site architecture: reinforced that all of the ‘isms’ are for a n y occaision planning, creating, interconnected. “It is not impor- annual reports, research implementing and projects, newsletters and reasonable rates for tant whether it is my gender, race, regular* maintenance. web sites. super fast! check out my work at religion, sexuality, disability or www.herizons.ca politics that made me the target of 604.737.2999 [email protected] an attack post-September 11. It matters that it could have been any one of those things!” Fear is often at the root of prej- udice, Sims notes. “I think we have an endless task of education ahead of us so that we can overcome our fear of others. Immigrants and refugees helped to build this country and they will continue to do so if we are open to letting them help.” Wong believes that feminism must expand its influence in the future. “If we are to survive on this planet, feminist organizing will have to have an impact on the environment; for instance on the Kyoto climate treaty. It will have to rebuild economies in ways that value women’s work.” Part of that work involves developing new styles of leadership. “ I think that leadership is the fostering of empowerment among as many women as possible.” This reminds me of how, when I was growing up, my mother used to tell me: “Women’s work is never done, it’s like planting rice.” Thus, the future is invariably now, and now is the time to till, as wise women have always done. Sook C. Kong is a Vancouver-based poet and fiction writer whose work has been published in Canadian journals and anthologies. She was recently nominated ‘Poet of the Year’ by the International Society of Poets.

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We are only beginning to grapple with a future of reproductive and genetic technologies. Photo by PhotoDisc. Conceivable Options THE FUTURE OF PROCREATION, AN INTERVIEW WITH ABBY LIPPMAN

by Leigh Felesky

wenty years ago, Margaret Atwood took us to been determined he will have heart failure by the the toxic land of Gilead, where fertile women age of 30. T were forced to have babies and give them to These days, real-life stories of poor women serving infertile women of the upper class. In The Handmaid’s as surrogates for wealthy couples are turning up in Tale, human reproduction was part of a fictional state newspaper stories on a regular basis. Much of the of tyranny running along gender lines. As Atwood problem lies in the fact that until now, the field of said at the time, however, “There isn’t anything in human reproductive technology has been unregulat- this book not based on something that has already ed. However, a proposed law, Bill C-56 has been happened, or for which actual supporting documen- introduced to prohibit some of the more repugnant tation isn’t already available.” aspects of reproductive and genetic technologies. In the movie Gattaca, the DNA code has been While C-56 is a step in the right direction, Abby cracked and children are accorded education and Lippman, a professor of epidemiology and biostatis- professions based on predetermined genetic abili- tics at McGill University says that we are only begin- ties. Ethan Hawke plays a character whose profes- ning to grapple with a future of reproductive and sional aspirations are dashed because it has already genetic technologies.

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What are reproductive and genetic technologies? purposes. Under the terms of the bill, researchers Human reproductive technologies provide ways for would have to show that projects involving human some women to circumvent biological causes of embryos are necessary. Perhaps I’ve been working with infertility. Eggs can be fertilized outside the body and biomedical scientists too long, but I have yet to find any then implanted in women, frozen for future use, or research that could not be described as necessary. else DNA or other material from the fertilized eggs There is no moral or scientific imperative to do can be sold or donated for experimental research. embryonic stem cell research now. The reason It started off that in vitro fertilization and donor- researchers want to clone human embryos is to ‘mine’ assisted insemination were used mainly for women them for stem cells—mass production would make it who had blocked fallopian tubes or something else most profitable for pharmaceutical companies. Ideally, that caused infertility. The technologies are now used this bill would ban all embryonic stem cell research. more and more for women whose male partners are The bill would limit how many eggs can be fertilized infertile, for single women or lesbian couples that and extracted during infertility treatments. want to have a child. Remember that the fertilized eggs—whether they The other market includes couples who may be at eventually lead to pregnancies—come from women risk of passing on a particular genetic disorder. Some who have to take risky drugs and undergo the surgical of them are saying, “Okay we’ll do in-vitro fertiliza- extraction of huge numbers of eggs. Is it necessary to tion, test the embryos and implant the ones that seem remove hundreds of eggs, or are they being stock- not to have this gene.” This further opens the door for piled just in case they can be sold to researchers? This technologies that have not been shown to be entirely is why we must have strong principles guiding this safe or successful. legislation. Remember that most of these procedures would be done at private clinics and we have to ask, “Where is What is your biggest concern about reproductive technologies? the regulation for all this?” That there is absolutely no control over them at the The most lucrative aspect of this field appears to be present time. There are some good features in this bill, the development of patents derived from human such as the list of prohibitions. (See sidebar article.) DNA and processes like embryonic stem cell However, the regime being developed to oversee the research. But there is a connection because in order development of these technologies is not being created to secure patents on genetic tests and human genes or within a framework of women’s reproductive health. clone human embryos for stem cells, researchers We see the co-opting of the idea of choice—this idea need women to sign away their rights to their fertil- that reproductive technology automatically increases ized eggs (referred to as embryos) after they have choices. In terms of being able to have children, achieved either a pregnancy, stopped trying or simply reproductive technologies are one kind of choice run out of money. offered to women who can afford them. But if we want choices, why don’t we deal with where the source of What is the relationship between cloning and reproduc- the problems are (the effects of undiagnosed sexually tive technology? transmitted diseases are a leading cause of infertility, This is an example of the tight connection between for example) instead of at the end of the road saying, genetic technology and reproductive technology. Bill “You can have this technology now that you’re infer- C-56 would prohibit the creation of human clones for tile . . .”—that’s a limited menu. reproductive or therapeutic purposes—you couldn’t use DNA from a deceased child to create a new Where is the push for reproductive technologies coming embryo. However, the bill would allow for the ‘regu- from in your opinion? lated use’ of human embryos that are ‘left over’ from Women’s bodies are a natural resource for the bio- infertility treatments. medical industry because of the scientific possibili- The bill leaves the door open for cloning for stem cell ties to commercialize human reproduction, human research since it permits the use of embryos for DNA and develop increasing numbers of genetic tests research that were originally created for reproductive to be used in combination with in vitro fertilization.

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WHAT THE BILL CONTAINS

In May, Bill C-56, An Act Respecting Assisted • Creating a human being from an embryo, that was Human Reproduction, was introduced in the House previously transplanted into an animal; of Commons. It has two main features, a list of prohi- • Creating human/non-human combinations for bitions and the proposal of a new regulatory agency, reproductive purposes; the Assisted Human Reproduction Agency of Canada. • Paying a financial incentive to be a surrogate Briefly, the bill proposes banning 12 activities, mother; including: • Paying a donor for sperm or eggs; • Creating a human clone for any purpose • Selling or buying human embryos. (i.e., reproductive or therapeutic purposes); With the prohibitions established, much of the • Creating an in vitro embryo for any purpose regulatory power will reside with the new reproduc- other than creating a human being or improving tion agency. While the principles of the bill state assisted reproduction procedures; that “the health and well-being of children born • Creating an embryo from an embryo or fetus for through the application of these technologies must purposes of reproduction; be given priority in all decisions respecting their • Maintaining an embryo outside the body of a use,” some of the most questionable research prac- woman past the 14th day of its development; tices will not result in children. • Identifying the sex of an embryo created for repro- What will the future bring? The devil’s in the ductive purposes, except for medical reasons such details. Something to watch for: that no one with as sex-linked disorders; links to pharmaceutical or other rep tech compa- • Changing the DNA of human sperm, eggs or nies are appointed to the agency’s 13-member embryos so that the change can be passed to subse- board of directors. Another one: the House of quent generations (germ-line alteration); Commons standing committee on health recom- • Transplanting non-human reproductive material mended that a majority of board members should into humans; be women—we wish! -compiled by Penni Mitchell Photo by Caroline Woodham/PhotoDisc. Photo by Caroline

There are some ways to bypass infertility and help like commodities, so strong regulations are needed to single women and lesbians conceive at the low tech- protect women and children from exploitation. nology end of things—donor-assisted insemination, There is also something eugenic about all of this. for example. But many of the more advanced tech- We’re giving a message that only certain kinds of nologies will be available only to women who already babies should be born. We need to be realistic about have a lot of privileges. Poor women tend to be told what these technologies can and can’t deliver—some they should be on a long-acting contraceptive and research indicates that there are higher risks of cer- don’t have as many ‘choices.’ So we have both a pro- tain disabilities among children born through in child attitude towards a middle-class set of women vitro fertilization. and a very don’t-have-any-children attitude towards people who are marginalized. Yet these women seem What about women with disabilities? to make fine surrogates for wealthy women when the Reproductive technologies are enforcing discrimina- technologies fail them. We’re being sold this mar- tion with a vengeance. All the pre-natal testing and ketability kind of approach with children being almost genetic screening that is done is giving that message.

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There is also a side of these technologies that is a I think there are various ways we can deal with much ‘quality children’ sort of attitude. It sends the message of the infertility and promote child rearing without that “We don’t want children with problems being tinkering so much with women’s bodies after the fact. born.” The reality is that yes, it is more difficult to take care of a baby who has supposedly additional needs, How have these technologies changed how we look but it is not something about the child so much, it’s at children? because society is not providing the infrastructure and Many of these expensive, ‘iffy’ procedures lead us to the support that would allow children with disabilities put adults’ needs first instead of children’s. Babies to have a full life. Is the problem that parents get should not be commercial items that we can buy. On exhausted with extra time having to be spent running the one hand, Bill C-56 first bans commercial surro- around to get good services for their kids? Well, get gacy—carrying a pregnancy for a fee—then sets out the respite, find other ways to give them support. There conditions under which surrogates can have expens- are no jobs for them as adults? Well, make jobs. Then es covered. The bill should be tightened up to ban the at the end of the line if all those problems are solved exchange of money for contract pregnancies and all and there’s still a problem, then I’ll talk about pre- biological material. natal testing. But this can’t be the first line of action. I think many of us tend to think of people with dis- Where do we go from here—is this a human rights issue, abilities as having a potentially more constrained a feminist issue, a health issue or a public health issue? life—yet when we listen to the voices of women with To me, most of these are issues of human rights and disabilities they remind us that it’s our problem, not social justice. But they are also feminist and health their problem. And besides, many people with dis- issues. Sure, there’s a lot of sexism involved, there’s a abilities have injury-related disabilities. These are lot of patriarchal thinking and there’s a lot of pater- not genetic disabilities. nalism. There are also economic matters. We need to make sure we question the agenda set out by the Isn’t one problem that women are delaying their pharmaceutical industry and researchers who favour child rearing? embryo cloning because of the profits that might be If the concern is that women are having children in generated. Although it may make their job tougher, their 30s or later—let’s ask, “Why is this happening?” we could encourage the financing of adult stem cell Maybe it’s because we force women into following male research to find out what these cells can do. We types of career paths. Maybe they are terrified to stop should also provide citizen groups with the resources working because they will lose out on that trajectory by to participate in discussions about embryonic stem taking maternity leaves to have children. So then let’s cell work—before it gets even conditional approval. change what we think of as the normal trajectory and We need more public input into regulatory hearings make one where people come in and out of the work and the full range of technologies must be assessed in force and support women who want to have children a democratic and participatory way. The legislation when they’re younger and infertility isn’t a problem. must ensure that everyone appointed to the agency Let’s make it easier by doing what they do in Quebec and that will oversee the technologies serves as an indi- have a five-dollar per day public childcare program. vidual and not as a representative of an industry or a Infertility among men is another huge concern—it group. There is no clarity in the draft bill on who will accounts for up to 30 percent of infertility problems. do the watching and how. Like women’s infertility, a lot of it is environmental. Do we want human life and its various parts and So why offer expensive procedures to bypass the processes to be patented or manufactured? The bot- effects of infertility when, if we cleaned up the envi- tom line is we are talking about the human rights of ronment, we could prevent a lot of problems. people being born into this society.

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Debbie Stoller (left) and Laurie Henzel publish the popular Bust magazine in New York. Busting Out: Women’s Ink and the Future of Feminist Magazines

By Mirah Kirshner

I remember wandering down to the basement level local American magazine called Sassy, slipped into the stack. bookshop every month to buy my fill of shiny, loud, teen It was glossy and was filled with make-up ads, but some- magazines. I had the distribution dates down to a sci- how it didn’t convey the same ‘too-bad-you’re-a-girl- ence; I knew just which day each magazine would arrive here’s-how-to-make-it-better’ echo in its pages. It offered to the shop. Back in my bedroom, I’d pore over those ‘get- me something different. I was hooked. that-boy-lose-that-baby-fat’ pages for hours. Later, an

ebbie Stoller, editor-in-chief of the amaz- new life pattern?” asks Stoller. It was an alternative— ingly popular Bust magazine had similar feel- not only to the narrow view of women and of feminism D ings. “I was already in my late 20s,” says that was offered by mainstream women’s magazines— Stoller. “What I thought was so clever about Sassy was but frankly, by some feminists. She found there was a that it really showed to me that you could feel very lot of critique but no alternative. “There was nothing empowered by delivering pleasure to the reader.” that was giving us any reason to celebrate.” So she set out to create a magazine for women that So the idea for Bust was born. offered an alternative vision. “Clearly we weren’t going Nikko Snyder, editor-in-Chief of the newly birthed to college, getting boyfriends, going to work for a cou- good girl magazine, had a similar experience. Her ple of years and then getting married. What was the venture into print media came from a void that she

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saw in the Canadian market. “There was a lot of stuff But the medium costs and business possibilities can going on online. The real hole was in print media,” be daunting. The staffers at Bust didn’t manage to pay says Snyder. “I didn’t feel there was anything that themselves until the magazine was well underway and spoke to me.” Currently at work on her third issue, even now, they are without medical insurance and are Snyder names Bust as one of the models for the mag- far from Vogue-level incomes. It’s not an unusual azine. “I felt they took an approach that was playful,” story. Even magazines with a long track record can says Snyder. So, like the Bust-y founders (Stoller was struggle. Herizons (yup, that’s right, this very maga- working in the typing pool in New York when Bust zine) has no office and only two staff members. began) and with a full-time job on the side, and her Neither Penni Mitchell, the editor, nor Alissa Brandt, own funds, she launched good girl. the business and circulation manager, is on a full- The start-up out of pocket isn’t an unusual story. time salary; in fact their staff positions combined pay When Sharlene Azam founded Reluctant Hero back in the equivalent of just over one full-time position. 1996, she poured her savings into the first issue. The Herizons’ story is similar to some newer magazines, magazine, written by and for girls between 12 and 17, not only from a financial perspective, but that it too has drawn attention across Canada and in the U.S. was inspired to fill a void in the market. Fifteen years “I put my own money into the first issue,” says ago, Herizons went on what would turn out to be a hia- Azam, “and ever since we have been profitable.” She tus. During the years that it was out of circulation, chose to found the magazine to women told former staffers how fill a void in the industry. “The much they missed it. idea for the magazine developed “ THERE WAS NOTHING “In the five years that Herizons out of a desire to create some- THAT WAS GIVING US ANY stopped publishing (1987- thing that reflected their [girls’] REASON TO CELEBRATE.” 1992),” says Mitchell, “no lives.” The first RH was printed national feminist magazine in black and one colour (pur- –DEBBIE STOLLER emerged to take its place.” So ple) on white stock paper (no Mitchell and Patricia Rawson, gloss). The Globe and Mail compared the look to Herizons’ business manager in its earlier incarnation, Watchtower, the Jehovah’s Witness publication. “I formulated a plan: if they could find 3,000 paying think the Globe was saying that it was the size and subscribers, they would bring back the magazine. paper stock of a JW booklet, but of course it had more “We contacted every women’s group we could think pages and wasn’t handed out on street corners, of. We contacted former subscribers of Herizons,” says although,” the marketing-savvy Azam quips, “I think Mitchell, “and on the day the first magazine came that’s an excellent way to spread the word.” back from the printers, we got our 3,000th sub- One technological way to get the word out is the scriber.” But even with this happy ending, a keen Internet. Snyder was amazed at the response to the board and a dedicated core of volunteers who contin- call for submissions she received for the premiere ue to help select articles and have even pitched in issue. Word spread like wildfire as people forwarded with layout, the magazine’s finances are precarious her call onto others. “It was pretty incredible,” says after 10 years. “It’s hand-to-mouth. Always. Snyder. “Some of the best writers that I came across Chronically.” and the best supporters of the magazine have been Part of being financially viable involves riding the one or two degrees of separation away from that ini- learning curve of a very tough industry. This means tial list that I sent out.” The Internet allows access to learning business skills and applying them as you try readers and contributors, as well as providing mar- to realize your creative and ideological goals. In keting opportunities. (Approximately half of Bust’s Canada, there are project grants available that didn’t revenue is made from its on-line Boobtique.) exist a few years ago—Herizons has been around long

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enough to qualify for an occasional project grant on a third-wave feminism. “Mainstream media (and fem- cost-shared basis. inist media, too) often present what’s going on with Adds Snyder, “You have to legitimize yourself feminism today in terms of third-wave versus second- before you can even go after that stuff, so somehow wave, young feminist versus older feminist,” accord- you have to scrape through a full year and at least two ing to Candis Steenbergen, a member of good girl’s issue financial statements before you can even volunteer editorial board. The comparison sets femi- become eligible.” That means coming up with the nisms up in opposition to each other, she believes, funds to produce and distribute a magazine—more instead of simply viewing them as different facets of often than not, womanned solely by volunteers with larger, collective goals. day jobs—at least for awhile. Stoller adds that she’s always seen Bust not against Not all magazines can make it through the initial second-wave, but as part of “an evolution of feminist stages. Emily Schultz’s plan to start SheBANG magazine thought.” Nikko Snyder agrees, “I identify with third- ran out of steam after a year and a half of planning. A wave, and I don’t think that that’s counter to second- number of people got involved, lending their time and wave feminism. I don’t think that the two have to knock skills—a web site was set up, layouts completed, articles heads.” Magazines do not have to be neatly popped into set, photographs taken. “All the creative energy was digestible mainstream labels—second-wave, third- there,” says Schultz, but, with a full-time job on the side wave—even if they have different target markets. and limited finances, it was diffi- “The future of feminist maga- cult to sustain the project. The zines will naturally reflect the magazine never launched. “ A MAGAZINE OR A future of feminist organizing,” One way to counter the finan- MOVEMENT BECOMES says Mitchell. “That feminism cial and emotional burnout is to IRRELEVANT IF IT will embrace the values of third- start small. The first issue of Bust BECOMES STAGNANT.” wave feminism with the life was a photocopied and stapled experiences of not only second- number. “It was the only thing –PENNI MITCHELL and third-wave feminists, but we could afford but we always soon by fourth-wave feminists.” had the idea that Bust deserved to be big and real and The key is that feminist magazines need to stay rel- shiny.” The zine phase of Bust, was seen as just that, a evant to readers. “Feminist magazines owe it to their phase. “Bust was one of the first print feminist zines readers to push the boundaries,” says Mitchell. “A that was intended to eventually take a place on the magazine or a movement becomes irrelevant if it newsstand next to Glamour and Cosmo.” says Stoller. becomes stagnant.” American magazines have at least one advantage Whether big and glam, or somewhat lower key, over Canadian titles. They have a much greater popu- feminist magazines have an impact. Time and time lation to draw on, both inside the U.S. and beyond. “I again, projects are buoyed, not by financial reward have this great envy of U.S. magazines,” says Mitchell. or by business goals, but by sheer passion for the “They have unlimited access to Canadian news- project. They’re unique in a magazine marketplace stands—80 percent of magazines sold in Canada are that often seems to sell ads first and think about con- U.S. titles.” To put it in perspective, Herizons has tent later. “Whether it’s a Supreme Court ruling in approximately 5,000 readers whereas, according to Canada or a musician in Mali bridging ethnic divi- the trade publication Masthead, Bust’s circulation sions,” says Mitchell, “feminist magazines say, ‘this runs at about 100,000 (small by U.S. standards). dream is possible because women like you are Behind the circulation and print-run numbers are changing the world.’” readers who share some sense of community. Many Now that’s a reason to celebrate. newer magazines have been associated with so-called Mirah Kirshner is a Toronto writer.

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on the edge BY LYN COCKBURN

FEMINISM IS DEAD. female federal government leader. LONG LIVE XEROX. Yes, Sheila Copps will run again for the leadership I was terrified, she was gracious. It was my first big of the Liberal Party and she will lose again. Why? interview, her 4,352nd, or so. The answer is simple. Birth control. What do you ask an icon? She smiled pleasantly, try- I never thought I’d say this, but for once I agree ing to put me at ease. So I opened my mouth and asked with the Pope. There’s too damned much birth con- Gloria Steinem what she thought about post feminism. trol available. In politics, that is. Feminism has been “post” since its inception, she For example, the We’ll Only Nominate A Woman When explained nicely, refraining from adding that if one We Know We’re Going To Lose device is most effective. It more person asked her that question she’d scream. keeps women—and our country—nicely sterile. The We “Post” feminism, she went on, is but one more Tried A Woman Candidate Once, Didn’t Work, Won’t Do method of denigrating feminism, of implying that It Again pill is a dandy. It’s been used as a handy excuse there is no more use for it—if there ever had been. ever since Kim Campbell, with Audrey McLaughlin and Undeterred, (after all, my editor insisted I ask cer- Alexa McDonough thrown in to bolster up the premise— tain questions) I brought up the thing about how many like it was McLaughlin and McDonough’s gender that women, especially the 20 and 30-somethings, were has stopped the NDP from forming a government. scared of the word. How did she feel about maybe I do wish political scientists would test this pill on changing the name, about using another word? men. If ever there was a dude who could be used as a The photographer was buzzing about so she smiled reason for banning the male gender from politics, his again and said something about if you called it Xerox, name would be Stockwell Day. Globally, Hitler, Pol Pot, opponents would soon make that a dirty word. Stalin, Saddam Hussein and George W. Bush come to Then she said call it what you want, but there still aren’t mind. (Charlton Heston is a stellar example for ban- enough women in politics. That was over 10 years ago and ning men from everything—especially guns—besides, what Steinem said then is true now. Naysayers burble on he gives Alzheimer’s a bad name). about “post Xerox,” how it’s irrelevant to young women, Not content with these forms of political birth control, how there are now lots of women in positions of power, there are even more subtle forms. There’s the insidious how we don’t really need it anymore. If we ever did. You’re Neglecting Your Children. And the This Must Be Meanwhile, at the recent premier’s conference, Pat Hard On Your Husband. One of my personal favourites is Duncan of the Yukon was the only female face among the: So You Got Elected to Parliament, I’m Still Not the bunch. Ten provinces and three territories and Going to Appoint You Minister of Finance or Defence. It the best we can do is ONE woman? goes on. The methods used to keep women out of politics Tune in to an inevitably boring G8 summit and or to keep them from real power once they put a toe in you’ll find—quelle surprise—that all the leaders are the water are many and varied. male. It is easy to cite any number of examples to “And the media contributes,” said a friend in B.C. prove that this is no time to debate the need for who was an MLA for a number of years. She went on to Xerox—everything from the fact that female ice tell me about the plentiful male reporters who would skaters wear skimpy costumes to the sad, continuing walk right by her when she was minister of health in and global epidemic of violence against women. order to ask questions of her male deputy minister. Nonetheless, politics remains one of the best tests “How did you stand it?” I asked. She laughed and said around for determining if our society is ready to she learned to laugh. Nowhere, with the possible excep- deliver on equality. In fact, politics is one of the best tion of the NHL, is sexism so rife than in politics. And tests available for seeing whether our society is even when Canada has 12 women premiers and one man, then ready for conceiving equality. Other than the brief perhaps we won’t need Xerox as much as we do now. and unelected Kim Campbell, Canada has not had a Lyn Cockburn is editorial page editor of The Winnipeg Sun.

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arts lit FALL READING

TOUCHED staff. The episode is first described from hens), throws them in boiling water and by Jodi Lundgren Jade’s point of view, and then from the forces herself to pull each “last stubborn Anvil Press hospital staff’s via a patient log. The dis- quill” that she is able to give birth to her Review by Maria Stanborough parities in perspective show how difficult daughter’s name, her memory, to share the it is for the worlds of the mad and the not senselessness of it all with Michael. There is the madness mad to meet. But, as McInnis reminds us constantly, of postmodern theory For this, Touched deserves a thoughtful it takes time for senselessness to give way and the elusive search read. to hope. It is only when Rachel runs into for truth. There is the Maria Stanborough is a writer and film tech- the forest and finds Michael crushed by a madness of trying to nician living in Vancouver. fallen tree, his lungs collapsed, his face make sense of exis- blue that we truly understand that their tence. Then there is QUICKSILVER pain has no choice but to turn toward life. real madness. QuickSilver. Otherwise known as mercu- Jodi Lundgren’s by Nadine McInnis Raincoast Books ry, a potential cure, a slippery deadly novel Touched incorporates all three types toxin. An apt name for a collection of sto- Review by Karolle Wall of madness, with the protagonist’s mental ries that deftly proves it is sometimes pos- breakdown eventually taking over the text. When I pick up a sible to chase the evil spirits away. Jade King is an honours English stu- debut collection of Karolle Wall teaches writing, literature and dent who is having an affair with one of short stories, I cer- humanities courses at Emily Carr Institute of her professors. When the affair turns tainly don’t expect Art and Design in Vancouver. sour, Jade loses her grip on reality. that reading it will Touched describes Jade’s descent into and interfere with my CROW LAKE recovery from bi-polar manic episodes. work or that its Two aspects make Lundgren’s novel by Mary Lawson images will prove so Knopf Canada, 2002 intriguing. The first is the way Jade’s men- stimulating as to incite poetry, force Review by Irene D’Souza tal instability unfolds. As she is slighted, dreams and leave me in tears. Nadine she tries to understand the events by dis- McInnis’ collection QuickSilver left me Once in a rare while a secting language. This type of analysis is aching and thinking and wishing work of fiction is pub- an element of critical theory studies, simi- Raymond Carver could rise from the dead lished with an aston- lar to how postmodern pundits, such as and see, for a moment anyway, that ishing range and a Jacques Derrida, chose to examine com- McInnis, too, has the ability to capture, compelling story munications. Jade’s cleverness makes it through sparse dialogue, simple gestures line—a veritable treas- difficult to know how unstable she is. and minimalist imagery, the unspoken ure—that you want The second element that shapes silence that haunts everything from everyone to read it. Touched into such an interesting read is familial relationships, to high-rise eleva- Crow Lake is such a book. It has every- how Lundgren gets us inside Jade’s head. tors, to prairie bogs. thing—love, hate, friendship, intellectual The exploration of the interior workings All of McInnis’ stories deal with loss, stimulation, biology, the ties that bind of a character is what fiction offers us, and anger, confusion and the difficulty of carry- families together and what rips them apart, with Touched, we step into the process of a ing on. “Red Becomes Red,” the final story, self-sacrifice, grief and redemption. mental breakdown. This is probably the describes Michael and Rachel’s struggle to This is an opus masquerading as a sim- strongest aspect of Lundgren’s novel. come to terms with the drowning of their ple story; the author is in complete con- Jade’s spiralling descent is buoyed by young daughter, Quill. In life, Quill was a trol; there isn’t a false note and the clinical information, such as the hospital swimmer, a visionary, with a gift for “diving reader, mesmerized, does not want this admission form when she is finally treat- deeper into the lake than anyone else,” and insightful book to end. Kate Morrison, the ed. This information helps the reader for “passing to the other side of the world.” adult narrator, now a university professor understand what Jade’s breakdown looks Their daughter’s name, long unspoken, of biology, reflects on the fateful summer like from the outside. One such moment hangs like a cold blast of desert air between when she was seven and orphaned in a occurs when Jade is in the hospital, them. It is not until Rachel brutally slaugh- small farming town in Northern Ontario. “behaving badly” according to hospital ters Quill’s baby chicks (now full-grown Her parents drive to town to pick a

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suitcase for Luke, her oldest brother, 19, mystery,” I once told Paulina del Valle. Canadian music jour- who has just won a scholarship for “Why not? People who have hellish nalist Mary-Lou teacher training in Toronto and are killed upbringings are always more creative,” Zeitoun’s first novel in a car accident. Younger and brilliant she answered. 13 throws the reader brother Matt, 17, takes after great grand- “Or end up crazy,” I suggested. back into the 1980s, ma Morrison, who loved reading; sinned “Among the del Valles, Aurora, there introducing us to the because she was so absorbed in her are no out-and-out crazies, only defiant and outspo- books. Resting on the spinning wheel, eccentrics, as in any respectable family,” ken teenage heroine, she read into the Sabbath. The descrip- she answered me. Marnie Harmon. 13 is a refreshingly witty tions of little Bo, 18 months, have the Perhaps this uncertainty accounts for portrayal of the rebellious girl as intelli- power to break your heart. With fair hair Aurora’s nebulous personality as she gent, independent and thoroughly uncon- and sagging diapers, she bangs on pots passes from adolescence into adulthood. trollable. Marnie is too bad to be true. and pans, sucking her thumb and holding Aurora lacks the shrewdness of her Living in Ottawa, which she hates, with on to Luke, she is enchanting. grandmother Paulina, the conviction of her parents, whom she hates, Marnie Luke gives up his dream of school so her Uncle Severo, the passion of her aunt hates everything. Except cultural icon the family can stay together. The commu- Nivea. What sets Aurora apart, however, John Lennon—the impetus of Marnie’s nity rallies to help—they do so unobtru- is a talent for photography, a predilec- existence (and unlike most narrations sively and without fanfare—and the tion that can be attributed to Aurora’s that include Lennon, Yoko Ono isn’t the Morrisons actually make a go of it. need for answers and clarity: “The cam- enemy). It’s at this awkward age that Lawson is adept at picking the nuances of era can reveal secrets the naked eye or Marnie senses her position as a girl: “I family life—the older boys protecting mind cannot capture; everything disap- was 13 when I realized that it wasn’t fair their younger sisters and caring for them. pears except for the thing that is the that guys got everything, I mean they’re so The rivalry between the brothers is com- focus of the picture.” stupid. Like, so stupid. How did it happen pelling. Lawson weaves her story with It is only after Paulina’s death and the that men ruled the world?” Marnie clearly consummate skill and the choices the dissolution of Aurora’s unhappy marriage expresses the thoughts of her female brothers make reverberate and haunt that Aurora begins to search for answers readers, making me envious I wasn’t as them throughout their lives. to her past in earnest. She painstakingly self-actualized when I was 13. Marnie is a Discriminating readers who enjoy an reconstructs the lives of her family, work- fighter; she’s in our corner with gloves on intellectual challenge will find this rivet- ing with bits of truth gleaned from her and for Marnie the bell is always ringing ing book a particular pleasure. memories and those of her relatives. By and her dukes are always up. Irene D’Souza is a Winnipeg writer. understanding those who came before Unlike the novels we were force-fed in her, Aurora hopes to understand herself: high school, like Sylvia Plath and Kate PORTRAIT IN SEPIA “I write to elucidate the ancient secrets of Chopin, there is room for Marnie my childhood, to define my identity, to Harmon in the 21st century, and she by Isabel Allende HarperCollins, 2001 create my own legend.” makes it for herself. Not only is she sur- Aurora’s words can easily be applied viving, she’s beating the drums to her own Review by Sylvia Santiago to Isabel Allende, whose writing is music—she’s currently the drummer in a Portrait in Sepia is the imbued with exuberance and whose band, despite her teacher’s recrimination story of Aurora del characters are consistently engaging. that “girls don’t play drums.” Valle, a woman Allende’s ninth book, Portrait in Sepia Ignoring the authoritative premoni- plagued by violent touches on the themes of love and loyal- tions that Marnie will “be a very lonely dreams and murky ty, jealousy and betrayal. person if [she] keeps this up,” Marnie memories of the first Portrait in Sepia is described as a con- resists, continuing to be herself, choosing few years of her life. tinuance of Daughter of Fortune; however, unruly friends and role models, like Anna At the age of five, it is not necessary to read one in order to who had a talent for “light[ing] a cigarette Aurora is entrusted to the care of Paulina enjoy the other. expertly against the wind”— someone who del Valle, her aristocratic and extravagant Sylvia Santiago is a Calgary writer. likes Marnie for herself. grandmother. Paulina provides Aurora Marnie lives in a world we can associate with every comfort and privilege, but with, a world in which “no matter how refuses to answer certain questions 13 hard you try, they make you be a dumb Aurora asks concerning the time before by Mary-Lou Zeitoun girl. Everybody was in on it.” Is it any sur- she came to live with her: The Porcupine’s Quill, 2002 prise Marnie rebels and wears her atti- “Grandmother, I can’t live with so much Review by Stacey Kauder tude on both sleeves? I had a smile on my

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face the entire time I cheered Marnie on High (AKA Mt. Drug High) that Sara hangs story, set in a time just before British to hate her mother, skip school, embrace out with everyday no longer interest her. Columbia, like the teenaged protagonist, truancy and hunt down the greatest rock- She’s burning with need. She’s not sure began to lose its innocence forever. idol of our time. What 13-year-old girl what she needs, but she becomes obses- Karen X. Tulchinsky’s latest novel, Love and doesn’t feel this way? sively compelled by a young street girl in a Other Ruins was recently released. Her short Stacey Kauder is a freelance writer and editor torn skirt named Justine. film, Straight in the Face, will be screened who lives in Toronto. After her father leaves Sara alone to go in 2002 at the Toronto International Film work in the bush, she invites herself into Festival and the Montreal World Film TORN SKIRT the world of young street girls, following Festival. Justine into a world of johns, tricks, drugs by Rebecca Godfrey Harper Flamingo, 2002 and murder. With another young working SEDUCTION AND girl, Sara rolls a john for his wallet. When Review by Karen X. Tulchinsky he threatens revenge, she spirals out of BETRAYAL It’s 1984, in Victoria, control, leading to a frightening climax. A by Elizabeth Hardwick New York Review of Books Classics, 2001 B.C. A city whose rebel without a cause, Sara is a typical biggest claim to fame small town girl, dying of boredom. Review by Doris Anderson is Tea Time at the Rebecca Godfrey gets inside the angst- In novels about aristocratic British ridden head of a mid-1980s teenager. Torn women, there used to Empress Hotel. Sara Skirt reads almost like a teenager’s diary. be a recurring plot. A lives with her hippie Raw, passionate, confused and frustrated. poor, innocent young father, who loves her, One minute angry. The next scared. A slice woman is seduced, but is having a hard time dealing with her of life on the edge of the West Coast, in one then abandoned by bursting adolescence. Her mother, with of the most beautiful cities in Canada, her more affluent whom she has no contact, still lives in the Godfrey takes her readers on a journey to lover. The men fre- cult-like commune from which she and the underside of the city. Hotel rooftops, quently suffered mightily with guilt and her father escaped years before. rundown bars in which you can almost remorse, but it was unthinkable that they “I was born with a fever,” claims Sara in smell the stale beer on the threadbare car- endanger their future by marrying the opening chapter, a fever that subsided pets, the grittiness of a city’s back alleys beneath their station. until she turned 16, when it returned sud- and the confusion of a teenager alone. Novelist, essayist and critic Elizabeth denly and exuberantly and changed every- This first novel is full of sensory detail Hardwick theorizes that women like thing. The stoner boys from Mt. Douglas that pulls the reader inside a compelling Hester Prynne in The Scarlet Letter became

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HERIZONS FALL 2002 45 her-001 42-64.qxd 9/4/02 9:04 PM Page 46

heroines by stoically wearing their dis- puts forward the proposition that the old trouble for Vancouver poet Kate Braid, grace like an insignia. Tess of the seduction scenario is rarely used today. who kept me turning the pages even D’Urbervilles on the other hand, became With knowledge and modern technology, though I have read the ‘adult’ biogra- a victim by foolishly responding to her women’s innocence is no longer a value phies of Carr. Braid respects her read- husband’s confessions of past indiscre- and seduction is therefore passé. Other ers; she never writes down. On the tions on their wedding night, with an than that, nothing much has changed. The contrary, she keeps the reader’s eyes account of a rape she had endured. woman is still required to stoically carry on elevated—looking up at the totem poles, Charlotte Brontë launched a new style but is rarely considered heroic. cedars and sky Carr loved so much—as of a heroine in Jane Eyre—a young woman Doris Anderson is a long-time feminist and she weaves fiction and fact about Carr’s with neither beauty nor fortune who wins writer who lives in Toronto. life into a wonderful mosaic of adven- a husband through wit, high-mindedness ture and commitment. and integrity. Ibsen was fascinated by Braid teaches as she tells. She assesses women trapped in small, stultifying EMILY CARR: Carr’s problematic relationship to First provincial towns. In The Doll’s House he REBEL ARTIST Nations people and their art in an instruc- did not invent the first literary feminist. by Kate Braid tive, animated way: “As a non-native, Rather, Nora was a free spirit, who, after XYZ Publishing, 2000 deeply Christian woman born into the making great personal sacrifices to help Review by Cy-Thea Sand perspectives of her time, she couldn’t her husband, realized she was married to appreciate the full importance of the Kate Braid’s biography a mean-minded, limited man. Hedda standing poles in affirming lineage, rights of Emily Carr is in Gabler yearned for a large stage on which and privileges with the communities that good company in the to live a more audacious life. Not finding raised them. But she was one of the very Quest Library series of one, she supplied the drama herself. first Europeans to see past the deep racial Canadian biographies, Hardwick also examines the role of bias of her time to admire the skill of which include life sto- women who served as handmaidens to lit- native carvers and the power that shone ries of Agnes erary men. Dorothy Wordsworth selflessly out of their work.” Macphail, Laure devoted her life to her brother. Jane Braid uses Carr’s response to spiritual Conan and Pauline Johnson. Like MacPhail, Carlyle took a more modern approach. power as a thread to connect the events Carr held strong, unwavering views; like Married to stodgy, impotent Thomas and people that shaped the artist’s life. Conan she was a gifted witness to her time; Carlyle, this witty clever woman turned her With wit and a profound love for her sub- like Johnson she overcame many obstacles day filled with lowly domestic tasks into ject, Braid has produced an engaging pro- to create her paintings and books. hilarious accounts that are probably read file that readers of all ages will enjoy. The series is appropriate to teenaged more often today than her husband’s Cy-Thea Sand works at the McGill Centre for learners. To keep anyone enthralled weighty tomes on Frederick of Germany Research and Teaching on Women/Centre de with a story, however, a writer must and Cromwell. In her final essay, Hardwick recherche et d’enseignement sur les femmes demonstrate narrative flare. This is no in Montreal.

HOT AND BOTHERED 3 Edited by Karen X. Tulchinsky Arsenal Pulp Press, 2001 Review by Danette Dooley In Hot and Bothered 3, 72 writers prove once more that remarkably moving stories can be told in 1,000 words or less! These short stories feature well known writers like Donna Allegra and Lizard Jones and others who are just making their mark in the literary world of lesbian lust. However, it is much more than a light-

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hearted read. Many of the stories share breastfeeding when he’s never done it? ment. The first is the shift in young intimate yet complex moments. Each and Tulchinsky, an award-winning author and women’s sexual profiles to resemble those every story in the collection works screenwriter, has cleverly chosen to add a of men’s in terms of age of first sexual because the characters are well developed brief bio of each writer at the back of the encounter, number of sex partners and – their personalities are as individual as book. Doing so is a great way to become casual sex. The second is that, although the desires they yearn to fulfill. more familiar with our favourite authors’ the first is true, women are not simply Whether romping with a long-time work when looking for future steamy reads mimicking male behaviour but challeng- lover or exploring each other’s crevices between the (book) covers. ing it by exerting control over when, with for the first time, the scenes are concrete Danette Dooley is a writer who lives in Mount whom and how often they engage in sexu- and descriptive. They hold the reader’s Pearl, Nfld. al activity and determining what goes on attention, never coming across as boring in the bedroom, or wherever. or repetitive. Her Way gives voice to a range of young My favourite story among the collec- HER WAY: YOUNG women’s experiences, many of whom are tion is by Mar Stevens, an African WOMEN REMAKE THE ‘ordinary’ heterosexual, lesbian and American lesbian living in Oakland, SEXUAL REVOLUTION bisexual women, single women and mar- California. Stevens is an investigator with by Paula Kamen ried. Young women will find themselves the San Francisco District Attorney’s New York University Press, 2000 within its pages; those women who paved office. Her story, “A Night at the Café” Review by Margaret Shkimba the way for them may feel pride in seeing plants the reader in the club scene. how far we have come. Electric moments of hip to hip and lip to Her Way is an up front lip take place on the dance floor before exploration of the SEX & SINGLE GIRLS: the couple head for the washroom to fin- continuing evolution of women in control- STRAIGHT AND QUEER ish off what they started with their hump WOMEN ON SEXUALITY and grind. ling their own sexuality. Largely drawn Edited by Lee Damsky Another well written, yet less raunchy Seal Press, 2000 read, is by novelist and veteran writer from interviews with Review by Margaret Shkimba Lizard Jones. Simply entitled “Spy,” the women born and story is about just that: asking a friend to shaped during the sexual revolution of the Sex and Single Girls is help find out if a lover is cheating. 1960s and 70s, the book is augmented by an ideal companion After reading the entire collection, it’s surveys, both scientific and popular, of to Her Way. In it are evident that the stories aren’t only written sexual attitudes and practices. personal essays writ- about lesbian desire but are definitely Kamen identifies two major shifts ten by straight and penned by lesbians—which is a good thing. since the 1970s that have influenced queer single women For, as someone once said of Dr. Spock— young women, or, as Kamen calls them, on all manner of top- How can he profess to be an expert on “Superrats:” a new breed of women whose ics: masturbation, sexual savvy is an evolutionary achieve-

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celibacy, multiple partners, children, within our identities; it is connected inti- Based on their personal and clinical expe- marriage, lesbianism and bisexuality, mately to every part of our lives. riences and extensive research, the sex toys, pornography, fantasy, oral sex, authors argue that: “... lesbian and gay safe sex and sexually-transmitted infec- QUEER BLUES: depression, typically characterized by tions. THE LESBIAN AND GAY feelings of worthlessness and powerless- The essays are original and honest in GUIDE TO OVERCOMING ness, has a distinctive shape,” the result their portrayal of how women do sex, what of internalized homophobia. they enjoy, what they hate and why. All DEPRESSION Despite its unique configuration, les- exhibit the characteristics outlined by by Kimeron Hardin bian and gay depression, like all depres- and Marny Hall Kamen; these are women challenging the New Harbinger Publications, 2001 sions, is the result of a combination of traditional sexual norms, taking control factors: biological, psychological and envi- of their sex lives, defining their desires, Review by Katherine Arnup ronmental. The authors explain the work- revelling in their sexuality and their abili- How does being gay ings of the brain in understandable ty to speak of it so eloquently. affect the experience language. They also explore the impact of I would be hard pressed to pick a of depression? What denial, homophobia and self-hatred on favourite: “Armed and Satisfied” by is the relationship depression. Integrated throughout each Black Artemis extols the virtues of sex between internalized chapter are case studies of lesbians and gay toys; “Possession” by Askhari is a cele- homophobia and men who have experienced depression. bration of masturbation; “My STD and depression? These The authors’ goal is not only to under- Me” by Mara Kaplan should be required are among the ques- stand depression but also to help those reading for all women; the “Virgin and tions that this carefully researched, highly who experience it. Thus, they include a the Fuckdoll” by Augusta Moore on the, readable book explores. chapter for partners, offering lots of do’s sometimes, competing forces of love Authors Kimeron Hardin and Marny and don’ts, along with suggestions for and sex. Hall, both clinical psychologists, have self-care. The chapter on therapy pro- Confessional in nature, erotic in evoca- already written popular books on lesbian vides detailed information on choosing a tion and humorous in the telling, these and gay issues. Equally important, both therapist and explores a range of essays demonstrate the power of sexuality have suffered from clinical depression. approaches. For the chapter on anti-

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depressants, the authors interviewed two happening with me, they had little help to In the biotech world, gay psychologists who offer advice that is offer. I began to feel I was beyond help. It humans, plants, all technically accurate and gay-specific, in a isn’t easy when people you are accus- living organisms and non-judgemental, caring manner. tomed to respecting as authority figures their cells are objects Though targetted specifically to a les- give up on you… my life was so intolera- for commercializa- bian and gay audience, Queer Blues is defi- ble at this point that suicide, again, tion. This book (31 nitely not just a lesbian and gay book. seemed the only way out.” chapters in four parts While there is specificity to the causes We know by the size of the volume in written by 26 contrib- and perhaps even the solutions to lesbian our hands that she found a way to life. utors) takes on this brazen New World, and gay depression, much of the advice in After sharing her own journey of healing, carefully demonstrating why its commodi- Queer Blues would be relevant to anyone she writes, “I am convinced that some- fication and commercialization of life in suffering from depression. thing more than traditional psychothera- all its forms should concern us all. The authors proceed to explore a range py can be offered to people suffering from Clearly and persuasively, the various of alternative therapies that could assist mental or emotional issues… . authors (a mix of academics, activists and someone on their journey to recovery. Complementary therapies should not several “hybrids”) lay out why genetic The last chapter provides a remarkably have to be a last resort when all else fails. engineering, cloning, new reproductive optimistic conclusion to a book on a diffi- Instead they should be considered along technologies are not only NOT answers to cult and important topic. with mainstream treatments.” such problems as food availability/securi- Katherine Arnup teaches at the School of So what we have is an insightful guide ty, ill health and disease prevention, but Canadian Studies at Carleton University in of indigenous sources for mental, spiritu- perhaps often among the determinants of Ottawa. al and emotional healing. Bassman lays a these problems. vital foundation to understanding the var- Part 1 focuses on implications for the THE WHOLE MIND: ious means and methods of healing. Part environment and food of genetic manipula- two contains everything from applied tions, clarifying the health, social and eco- THE DEFINITIVE GUIDE kinesiology and creative art therapies to nomic, as well as ecological dangers that TO COMPLEMENTARY biofeedback, flower essence, herbal and may result from tinkering with DNA in the TREATMENTS FOR homeopathic therapy. world of agriculture. Part 2 shifts the critical MIND, MOOD AND Each method is simply that, a method lens to highlight the political, economic and EMOTION of treatment, and that treatment may or eugenic underpinnings of biotechnological Edited by Lynette Bassman, PhD may not be appropriate for each individ- applications in medicine and reproduction. New World Library, Novato, California ual. Past life therapy may enable certain The seven chapters in this section consider individuals to deal with depression, but it a range of topics from so-called ‘designer Review by Karen E. Toole may also give rise to increased anxiety. babies’ through cloning to xenotransplan- At first glance it’s an Sound Therapy or Therapeutic touch may tation. The chapters in Part 3 take on issues arrogant title for a enable certain individuals to deal with of patenting, especially the corporate greed book. The title is not stress and anxiety, but others may find it beneath efforts to commercialize biodiver- simply an empty irritating or even invasive. sity for corporate gain. Included in these boast. Lynette As someone who works in the realm of entries are what might be considered “suc- Bassman produces spiritual reflection and counselling, I cess stories,” with the Canadian grassroots the promise of the found these essays to be incredibly mobilization to keep genetically engineered title in this massive, insightful. I recommend this book to any- recombinant bovine growth hormone well-edited and comprehensive book. one interested in holistic health care. (rBGH) from government approval worth a Bassman is a psychotherapist and pro- Karen E. Toole is a Winnipeg counsellor and special read. Yes, despite the power and fessor of psychology at The California writer. money on the bio-push side, there have School of Professional Psychology. Both been substantial and significant successes her master’s degree and doctorate are in in stopping some of the transformations of the field of counselling psychology. REDESIGNING LIFE? life that create hazards to the health of all Those are her academic credentials for THE WORLDWIDE humans and the planet on which we live. editing this book, but I was far more CHALLENGE TO This is not the only book to cover interested in her experiential credentials. GENETIC ENGINEERING genetic engineering and its associated In her preface she states, “Because my Edited by Brian Tokar technologies, but it may be the most com- health care providers (physician and psy- McGill-Queen’s University Press, 2001 prehensive in its critical analysis of chotherapist) didn’t understand what was Review by Abby Lippman biotechnology in its many playing—and

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killing—fields: agriculture, animal, Now count how many people walk or A list of key questions contained in the human, health, environment. cycle down your street in a day. Does it book demonstrates this: “Do I really However, I do have a minor cavil, one equal the number of cars that have tem- need to take this trip?” If no, leave the underlined by the absence of entries in porarily vacated their parking spots? Like car in the garage. the index under “gender” and by there most Canadian neighbourhoods, the Divorce your Car is replete with being mostly references to reproduction number of people relying on their own Canadian statistics and references, and under the rubric “women.” Biotechnology horsepower is likely far less. lists Montreal, Toronto, Vancouver and affects women and men differently—and Divorce your Car is a well-researched Victoria as some of the easiest places to not just with regard to reproductive tech- and anecdotal compilation that intends to live without a car. nologies and such things as the selling of alter the above equation. Katie Alvord’s As Alvord states in her conclusion, women’s eggs. Thus, it is important that reasons are many. Detaching from our purposeful and individual responses will critical analyses are gender-based and, in artificial dependence on cars would pro- cause a chain reaction and, in turn, this otherwise fine primer, this does not duce a healthier environment for all, and prompt a healthy flourish of alternative seem to be the case. a healthier body for each convert. thinking about travelling by car. Abby Lippman is a professor of epidemiology Alvord is living proof a car-less and biostatistics at McGill University. lifestyle is possible. She’s been pedalling GODDESSES IN OLDER and walking instead of driving for 15 WOMEN: ARCHETYPES DIVORCE YOUR CAR: years. And for every argument or feeble IN WOMEN OVER FIFTY reason readers can come up with in ENDING THE LOVE by Jean Shinoda Bolen, MD favour of driving, Alvord meticulously HarperCollins Publishers, 2001 AFFAIR WITH THE counters them. Review by Andrea Adair AUTOMOBILE For example, my own contention—“But by Katie Alvord I have kids...”—was time and again Whether we are seek- New Society Publishers, 2000 revealed as flimsy. So many sidebar sto- ing a deeper sense of Review by Melanie Cummings ries in the 305-page book told about fam- ourselves or are just ilies living in far more remote areas than I interested in learning Take a look down your do, and doing very well without a vehicle. more about goddess- street on any weekday, Alvord’s book does not demand radical es, Goddesses in Older after 9 a.m. The drive- changes. Rather, her writing intends to Women lets us do ways are all empty, create “a shift in attitude, away from the both. Jean Shinoda right? By day’s end assumption that when you go someplace Bolen looks into the spirituality move- they will be inhabited you’ll have to drive.” ment to suggest that spirituality is femi- again by their auto- “Using one occasionally...is different nism’s third wave. motive counterparts. from treating a car as a partner in life.” She writes that a sign of this is the “growing number of grassroots women’s circles that have a sacred dimension.” Don’t be afraid of the F-word Whereas the first two waves of feminism BUILD YOUR FEMINIST LIBRARY WITH WOMEN’S PRESS were about personal choices and what women knew rather than what they were told, this third wave allows “women’s spirituality to grow into consciousness.” Bolen’s book is not solely about this third wave, however it was the aspect that I found the most interesting. Bolen explores archetypes and myths that women may encounter as they embrace the crone stage of their lives. In the crone stage for instance, emerging “Good writing breeds archetypes have vitality within them as “She got the class, Humourous, in-your-face, goodgood writing...”writing...” women may have more time and feel freer she got the sass...” risk-taking social commentary A different anthology. to explore their feelings and thoughts

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women’s spiritual life including wis- about because women politicians worked culinity send confusing messages and dom, wrath, compassion and even heal- across party lines to ensure its inclusion. children’s peers continue to be a strong ing laughter through the stories of This was monumental, not only because of circle of influence. It’s no wonder then Greek goddesses such as Hecate and what it meant for women’s rights in this that parents feel they have no impact on Metis, Christian biblical stories of country, but because party loyalties took their children or worry that children will Sophia and Mary, Japanese and Hindu second place to working for the greater fall victim to all sorts of perils. beliefs about the goddess Kali. good of all Canadian women. In the U.S., Elizabeth Hartley-Brewer, in her I didn’t need to shift my world view to Emily List is the umbrella term for finan- books Raising Confident Girls and Raising understand what Bolen raises within the cial contributions given to Feminist Confident Boys offers hope and encour- text. For instance, when she told the story Democrats. Emily List gives feminist agement to parents in an easy reference of Hestia, who said, “You wish to be when politicians a voice within the Democratic format that shows how it is possible to you yearn for time alone,” as a mother of Party and hopefully within the greater strengthen our children’s self-esteem. three, it wasn’t difficult to make a con- political realm. Hartley-Brewer, who runs workshops nection. I could also relate to stories of In Canada, Young considers that region- about guiding and motivating children, Demeter’s desperation and even the com- alism is the primary reason why a feminist writes that the potential for our daugh- passion of Mary. Whether or not I believe party does not currently exist. It is easy ters’ success brings with it new pres- the stories, I could make connections. then for the reader to conclude that the sures and insecurities. Women are This is a book that can be read merely same system that so often separates us as pressured to be economically and emo- for information as well as spiritual Canadians also separates us as feminists. tionally independent while having to enlightenment. The author never attempts to offer a maintain a beauty ideal. Eating disorders method on how to transform our current and teenage pregnancies are some of the FEMINISTS AND political systems, but she does explore and consequences of girls not being able to PARTY POLITICS question the measure of feminist success deal with the pressures, she writes. by Lisa Young in politics and allows the reader to draw Boys on the other hand, “seem to be UBC Press, 2000 their own conclusions. The sharing of this struggling, finding it harder and harder to Review by Kaiberley (Kai) Wilbee kind of research cannot help but educate succeed, conform and find a comfortable and at the same time spark ideas within role in life.” And she believes that “social, Feminists and Party the reader regarding possible outcomes economic and educational changes seem Politics sprang from for these political systems in the future. to be undermining their essential man- Lisa Young’s doctoral Inspiration comes in many forms and hood, and some see the future as promis- dissertation and is an this book is an excellent example of ing little but constant pressure or failure, intriguing and that. or both.” groundbreaking book She believes it is possible however, in of research. Young RAISING CONFIDENT the midst of all the negative forces sur- has eloquently GIRLS: 100 TIPS FOR rounding them, to raise emotionally explored the effects of women working PARENTS AND secure and confident children and offers within Canadian and American politics, 100 ways to build that foundation. The the parties themselves and the changes TEACHERS /RAISING majority of the ideas are the same in each that have transpired since the 1970s. CONFIDENT BOYS: 100 book. Ideas such as “Don’t compare Young explores the origins of the TIPS FOR PARENTS AND him/her with others;” “Rules cut conflict” feminist movements and how they have TEACHERS and “Fortify his/her heart, don’t thicken been defined in the context of political by Elizabeth Hartley-Brewer his/her skin” are good parenting ideas parties on both sides of the border. Reviews by Andrea Adair not related to gender specificities. Further, she delves into the mechanics Each idea is followed up with practical While women con- behind and the structure of each politi- tips for parents and teachers to imple- tinue to achieve lev- cal party, giving the reader a more com- ment. For instance, in the section els of success in prehensive view. “Encourage the Practice of Reflection” various fields, their This book is essentially a political sci- she writes, “Show her how to reflect by daughters still face ence textbook and the author explores so reflecting on your own day. ‘I wonder if I the struggles around much within it, including the rarely con- could have done that another way?’ or ‘I self-esteem that they sidered positive aspects of backroom pol- really felt excited/angry when it hap- did growing up. itics. For example, Section 28 of The pened.’” As a mother of three daughters I Media images about femininity and mas- Charter of Rights and Freedoms came found myself dog earring page after page.

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I also liked that the tips are in nine dif- Most women have family responsibilities such as child care. ferent sections such as “Giving her a paying jobs and most Thus, employment policies and child care Positive View of Herself” and are easy to caring for children is were ‘driven apart.’ access later for a quick reference. done by women: the The 1982 formation of the Canadian As I was reading Raising Confident Boys, I consequences of Day Care Advocacy Association reactivat- looked for places where she differed in her these two facts are ed demands for federal leadership on approach to males than to females but did- far-reaching. Among childcare. The birth of a national, single- n’t find anything too glaring. them are that ade- issue child care movement, however, On the whole, I feel more confident quate child care and employment equity reinforced the distinction between ques- about my own abilities in raising my are essential if women are to be full and tions about women’s employment and daughters—not so much because of her equal participants in society. those of child care. Identifying this tips, but because the tips she gave are ideas So why haven’t the public and domestic dynamic doesn’t mean the women’s many parents likely already follow and she dimensions of women’s work been fully movement is to blame for political inac- just confirms that we are on the right track. addressed in federal policies? In Driven tion. As Timpson rightly observes, femi- For that boost of confidence alone, the Apart: Women’s Employment Equality and nists struggle to place their issues on the books are a good purchase. Child Care In Canadian Public Policy, Annis political agenda, but usually see their May Timpson grapples with this question. demands contained within a limited set DRIVEN APART: The book, rich with interviews and of reforms. WOMEN’S EMPLOYMENT behind-the-scenes stories, tracks how Timpson concludes that policies that EQUALITY AND CHILD the Trudeau, Mulroney and then Chretien transcend the public/private divide are governments finessed both government the hardest sell—hence, she documents CARE IN CANADIAN restructuring as well as formal commit- political progress on the ‘public’ issue of PUBLIC POLICY ments to equality. These governments employment policies and little action on by Annis May Timpson were willing to take steps on public pro- the ‘private’ issue of childcare, despite UBC Press, 2002 grams like affirmative action, but were activists’ best efforts. Review by Susan Prentice loath to move in the sphere of private Driven Apart closes with the observa-

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tion that the contemporary vision of sup- can accommodate only those who pass transformative process. posedly universal citizenship is, in fact, the cut. Hilarious one-liners make up Metastatic disease is cancer that has based on a male norm. Women are left the titles of many pieces: “Present spread beyond the primary site and is no out of the very philosophy of liberal citi- Company Excluded, of Course ... longer curable. The word ‘metastatic’ is zenship. Compound this with jurisdic- Revisited” by Stan Isoki, “Is It Japanese itself an obstacle—as are its implications. tional, fiscal, institutional and Artist or Artist Who Is Japanese?” by “At our early meetings,” the authors ideological barriers and it is clear to see Lillian Blakey, “I Didn’t Know You Were recall, “the harsher realities surrounding why women’s needs for supportive work Jewish ... and Other Things Not to Say metastatic breast cancer were unacknowl- and family policies have not yet been When You Find Out” by Ivan Kalmar and edged, covered up or resisted. There brought together. “I’ve Never Had a Black Teacher Before,” seemed to be virtually no way of talking Susan Prentice is a member of the Manitoba by Carl E. James. What lies underneath about cancer other than in the language of Child Care Coalition. these comments is a reminder of the survivorship.” kind of active rethinking that needs to be Social mechanisms to deny suffering, TALKING ABOUT done if Canada is to sustain its self- dying and death are widespread. On top of image as a viable multiculturally imag- everything else, “patients must navigate a IDENTITY: ENCOUNTERS ined community. course through a societal context that IN RACE, ETHNICITY, The speak-bitter of these essays is a makes no room for their circumstances.” AND LANGUAGE valuable tool in unlearning the privilege The realities of terminal illness have Edited by Carl E. James of dominant whiteness and unshackling become unspeakable, as “death is not part and Adrienne Shadd the willful ignorance of hegemonic hier- of cancer’s new image.” Between the Lines, 2001 archy that decides who is a citizen and To make a play about such obstacles Review by Mridula Nath Chakraborty who is just a subject, who is a rightful set- and defenses meant allowing the real cir- tler and who is just an alien or illegal, who cumstances to surface, in all their contra- Carl E. James and is a foreigner and who a Canadian. dictions. “Women with metastatic breast Adrienne Shadd fol- cancer are discovered to be suffering, and low up the earlier at the same time funny, impudent, alive.” success of Talking STANDING OVATION: The process is rarely straightforward, and About Difference: PERFORMING SOCIAL the authors outline the many challenges Encounters in Culture, SCIENCE RESEARCH to translating interview transcripts into Language and Identity ABOUT CANCER an engaging play. (1994) with this new by Ross Gray and Standing Ovation makes a compelling improved version of what it means to live Christina Sinding read. Weaving all the strands together, it in multicultural Canada. Altamira Press, 2002 also tells a personal story about a group of In their latest, James and Shadd reprint Review by Barbara Mains people who wrote a play and came to care some of the articles from their first book, In 1997, Ross Gray about each other. which can be a bad thing if you are count- and Christina ing pennies and own the prequel. The Sinding conducted good thing is that the first version was focus groups of used by teachers and policy-makers all women with metasta- over Canada and offered tips to those tic breast cancer and working at institutional sites of knowl- interviews with edge to effect social change. oncologists. The With so much emphasis on language as research transcripts were workshopped the means of negotiating relations of as a play to wide acclaim: Handle with power and codes of social conduct, it is Care was performed 200 times. This book not surprising that many contributors talk is about the making of the play, which about accents, labels and naming, from brought the researchers together with the perspective of those who have been breast cancer survivors and actors from disenfranchised by the same. Ryerson University. To make the play, all Canadian identity emerges as a con- participants were repeatedly required to tentious and ambiguous category that confront their fear of death. It proved a

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arts lit AUTHOR PROFILE

Making Motherwork Count

An interview with Lorna Turnbull

Lorna Turnbull is the author of Double Jeopardy: Motherwork and the Law, published by Sumach Press, 2001. Herizons sent Michelle Gallant, who teaches tax law at the University of Manitoba, to talk to her about mother- friendly public policies.

Michelle Gallant: What commonality links income tax Second, some argue that the spousal deduction law, usually seen as dry and inaccessible, with pregnan- provides recognition, but there are three features of cy and motherwork? the spousal deduction that mean that it is not Lorna Turnbull: The way we tax people tells us a great women’s motherwork that is recognized. The deduc- deal about what our priorities are as a society. Income tion is not available to the woman who is caring for tax rules that favour some behaviours or choices over the children but rather to the income-earning hus- others send a message to citizens about the value or band. It is available for any non income-earning appropriateness of their choices. In the context of spouse whether or not she is caring for children and this book, I suggest that our income tax rules that it is worth $915. This is not valuing motherwork. affect families send a message that the work of caring Finally, the child care deduction, which is only for children is not valued. available when children are cared for in outside childcare settings, does not recognize the mother- Gallant: You are saying then that tax law doesn’t value work of a parent caring for children at home, whether mothering. Why? on a full-time basis or after coming home from Turnbull: First, our tax rules do not allow any deduc- employment and on weekends. The low value of the tions recognizing the costs or work associated with childcare deduction also means that women’s partic- raising dependent children. In place of such deduc- ipation in paid work is not realistically fostered. I tions and the former family allowance we have the maintain that our current tax scheme pays lip service Child Tax Benefit, which is clawed back from mothers to both of these objectives. on social assistance and is not available at all to women with high income-earning spouses. A mother And the results of this are…. of three who is able to claim the benefit at the highest This effect of the income tax rules in Canada is simply possible rate will see her work recognized to the tune an example of a broader disregard in the law for the of $5.72 per day per child. work of mothering. And this is where the discussion of

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pregnancy, breastfeeding and the work of caring for find women is still performing the majority of mother- children figures in the discussion. The main objective work and unpaid labour. Given this reality, the posi- of the book is to illustrate all the ways in which law tion I have taken is that we need to find ways of valuing shapes or constrains women’s motherwork and to trace this motherwork that women do NOW. how law characterizes mothers. By looking at the laws and court decisions that deal with mothers through all Valuing in what way? the stages of mothering I show that the law holds all I mean in a concrete sense, with dollars. Women with women to the impossible standard of the “good moth- children suffer a concrete inequality compared to men, er” without regard to their circumstances and without with or without children, and women without children— meaningful supports to meet that standard. The discus- a concrete inequality that is measurable in dollars. sion of income tax law then serves as a further example Women who care for children earn less over their life- of how our laws do not support the work of mothering. times and have smaller or no pensions and are more likely to end up impoverished. This is the price that You consistently identify yourself as a feminist, yet at the women pay, that men do not, for having children. same time express concern that your analysis and In light of this, I argue that women who are doing the approach leave your ideas open to the co-optation by con- work of mothering should receive economic recogni- servative pro-family groups, groups who might seize on tion for their work in the form of enriched maternity your work as embracing a conventional societal role for and parental benefits and enriched and universal child mothers. This places you in an unenviable position, nei- tax benefits. I also argue that women should be able to ther firmly aligned with one group nor with another. choose to do this work on a full-time basis. Some fem- Although I firmly believe that what is needed to achieve inists would state that such benefits only reinforce the gender equality is a transformation in the way our soci- social pressure on women to do the work of mothering ety deals with both paid and unpaid labour, my analysis and that they create a financial incentive to stay home, takes mothers where I find them. It is not enough to say rather than to participate in paid labour. This is seen to that fathers should do more motherwork, or that be contrary to women’s equality. women should do more paid employment. Where I On the other hand, some conservative voices have also

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advocated allowing financial recog- More constructively, another ples where the partners’ incomes nition of mothering on the basis that thing I suggest which may encour- are unequal, the opportunity cost it is the most important job a woman age more parental leave by men for the higher earner to take can do. Their proposals, which I and benefit women as well, is to parental benefits is too great. As a reject, generally involve income increase the value of parental ben- result, fathers rarely take parental splitting and tax breaks to single efits. Benefit levels are low. This benefits and the gendered division earner couples, so the financial ben- means a couple of things. For of labour is perpetuated. A higher efit would accrue to the breadwinner mothers or other parents whose benefit may encourage more husband and not to the mother who is incomes are already low, it is fathers to take parental leave and doing the care work. impossible to survive the 45 per- may make maternity and parental Nonetheless, I am concerned cent cut in income that parental benefits more accessible to low- that the words of a feminist who benefits represent. Women who income women and their families. values mothering may be twisted are most disadvantaged in our into the service of a more conser- society are often unable to make A novel proposal based on a very bal- vative agenda. And I am concerned use of the benefits. anced analysis. Your book is a thought that the words of one who advo- The second effect is that for cou- provoking and accessible read. cates the recognition and value of motherwork may be perceived as not feminist. I hope that the issues I raise and the solutions I propose can provide the beginning of a Congratulations Herizons discussion of how to fit care work on your 10th Anniversary into a truly equal society. from You propose the rather controversial strategy of designating a certain per- SUMACH PRESS centage of the leave benefits to the publishers of Turbo Chicks, exclusive preserve of male parents. Is Double Jeopardy and it not a radical direction for law reform to suggest that if certain bene- The Women’s Daybook 2003 fits are not claimed by males then the [email protected] www.sumachpress.com 416-531-6250 benefit is lost? Currently men take only about four percent of parental leave in Canada. WebsWebs of ofPower Power Webs of Power Webs of Webs An important part of achieving gen- of Power Webs of Power Webs of Power of der equality lies in changing the Notes from the Global Uprising balance of domestic and paid labour PowerStarhawk Webs of Power Webs of Pebs of Power WebsUS $17.95/CAN of 23.95Power Webs of Power Webs of Webs between women and men. Her essays consistently, and miraculously, combine how-to In the last half of the twentieth practicality with poetry and inspiration. She presents the best offace Power of social justice Webs and dares ofus to Powerlive up to it. Webs of Power Webs century, women moved into paid of Power Webs— NAOMI KLEINof ,Power author of No LogoWebs of Power labour in increasing numbers, but STARHAWK, well-known activist and feminist, chronicles men have not shown a correspon- the global justice movement sparked by Seattle's 1999 anti-World Trade Organization protest that continues ding increase in participation in around the world today. Combining an analysis of globalization with tales of action 'from the trenches,' Starhawk outlines a political, economic and spiritual vision of the childcare and other domestic future, and shows how we can transform rage and fear into positive action. work. It may be that it will take “coercive” measures like I have available at your local bookstore or NEW SOCIETY PUBLISHERS direct at www.newsociety.com suggested to begin to disrupt the visa/mc orders: 800-567-6772 BOOKS TO BUILD A NEW SOCIETY established pattern.

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arts lit ARTIST PROFILE

Rokia Traore: A New Groove in Malian Music

by Sheila Nopper

If you were paying attention to the African bands touring North America this summer, you may have seen Malian singer/songwriter/arranger/dancer, Rokia Traore. During performances, her voice and bluesy musical arrangements build from a mellow opening into an energetic dance groove. She has developed subtle nuances that can be soothing, haunting, commanding or invigorating—and they are con- Photo by F. Socha. sistently sweet to hear.

he daughter of a Malian diplomat, Traore spent ditions, such as the balafon (similar to a xylophone portions of her youth in Algeria, Saudi Arabia, with wooden strips suspended over a bamboo frame), T France and Belgium as well as in the richly the n’goni (an African lute that was transformed by extensive musical legacy of her West African home- enslaved Africans into what became known as the land. Her cosmopolitan upbringing and her presti- banjo), the kora (a 21-25 string harp with a large gious family connections have likely helped her gourd resonator), as well as percussive instruments international career. However, back home in Mali, her and an occasional guitar and electric bass. decision to become an artist was a mixed blessing “Initially, people saw me as someone who wanted to because she was not from the social caste of griots (tra- show off that I could do something different because I ditional cultural historians and musicians). Although was educated and I knew about the music of other cul- she is gradually enjoying more acceptance today, many tures,” she explains. “This problem manifested with people were skeptical of her motives in the beginning. my musicians—it was probably one of the very first Prior to departing from Paris to launch her summer times that a young female artist was explaining to 2002 tour of North America, Traore shared some of older male artists what she wanted. It was also a very her thoughts and experiences with Herizons, with the new concept because I was using instruments that assistance of her manager/translator Thomas Weill. come from different regions of Mali and are used in “I grew up in a multi-ethnic environment, and was different traditions, so it took time to gain respect.” exposed to a varied repertoire of music,” she Yet, from the beginning of her solo career in the late explains. “If I had grown up in a family of griots, I’d 90s, there was “a small core of the public who were probably be more linked to traditional music. While I very supportive and understood that it was not a prob- respect their music, I phrase my singing differently.” lem of me not being humble, but of someone who Her songs also tend to have a verse/chorus struc- wanted to try something new by mixing things that I ture, which makes them easier for Western audiences liked from both my culture and foreign cultures.” to embrace. More significantly, she has created a She attributes the slow but steady increase in unique rhythmic and melodic sound, combining attendance at her shows at home in part to the fact instruments from different regions and cultural tra- that she has maintained a steady artistic direction.

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“I use traditional acoustic instruments to show African society,” she notes. “It requires you to have people I am not just being opportunistic but very the will to make choices and think for yourself, to much respecting my traditional culture—yet trying to act by yourself and not be totally dependent upon modernize the sound in some way. People have men’s rules.” finally begun to understand that I am very sincere.” Whether she’s honouring farmers or reminding us Her lyrics depict human relationships and transcend how our interdependence necessitates a cooperative cultural and geographical boundaries. In her more approach to social advancement, Traore stresses the feminist songs, “Mouso Niyalen” and “Mancipera,” importance of living a principled life in which she confronts the injustices that women have been humility, compassion, forgiveness, sharing and forced to endure within polygamous marriages. respect for one’s self and others are revered. While she hails women’s courage and resilience, Because Traore’s songs encourage peaceful relations, Rokia also emphasizes the need to take responsibility I asked her thoughts on the U.S.-led ‘war on terrorism.’ too. “These songs are actually linked to someone I “I don’t want to listen to all these very complicated know very well who suffered through her two marriages and religious explanations that actually try to explain— for the very simple, yet difficult reason that she never or excuse—certain human beings making other allowed herself to do what she wanted in her life.” human beings really suffer all of their life. I come She encourages women to refuse to collaborate back to the most simple things about what human with “hypocrisies, trickeries and lies.” In the CD relations should be, and these simple things actually liner note translations for “Mancipera”, for example, transcend generations and language barriers.” Traore even suggests that, “A free relationship is She continues, “The most baffling thing to me is to preferable to marriage.” see how human beings have such a short memory During our interview she elaborates, “It’s impor- and how history tends to repeat itself in the horrors tant to feel at ease with your position as a woman, that human beings use. If you think of slavery, colo- assume your role in the couple and still be as free as nization, the Jewish genocide, the new colonization men are. It is a slightly different approach than the of Palestine, so many things that come back in dif- feminism that is brought to Africa by Western TV ferent forms. Behind it,” she observes, “is always series, movies and music but it has been adapted for the logic of power.” arts lit MUSIC

GWEN SWICK the news story on which the song is based, recordings. Like Joni Mitchell (there is a Love and Gold when asked about the radical change in very Mitchell-esque self-portrait con- Spin Records, 2002 vocation, Mary Catherine said simply, tained in the liner notes), Swick is capable Review by Cindy Filipenko “Because when you look good, you feel of cramming an unbelievable number of good.” Under this whimsical framing syllables into a single lyrical line and mak- Gwen Swick’s Love device is a story of a woman examining ing her voice suit a variety of styles—from and Gold contains submission and breaking through a world- country, as evidenced in the lust-at-first- lyrics that are wholly view that was constructed behind the con- sight twanger “Call Me Juliette” to rock, satisfying: original, fines of the patriarchy. presented in the call for social change witty and complex. The theatrical quality of “Amazed” titled “In the Middle of the Hurricane.” Swick writes like the extends to many of the 13 songs that com- The biggest problem facing Swick, an bastard daughter of Leonard Cohen and prise the fiercely intelligent Love and artist who has been relegated to CBC air- Jane Siberry: with words dripping equal Gold, most notably the lament “Pamela” waves, may be the breadth of her material. parts cleverness and compassion. and the gospel-inspired “Faith That I’d Is she diverse or derivative? When you An example of this can be found in the Find You.” aim to please everyone you risk pleasing opening track “Amazed,” about a nun who Swick serves up these poetic offerings no one. Here’s hoping this incredibly tal- left a convent in Saskatchewan after 50 complemented by phrasing more com- ented vocalist settles into a groove. Her years to open a beauty salon. According to monly found in jazz rather than pop songs deserve an audience.

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MELISSA FERRICK her latest disc, has also found time to various clubs, roots, blues and folk festi- Listen Hard pick up a few circus tricks along the way. vals across the country. In 2000, she won Right On Records, 2002 On Stiltwalking, Swift and her band con- a Juno award for Best Blues Album for Review by Cindy Filipenko tinue to explore various parts of the Love Comin’ Down. Two years later, she’s musical map with nods to pop, jazz, a once again joined forces with producer When interviewing or touch of flamenco and stripped down and fellow Canuck blues act Colin Linden reviewing Melissa vocal harmonies. to produce Where the Action Is. So Foley Ferrick, the gay press And that’s a big part of what makes can sing, she can play guitar but most has never been able to listening to Swift’s album fun. The style importantly she can write a good song— resist triteness such of music varies but the political and both in collaboration and on her own. as referring to Ferrick social commentary is (almost) always “Every Hour” is my choice for standout as “The Other Melissa.” Unlike her like- present. Swift does a great balancing act track on the disc: it has just the right named contemporary, however, Ferrick is between silly and serious on Stiltwalking dose of melancholy and you can never go a three-chord rocker who has never lived and flips in between her trademark wrong with the sound of a standup bass. up to the potential of her early work. singing style and a version of spoken “Let It Go” will be a welcome hit for the Her stunning 1993 debut Massive Blur word-esque vocalese. She tackles the ballad lovers, but this really is a varied and the 1995 follow-up Willing to Wait sug- politics of what we eat on “Include My disc that will be a welcome addition to gested that Ferrick would be the one of the Food,” the state of protest culture in any blues fan’s collection. two Melissas worth watching over the long Canada on “Rubber Bullets” and of haul. Ferrick can bring an incredible soul- course, how it feels to run out of appeal- RIBSAUCE: A CD ful energy to song. Her contribution to the ing, clean underwear on “The Underwear ANTHOLOGY OF WORDS Pro-Choice anthology Spirit of ’73, a cover Song.” So it’s not all beat-you-over-the- of Roberta Flack’s “Feel Like Making head-serious-issue-driven music, but if BY WOMEN Love,” proved this. It’s a rare artist who there was any doubt, check out “Boinked Various Artists Wired on Words and Vehicule Press can take a well-known hit, infuse it with (the bride),” a great song for any woman life and actually make it her own. who’s watched a former girlfriend walk Review by Deanna Radford However, Listen Hard’s music is ordinary down the aisle. Available on CD and at best, consisting of contrived riffs and The album closes off with “When a in print, Ribsauce has bridges that pay homage to a time when Gypsy Makes Her Violin Cry,” a great been released by the both people and music were less sophisti- inter-generational traditional number Wired on Words cated. Lyrically, Listen Hard is angsty for featuring Swift, her mother and grand- record label and sure, but is it art? You be the judge (with mother. It’s exactly the kind of touch you Vehicule Press, both these lyrics from “Burn This Guitar.”): don’t get on major label debuts and of Montreal. Edited by Montreal sound “Would you burn this guitar/Stop all the another way Swift tosses the element of poets Alex Boutros and Kaarla Sundstrom, songs/Silence my voice from singing/Set surprise onto a disc. Ribsauce encompasses the voices of 15 my soul’s desires on overdrive/So they just Canadian women authors, songwriters disintegrate from spinning.” SUE FOLEY and performance artists. These sloppy, clunky lyrics coupled Where the Action Is This collection contains the works of an with the dominant theme of romantic Shanachie/Koch Records, 2002 inclusive feminism, with stories of anguish are a drag because Ferrick does Review by Anna Lazowski humour and tragedy, poetry, sound con- have a rather pleasant voice. structions and more. Some standout Simply put, Listen Hard is hard to lis- If you’re not a fan of pieces include Judy MacInnes Jr.’s ten to. blues music, Sue Foley’s unlikely to “Marjeet,” Genevieve Letarte’s “Donne- EMBER SWIFT change your mind. moi tes cles,” Sheri-D Wilson’s “Sisters Where the Action Is is Hanging in Trees” and Tanya Evanson’s Stiltwalking Few’ll Ignite Sound, 2002 straight ahead blues- “Bark Lake, B.C.” rock full of guitar breaks and traditionally Abstract, concrete, humourous and Review by Anna Lazowski delivered vocals. But Foley does mix it up critical, this collection brings the words It seems there’s no a little, combining original material with and cultural critiques of these Canadian stopping Ember traditional tracks like “Down the Big Road women to life. While in the wrong hands Swift. Since 1996 Blues,” a take on Etta James’ “Roll With this collection is bound to be criticized she’s released seven Me Henry” and even tossing in a rework- for its clichéd subjects, it seriously cap- albums on her own ing of the Rolling Stones’ “Stupid Girl.” tures many interesting, good and inspir- label, Few’ll Ignite Foley is one of Canada’s best-known ing performers harnessing important Sound, and judging from the images on female blues acts and has appeared at perspectives in our history.

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guest room BY LISA DALE

PATRIARCHY RULES (STILL) apartheid every day. And the whole country suffers for Nationhood, internationalism and state stewardship it. In a country where 50 percent of women had after- around the world continue to be intertwined with tax incomes ranging from zero to $13,786 (2001), and undiluted masculinity. Whether we speak of govern- only 11 percent earned over $32,367, we clearly need ment houses, international policy-making, think campaign spending limits to level the playing field. tanks or the public face of nations, 52 percent of the Women do not tend to have the fundraising capacities population has no effective governing voice. that men do, plain and simple. We need a ban on corpo- And yet, the moment that women reach a critical rate party donations, too. mass, the nature of policy-making shifts. In Sweden, The left has always quietly supported electoral reformed South Africa, Norway—in all countries where reform, but it should stop being timid about it. Gender women play a significant role in governing—policies parity must not just be an internal party platform, but more equitably address work hours, labour rights, a focussed public pursuit for cross-party change. poverty and pension reform and the control of toxins. Under our current system, there is no proportional- We cannot speak of social democracy when women ity between the number of votes a party receives and take up only 20 percent of the seats in the House of the number of seats it wins in the legislature. (The Commons. Under-representation in Parliament competition is between individuals in individual rid- constitutes a denial of our Charter rights, which guar- ings.) Women, as well as aboriginal peoples and visi- antees every individual equality before and under the ble minorities, all have poorer representation in the law and the equal protection and benefit of the law legislatures of the world’s countries still using without discrimination based on sex or other factors. Westminster parliaments. Why does a PR system using Further, the Charter guarantees the right to vote, party lists instead make a difference? Because parties which includes the right to effective representation. with gender or other imbalances must show their The Beijing 4th World Conference on Women in 1995 underwear to the public right there on the ballot card. noted that, “There is evidence however, that when There are three democratic countries with popula- there is a critical mass (at least 30 percent) of women tions of over 8 million that have retained a similar in policy-making bodies, not only are women’s issues feudal model of Westminster democracy. Canada is prioritized in the policy-agenda but they are more one of the last. India holds fast to it, where women likely to be acted upon by policymakers.” have achieved eight percent representation (2001). It is primarily party cronyism at the nomination and And the U.S. has arrived at the great and astounding candidacy grooming levels, seconded by a lack of any achievement of 13 percent female representation. concrete affirmative action that engenders the segre- It has been shown that governance and policy shift gation of women from governance. My question is: why with the tinkering of representation. Sweden, are we publicly funding any elected group that perpet- Germany and now South Africa have switched; New uates this imbalance? It is precisely because this is a Zealand has switched, Wales and Scotland, too. universal pattern in first-past-the-post systems that In less than two years, France went from having one we need a proportional representation system (PR) of the lowest ratios of women in government to opening that includes party lists as the primary portion of its up its constitution, creating a parity law, implementing strategy for increased female presence. This has been it and seeing a 50-50 gender representation of fielded shown to improve women’s presence at the state tables. candidates done and over with, overnight. It is now the As American feminist Bella Abzug once said, “How will most advanced balance at the political starting gates. women sharing the political space make a difference? Why? Because they were legislated to. They will change the nature of power rather than power Lisa Dale is an executive member of Fair Vote Canada. changing the nature of women.” The opinions expressed here are her own and do not nec- The women of this country live with political essarily reflect the position of Fair Vote Canada.

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the buzz BY IRSHAD MANJI

WHEN DECENCY ERUPTS workers and even fellow chatroom users were going out My mother has made me very proud. Of Canada no of their way to neutralize the narrow minds. I tried to less than of her. report these incidents to the police, Stats Canada, an Recently, she was chosen to sit on the jury in a anti-racism group and a national broadcaster. The first British Columbia sexual assault case. Given the nature three had no idea what to do with my information. It of the alleged crime, what’s there to celebrate? That a didn’t fit their categories of collectibles. As for the woman who came to this country as a refugee could be broadcaster, it replied that naming the decency could considered—then selected—to carry out one of the be viewed as racist, and “what would we say to that?” most sacred duties of a citizen. Try this: If the nuance of Muslims deserves recog- Since 9/11, the spotlight on human rights (or lack of nition, so does the nuance of Canada. them) in much of the Islamic world has heightened Not an easy sell, I know. Today, I see with even greater my appreciation of the way Muslims are treated here. clarity what this country can teach the rest of the world— “Backlash,” you say? I’ll get to that in just a moment. and itself. Unlike European nations, Canada considers First, some perspective. At an event to mark the 20th immigrants as citizens-in-waiting and not merely anniversary of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms, I met workers-in-training. It’s true that we’re not leveraging a young woman in hijab—the headcovering that signals the talents of those immigrants nearly as well as we Muslim women’s modesty. A lawyer at the department of should. When foreign-accredited neurologists are justice, she immigrated from Tunisia, in part, so she forced to drive cabs, we’re all the poorer. Still, there’s could practice her faith meaningfully. For her, that something offered here that can only be imagined by a means choosing to wear hijab. Paradoxically, it’s a choice Turk in Germany: hope for full social and labour market protected in Canada but not in Tunisia, which she tells rights. The Charter case can’t be far behind. me has outlawed hijab in an effort to “modernize.” Indeed, in the wake of September 11, Ottawa’s counter- Such stories point to a more textured country than terrorism bill took into account the Charter of Rights and the highly hyped backlash against Muslim-Canadians Freedoms—at the draft stage. Put another way, our politi- would suggest. I don’t deny that unprovoked erup- cians didn’t need reminding that civil liberties must be tions of anger at Arab-looking folks have been hap- respected even as individuals are being suspected. pening these last several months. But what never gets Above all, those who disagree that the Charter has audited, quantified and publicized is the opposite— been respected are in luck: Under the Court Challenges unsolicited eruptions of decency. Program, aggrieved citizens from disadvantaged com- Let’s recall that immediately after September 11, both munities can apply for money from the government to Christian and Jewish clerics scrambled to get in touch sue that same government. Extraordinary? By interna- with Muslim leaders. They organized not only multi- tional standards, oh yeah. faith services but also press conferences to assert the And not to be taken for granted. operating premise: that it’s individuals who ought to be Which is why my mother, the jury member, gets my hunted down, not any religious or cultural community. admiration. On the very night of the attack, when shock numbed Every day, she thanks Allah that we wound up in most of us into silence, I got a call from one of Canada. So do I. Toronto’s most prominent ministers. He wanted to As I hunker down to write my next book – an open letter to know if I was safe and how he could help curb the hate Muslims –I realize that the demands of deadlines will make I might now encounter. Over the next three days, me an unreliable columnist in the next little while. After six more expressions of love and care came from my years, I leave this perch with great affection for Herizons’ Jewish friends than from anybody else! readers, as well as editor Penni Mitchell. That she embraces Private conversations with young Muslim-Canadians diversity of opinion and not just of appearance has made revealed much the same—teachers, neighbours, co- this an electric space in which to experiment.

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Fall 1998 Fall 2000 Fall 2001 Make Room Sister, The Next Why Women are On the March: An interview with visual artist Generation’s Here; The Truth Naomi Klein; Judy Rebick and Wanda Koop; Can a Trans- about Your Clitoris; Women Shelagh Day: Why Are Women So gendered Person be One of With Disabilities: Role Models Poor (If Canada’s Such a great ‘Us’?; Natural Treatment for in Film and TV. Place to Live?) Fibroids by Dr. Carolyn DeMarco.

Winter 1999 Winter 2001 Winter 2002 Natural Remedies & Women; Jane Siberry in Profile; Are The Speech that Shook the Crimes Against Comfort Women; Periods Passé?; All the Rage: Country: Sunera Thobani’s Women and Drumming; Blaming Hormones; 5 Unedited Address; Canada’s Ailing Health Dangerous Hysterectomy Carol Shields on Becoming a Protection Branch. Myths. Writer; Sexual Harassment.

Spring 1999 Spring 2001 Spring 2002 An interview with Will Women Save the Earth? A Where Do We Stand? The Charter singer/songwriter Bif Naked; The Special Guide to Environmental of Rights Turns 20; Why We Must Breast Cancer Gene, Just the tip Issues and Eco-women; Satire: End Colonialism; What Women are of the iceberg?; Repetitive The Surrendered Doormat. saying about Restorative Justice; Strain Injury & Women Workers. Women in Ancient History

Summer 1999 Summer 2001 Summer 2002 Relationships Revisited: What really happened at the Sarah McLachlan’s Lilith Fair; Embracing Alternative Quebec Summit?; The All-Girl, Why Feminists Love Buffy; Did Weddings; Feminist Mothers On-Line Revolution; Interviews: Bridget Jones Really Liberate Raising Sons; Is it ‘Bi Sex’ or Evelyn Lau, Deb Ellis and Anita Us? just ‘My Sex?’ Rau Badami.

Fall 1999 Dionnne Brand—an interview with one of Canada’s best- BACK ISSUES ORDER FORM loved feminist authors; Taking Aim at Toxic Tampons; Un- Yes, I would like to stock up my resource centre, coffee table or waiting room with Back Germaine Thoughts on Greer Issues of Herizons. I have enclosed $5 each (or $10 for 3) plus $2 postage and handling for my order. Winter 2000 Chick Lit: The Next Gen of Send me the following issues: Canadian Women Authors Make Fall 1998 Winter 1999 Spring 1999 Summer 1999 Fall 1999 it Big; Feminist Advertising?; Winter 2000 Summer 2000 Fall 2000 Winter 2001 Spring 2001 Ethical Investments Summer 2001 Fall 2001 Winter 2002 Spring 2002 Summer 2002

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For Practical Health Information “Herizons is topical on women’s issues that other magazines Most of the 20,000 hysterectomies performed on simply don’t cover with the same depth.” Canadian women every year are unnecessary. Herizons Heidi Graham, tells readers about natural alternatives. PRODUCER, OPEN FOR DISCUSSION, WOMEN’S TELEVISION NETWORK For Public Policy Alternatives “Herizons published my very first magazine article—Move Over Why are so many women poor when Canada is such a Sister, the Next Generation Is Here (Fall 1999). Since then, great place to live? We offer solutions. Herizons has helped foster an important wave of young women’s writings in this country.” For Comic Relief Lisa Bryn Rundle, Columnist Lyn Cockburn provides feminist satire on the CO-EDITOR, TURBO CHICKS: TALKING YOUNG FEMINISMS, SUMACH PRESS latest issues. “Herizons is a swift, snappy and spirit-buoying read for For Inspiration Canadian women.” Pulitzer-prize winning author Carol Shields on how Michele Landsberg, breast cancer has changed her writing, not her COLUMNIST, TORONTO SUN outlook. “I am interested in the idea of goodness.” “An essential resource for classroom discussions and course For Political Analysis readings. Excellent feature articles and news sections.” Commentators like Judy Rebick write on political Somer Brodribb, Ph.D., issues affecting women. DEPARTMENT OF WOMEN’S STUDIES, UNIVERSITY OF VICTORIA For Interesting Interviews “Herizons is unabashedly feminist in a way that is relevant to “Evelyn Lau is not to be labelled, boxed in or the daily lives of women. Herizons emphasizes power and categorized. ‘Are you a feminist?’ I ask. ‘No, I’m not,’ politics rather than recipes and relationships. The difference she grins, ‘Although I suppose I live like one.’” from mainstream journalism is palpable and empowering. The cover girls... are real women.” Jane Foy, THE LONDON FREE PRESS

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