OVERTIME HELD UP AT BANK | MOMMY WARS | THE STORY OF ABEER

WOMEN’S NEWS & FEMINIST VIEWS Fall 2007 Vol. 21 No. 2 Made in Canada

WHEN IT CLIKS ANDROGYNY ROCK STEPS ON STAGE

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News E. FRY CASE IMPROVES CONDITIONS FOR WOMEN 6 by Noreen Shanahan A PERFECT FIT FOR WOMEN 7 by Susana Molinolo OVERTIME PAY HELD UP, TELLERS CHARGE 9 by Janet Nicol ELECTORAL REFORM ABUZZ IN ONTARIO 12 by Melinda Selmys 13: Missing Women A ROOMFUL OF MISSING WOMEN 13 by Jane Shulman Features TURF WARS 16 After enduring repeated personal attacks, MP Belinda Stronach hasn’t shied away from talking about the impact of those remarks upon women contemplating political life. by Ashifa Kassam

ON GUARD

16: Belinda Stronach 20 It sounds too good to be true: a vaccine for cervical cancer. So why do health experts say Ottawa’s decision to spend $300 million on Gardasil might be sending the wrong message? by Dawn Rae Downton

WHEN IT CLIKS 24 Toronto’s hottest androgynous rock band talks to Herizons. by Cindy Filipenko

THE STORY OF ABEER 28 Filmmakers take on violation of girls’ human rights. by Daya Lye

IN FOCUS 34 Nova Scotia’s first African Canadian female lieutenant governor has a 30-year history of championing human rights. by Wendy Robbins 28: Abeer Filmmakers ONCE UPON A TIME 37 Deb Ellis writes children’s stories about the Taliban, AIDS and living in poverty. by Janet Nicol

HERIZONS FALL 2007 1 table of contents FALL 2007 / VOLUME 21 NO. 2 For kick-ass women in a world that needs its ass kicked

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2 FALL 2007 HERIZONS letters

We’re in the army now

Toxins disrupt the body’s systems. Illustration: Tamara Rae Biebrich and Mike Carroll Natural alternatives to chemicals

PERSONAL CARE the sixth is managing an unexplained feeling This is a justice issue. Should we be paying ARTICLE A BEAUTY of rage. The seventh and eighth aren’t people to make us sick and then paying them bothered this time, but will react to the next again to make us better? Would that money The article on the beauty industry was very chemical that comes along. much welcomed in my house. Congratulations better be spent on food, education, real health on such a well-researched, in-depth and The toxins can immediately disrupt any of care, supporting social service agencies or totally readable report. the body’s systems. The symptoms can be so donating to Herizons? There were two angles to this issue that mild as to be barely noticeable, or they can My recommendation would be to weren’t included that I think are just as flatten someone for three days. It was only investigate what is available from your local important. The first is that the toxins in through a concerted education effort in the health food store or environmental store. You personal care products aren’t just damaging in choir that several of the eight realized that can find a full range of personal care and the long term. There are immediate effects in a their occasional feelings of unwellness were home care products that won’t make you sick. surprisingly high percentage of the population. directly related to personal care product My family made the switch several years As an example, in my 24-member choir, there exposure and that by limiting their exposure ago, and I can guarantee that we are cleaner are eight people who suffer immediate they had greater well-being in their lives. than those who use the chemically based sickness when they are exposed to the toxins The second angle to consider is that none products. Think about it: is applying toxins to in personal care products (and cleaning of this is necessary. People were clean and your skin a clean practice? products, but that’s another issue). Reactions beautiful before the chemical industries PAT BONELL are many and varied, and because you can’t discovered that they could make huge profits Ottawa, ON say definitively that this ingredient causes that by brainwashing the masses into thinking that reaction, it is hard to nail down. When they won’t be accepted if they don’t smell a COLONEL FIRES BACK encountering the miasma caused by a certain way or look a certain way (that will of In her column “We’re in the Army Now” personal care product, one person will have course change with the next season, (Summer 2007, Vol 21, No. 1), Susan G. Cole streaming eyes while another is battling necessitating more products and giving more demonstrates her ignorance and stomach upset. A third could be having a money to the chemical industry). Those misunderstanding of her country’s armed sudden-onset migraine, while a fourth is industries also profit when people have to buy forces when she writes that: “Cheering suffering brain fog. The fifth will be busy with their remedies for the sicknesses that they women in the army is kind of like cheering puffers staving off an asthmatic attack, while have induced. when a woman becomes chief executive

HERIZONS FALL 2007 3 letters officer of a tobacco company.” Those who mock the Canadian Forces made those arbitrary decisions on behalf of women? Well, certainly would do well to read history and talk to those of us who are military not the women. Governments and armed forces run by men made historians to know the truth. those decisions. It is possible to be a feminist and a member of the armed forces. In It has been said of Canada’s nursing sisters that they served equally, fact, most of the Canadian Forces women are feminists. We have to be. but we must not confuse that with equality. That was still to come for My own personal philosophy is: think independently; never let yourself military women. It was the Royal Commission on the Status of Women be unduly influenced by society, your peers, your religion, your in 1970 that brought pressure to bear on the Department of National ethnicity, your culture or your family. Be a rebel if necessary, but be a Defence to improve conditions of service for military women. It brought productive rebel. forth six recommendations concerning servicewomen. Having women in combat is not that new. Ancient records tell of An all-party parliamentary committee held hearings on the role of women warriors as far back as the fifth century BCE. Women all over the women in the Canadian Forces. It recommended that all roles be world have been involved in combat ever since. Chinese women took opened, and in 1987 the federal government announced that all air part in 19th-century rebellions and in the early struggles of the People’s force combat roles were to be opened to women. In 1989, a federal Liberation Army. Twelve Canadian nursing sisters served with field human rights tribunal determined that the armed forces policy of hospitals in the Northwest Rebellion of 1885 and were recognized as excluding women from combat duty was discriminatory on the members of a military force engaged in a theatre of active operations. grounds of sex under the act. The Canadian Forces was given 10 During the First World War, 46 nursing sisters gave their lives while years to open all jobs to women, including combat. That has been serving. Six were killed on land, 15 met death from enemy action at sea. achieved and we have women fighting, dying and being wounded in Eighteen died of disease while serving overseas, and seven more in Afghanistan now. Canada. In the Second World War, one Canadian servicewoman was SHIRLEY M. ROBINSON killed as a result of enemy action and 12 were wounded in Sicily. Lieutenant-Colonel (Retired) The American War of Independence saw tens of thousands of Ottawa, ON women involved in active combat; the Second World War saw 800,000 Russian women take part in direct combat. In that war, hundreds of FIRST RATE HERIZONS Allied women, including members of the military, civilians and those Congratulations on your excellent publication! It’s a first-rate magazine involved with the resistance movements, fought and died in action. In that I read from cover to cover as soon as it arrives in the mail. I the Vietnam War, thousands of women fought with the Viet Cong, many especially enjoy the range of articles that are published each issue. in command positions. You have figured out how to cover feminist issues and present them So women did a good deal more than knit socks, roll bandages and very well. work in factories. However, when the wars were over, women were LINDA DOCTOROFF demobilized and expected to return to their traditional roles. And who Victoria, B.C. contributors

SHAWNA DEMPSEY ASHIFA KASSAM WENDY ROBBINS DAYA LYE is a Winnipeg-based performance has one foot firmly planted in the is co-founder of the listserv PAR- was contributing editor of the artist and curator who works in world of social activism and the L. She was on the staff of the F*word, the University of Toronto’s collaboration with Lorri Millan. other in media. She has spent eight Canadian Advisory Council on the equity and feminist magazine, and The duo’s most recent years doing social justice work and Status of Women when the is a programmer/producer for manifestation is the Consideration two years in Asia and Latin subject of her interview this issue, RadioCliteracy, a weekly radio Liberation Army, a must-see at America. Her work has appeared in Nova Scotia Lieutenant-Governor show on CKLN 88.1 FM in Toronto. www.considerationliberationarmy.ca. NOW, CBC.ca and the Toronto Star. Mayann Francis, served as a She is executive assistant at the member. Women’s Future Fund and is studying to be a midwife.

4 FALL 2007 HERIZONS first word BY PENNI MITCHELL

Violating Mother Nature’s Law

In the court of ecological justice, there are few milkweed however the sale of Delta and Pine has rekindled fears. plants marching forth with class action suits charging that Farm organizations around the world are rallying to fight their traditional lands are uninhabitable. None, in fact. And terminator and so far, governments in India and Brazil have nary has a single salmon petitioned against the genetic made terminator illegal. Canada has not done so. In June, modification of its species. however, NDP agriculture critic Alex Atamanenko This shortage of litigants reflects the sad fact that laws do introduced Bill C-448, a private member’s bill to ban not adapt quickly to changing environments. It has been a terminator technology. mere century, for example, since the U.S. and Canada made it Colleen Ross, women’s president of the National Farmers’ illegal to enslave another human being and today, Union says that “creating sterile seeds is blatantly anti-farmer.” international courts only now are dealing with crimes In this world, too many farmers do not earn enough or involving ethnic cleansing. And women know all to well that work in safe conditions and of these issues are linked to laws protect powerful interests. Until, that is, the ecological hazards and increased corporate concentration of unenfranchised speak up. the world’s seed supply. The overuse of pesticides, for The same goes for the Earth. The next big global values example, produces maximal profits in the short term, but it revolution will centre on Mother Nature’s ability to also produces higher than normal rates of cancer in reproduce and regenerate. agricultural workers, threatens the biodiversity in lakes, Soon, for example, we will find out whether Monsanto, rivers and streams, as well as that of plants, insects, reptiles, the world’s largest seed company, plans on using terminator birds and animals. technology to render a good chunk of the global seed If the idea of sterile seeds in a globally warming world market sterile. In June, Monsanto won the right to buy the doesn’t bother you, consider that Monsanto, Dupont and world’s largest cotton seed company, Delta and Pine Land, Syngenta already account for 44 percent of the global seed a firm that patented terminator technology which renders market. And that Syngenta has applied for a patent on sterility upon seeds. terminator potatoes in Canada. Terminator technology is a form of genetic modification, We have an obligation to ensure our commercial and ag whereby gene sequences in a plant are altered and then policies do not diminish bio-diversity. Delta and Pine Land patented. In the case of standard genetic modification gene had vowed to pursue commercialization of terminator sequences are typically altered to withstand higher doses of technology for cotton crops. Without a law prohibiting the company’s pesticide—a pesticide that the farmer is under terminator field testing, there is no assurance biotech contract to apply. companies won’t pursue it. Terminator testing in greenhouses The Canadian Biotechnology Action Network is worried is currently underway in the U.S. that if seed companies are allowed to render their seed sterile, Terminator technology “robs farmers of their capacity to the security of the world’s supply of crops including corn, rice control their production,” according to Andre D. Beaudoin, and wheat could be at risk. With fewer varieties grown and secretary-general of Union des producteurs agricoles (UPA), more of them sterile, a blight could spawn disaster. a professional farmers’ union organization whose values Lucy Sharratt, coordinator of the Canadian Biotechnology include social justice, fairness and democracy. Action Network believes that “Monstanto’s purchase of It seems plain that the right of people to grow food in ways terminator is a nightmare scenario for the world’s farmers.” that enhance the biodiversity of the planet is a natural law in Moreover, monocultures—the growing of fewer seed need of legal enforcement. varietals, interfere with what nature does best—adapt and Banning terminator technology is an essential step to moving evolve. It’s why the United Nations created a convention of into the next phase of our legal evolution, namely safeguarding biological diversity, to protect the world’s vast and valuable the inalienable reproductive rights of Mother Earth. genetic diversity. It recommended that governments not Sign a petition or add your name to the growing list of groups approve terminator seeds for field tests or commercial use calling for a terminator ban. Check out banterminator.org/canada

HERIZONS FALL 2007 5 nelliegrams ELIZABETH FRY, WOMEN FURTHER DEMOTED Status of Women Minister Bev Oda has MANITOBA JUSTICE placed more hurdles in front of women’s community organizations seeking public funding for their services. REACH AGREEMENT Oda released a new funding mandate for and training, including substance-abuse Status of Women Canada in June services and measures to reduce self harm stipulating that organizations must have by inmates. other sources of funding in order to receive “This complaint and the progress made program funding. Organizations are already through mediation are firsts for Canada,” restricted from applying for grants for says Elizabeth Fry Society of Manitoba research and cannot try to influence public president Debra Parkes. “We’ll be policy through government lobbying. encouraging and supporting the efforts of “This is an assault on the women’s Elizabeth Fry societies across the country to movement in Canada,” said Irene pursue human rights complaints in their Mathyseen, status of women critic for the provinces.” NDP. “By shutting offices, changing the mandate and cutting funding, Bev Oda is The agreement includes: not promoting women’s rights.” • A commitment by Manitoba Justice to work with the Human Rights Commission ADULTERY DECRIMMED to develop and deliver human rights Uganda’s Constitutional Court has nullified a training for all staff and inmates, to law that made adultery criminal for women integrate human rights training at all levels but not for men. The case also strengthened of corrections, and to ensure that women’s rights regarding divorce and accountability for human rights inheritance. compliance is part of managerial A group of women’s rights advocates, accountability in the department. Law and Advocacy for Women in Uganda, • The establishment of a women’s program argued that Uganda’s 1995 national advisory committee to be co-chaired by E. constitution ensures equal protection under Fry Manitoba and Manitoba Justice, which the law. The court agreed and struck down will provide input on women-centred and criminal adultery. As a result of a human rights complaint launched five culturally appropriate programs and While the laws now apply equally to men years ago, women in Manitoba’s correctional centre services. and women, polygamy is still legal for men will see improved conditions. • The hiring of an Aboriginal cultural worker. and adultery committed by husbands is The agreement also provides for a small- widely tolerated. Most couples opt for (WINNIPEG) An agreement reached in the scale literacy program, improved telephone monogamous or civil marriage over the wake of a human rights complaint in services, enhanced computer access and polygamous or customary marriage. Manitoba will mean better conditions for training, and free tampons for inmates. According to Irene Mulyagonja, a family women at the Portage Correctional Centre in Future initiatives will include addressing the law lawyer in Kampala, “almost every Portage la Prairie, Manitoba, women’s increased demand for Aboriginal spiritual husband in the country commits adultery, advocates say. and cultural services, abuse and trauma even those in civil marriages; it is almost In 2002, the Elizabeth Fry Society of counselling, and library and recreation 100 percent.” Manitoba filed two complaints with the enhancements. One example is a newly hired —Women’s E-News Manitoba Human Rights Commission about cultural worker who has assisted a number the treatment and conditions faced by of women in making a star blanket. MORE WOMEN women incarcerated at Manitoba’s jail for The agreement is just part of E. Fry’s larger PRIESTS ORDAINED women sentenced to terms of less than two agenda, Parkes notes. The organization Three women were ordained as Roman years. The complaint charged that women remains committed to “working with local Catholic priests by Bishop Patricia Fresen experience discrimination on the basis of and national partners to oppose the law-and- of Germany at a ceremony in Toronto in sex, race and disability at the centre, as order agenda that sees increasing numbers May. Marie Bouclin of Sudbury, Ontario, well as a lack of attention to their of women incarcerated. We are also working became the second Canadian woman circumstances, including those of Aboriginal with community partners to advocate for ordained, following Michele Birch Conery of women and mothers. resources to keep women in the community, Parksville, B.C. The other two women After a lengthy investigation, the Human rather than in jail.” ordained were from the U.S. Rights Commission found merit in the Janet Baldwin, chairperson of the The ceremony was organized by the complaints and referred the parties to Manitoba Human Rights Commission notes, Roman Catholic Womenpriests (RCWP) mediation. As a result, Manitoba Justice “The agreement reveals a commitment by movement, based in Germany. The agreed in June to take a number of steps to both [groups] to work towards the goal of Canadian event marked the first RCWP improve the situation of incarcerated women. accommodating the special needs of It promised culturally appropriate services incarcerated women.”

6 FALL 2007 HERIZONS nelliegrams

ordination ceremony to take place in a church (in this case, Protestant). All other public ceremonies have taken place on boats, usually in international waters, to avoid jurisdictional conflict with diocesan bishops. The RCWP movement began in 2002. There are 15 women priests in the U.S. and Canada and over 100 candidates in training worldwide. The first ordinations were held on the Danube River in 2002 to protest the fact that women are denied access to ordained ministry in the Church. Fresen was Toronto gym provides woman-centered services in a supportive environment. among those ordained. The movement wants to create a new Roman Catholic tradition that it says is more in keeping with MAIN STREET CARDIO A what Jesus taught and lived. The Archdiocese of Toronto does not PERFECT FIT FOR WOMEN recognize the ordinations. BY SUSANA MOLINOLO BURKINA FASO WOMEN GET CRAFTY FLIP THROUGH most magazines targeted to and uses an innovative approach to fitness. Female artisans in Burkina Faso have found women and you’ll find ad after ad imploring Despite the loyalty of their clients, neither a way to turn plastic litter into handcrafted you to make yourself over and defy your age Sullivan nor Hardes currently earns a living dolls and woven goods. The women now with unnatural hair colour, skin pigments, from the gym. sell their wares at local markets and are body-firming gels, teeth whiteners, food “We mortgaged our houses and have made beginning to export them to stores in the replacements and weight-loss products. many personal sacrifices to bring this business United States. Then you’ll be perfect. together. Our partners/husbands support our The dolls, change purses and bags are It’s no wonder women have complexes. decisions, [but] they don’t bankroll us,” says crocheted from plastic yarn spun from Charlene Sullivan, founder of Main Street Sullivan who works full-time as a letter carrier. black and white plastic bags that once Cardio in Toronto, sees a similar trend in the Hardes juggles off-site corporate and private littered the ground. fitness industry. “The usual way to guilt clients. Both have children. Working with the Houet Women’s Action people into buying a gym membership is with Sullivan is adamant that it’s all about Group for Economic Reliance, an umbrella fat-caliber instruments, scales and poorly health and wellness, a philosophy that is organization of 117 women’s groups in the designed fitness tests. This normally leaves a rare in an industry that often preys on southwest region of Burkina Faso, 40 woman feeling inadequate, instead of unhealthy attitudes. women collect and clean scores of plastic motivated,” she observes. “Our programs are not decided on bags, then turn them into artistic creations According to the International Health, esthetics. We do not sell nutritional for sale. Racquet and Sportsclub Association, the supplements or generic exercise programs,” For many in the collective, craft-making Canadian fitness industry earned $1.6 billion she adds. has become their only source of money- last year. The figure is no surprise to Sullivan, Their walk-the-walk approach is evident to making. Many of the women are widows who’s been teaching fitness for over 20 members. Heather McClean, 53, has been and single mothers who have come years. “In general, women will pay anything with them from day one. together to find ways to support their to look good. My goal is to help people enjoy “I feel looked-after. It’s a group of women families in a country where incomes movement, whether they’re good at it or not.” nurturing my body and my mind, McClean average around $1,200 annually. Sullivan’s journey began at Ryerson says. “They’re concerned about my well- —Women’s E-News University, where she studied food being.” technology, and then, after becoming Dianne Broad, 42, an editor and mother of VAW PROMISES MADE discouraged by that industry, started three, agrees. “Charlene and Gudrun have IN FRANCE teaching fitness. She founded Main Street created a uniquely supportive environment. Segolene Royal lost her bid to become Cardio in 1999, primarily to keep a group of Their members are mainly women like me— France’s first female head of government, her Toronto Parks and Recreation class working and juggling family responsibilities. taking only 48 percent of the women’s vote devotees together. Then, in 2004, she teamed They also provide child care, which allows this spring. However, women’s issues up with fitness instructor Gudrun Hardes and moms like me (with young kids) to exercise.” appear set to remain on the country’s list of moved Main Street Cardio to Toronto’s In a world where many people buy gym priorities. Beaches neighbourhood. memberships to look like the latest popular Royal had pledged to provide greater The gym has some 300 members and movie star, Main Street knows that respect is protection to women from violent ex- another 100 pay-as-you-go clients—90 a better approach. spouses. She also vowed that staff working percent of whom are women. Loyalty comes “Our members know their bodies and are from affordable fees in a facility that is safe not so easily fooled,” observes Sullivan.

HERIZONS FALL 2007 7 nelliegrams WOMEN TAKE in police stations would be trained to provide assistance to women pressing BYTE OUT OF assault charges. However, Nicolas Sarkozy, who won the election, also said he intends to punish men DISCRIMINATION who are violent towards their spouses. Last BY ANAT COHEN year, he and other legislators passed a law giving courts the authority to order abusive “Women form only 34 per cent of the spouses out of their homes. Sarkozy has Israeli hi-tech industry,” according to Skop. also pledged to create a national policy on “Of these, only five per cent make it to violence. French feminists are involved in managerial positions. On an average, their its development, along with other salaries are lower by 25 per cent, compared organizations. to men in the same position.” In France, 137 women were killed by Skop formulated a treaty and CEOs in the male partners last year. hi-tech industry were called upon to sign it. —Women’s E-News The treaty includes agreements to hold important meetings before 5 p.m. to ensure NEW HAMPSHIRE TO JOIN GAYS women with responsibilities for children are New Hampshire has joined Vermont, able to participate, to measure salary Connecticut and New Jersey to become the differences frequently and to correct fourth U.S. state to legalize same-sex civil discrimination practices. So far, 27 CEOs unions. Massachusetts is the only state that Ayala Skop set up Women Managers@High-Tech to representing workplaces with 22,000 promote equity in the IT industry in Israel. allows same-sex marriage. In April, the employees have come on board. legislature passed a bill making same-sex While Skop’s treaty is arguably moderate (JERUSALEM) The dream of a corporate in its demands, some workplaces have been civil unions legal in the state, and Governor career in the hi-tech industry remains elusive John Lynch signed the bill into law on May reluctant to sign it. “CEOs do not refuse for many women in Israel. Despite a shortfall outright. Instead, I get to hear hesitation and 31. Lesbian and gay couples will now have of 10,000 IT workers and an agreement the opportunity to enjoy the same rights, excuses, such as, ‘I’m a new manager and I among industry leaders that the best solution have to study the organization better,’ or ‘I responsibilities and obligations as is to draw more women into the field, there heterosexual married couples. The new need some time to think about it,’” she says. are few measures to ensure women are Udi Ortel, general manager at Magic civil union law goes into effect on January treated on par with their male counterparts. 1, 2008. Software Enterprises, the first company to Dorit Lewy, a senior programmer at Ness sign Skop’s treaty, doesn’t understand such Technologies, a leading IT company in ISRAELI PM COPS A PLEA reservations. “The treaty is reasonable,” he Israel, is a case in point. Despite having explains. “It looks to resolve a problem but Israeli women took to the streets in the worked at the same level as her male summer to protest a plea bargain with does not resort to threats. Even if one is able colleagues for nearly five years, her to follow 60 to 80 percent of its principles, it former Israeli president Moshe Kazav. He remuneration is unequal. was fined $250,000 US after a series of is still great.” “I earn less than men who have tasks Still, enforcement is a problem. According allegations that included sexual assault and similar to mine,” Lewy says.” In fact, one of sexual harassment involving 11 secretaries. to Dorit: “Adopting sections of the treaty that my male colleagues and I had started were already in practice is no big deal. I’m Under the terms of the plea bargain, working here at around the same time, but Kazav will not do jail time. Some 20,000 sure that managers wouldn’t have a problem my salary is 30 percent lower.” having morning sessions or conducting Israelis protested, calling on the country’s She adds that employers pay lip service to Supreme Court to cancel the deal. Before performance-based appraisals. But I’d like to fair treatment, but don’t necessarily follow know to what extent managers would be Kazav agreed to the plea bargain, his through. “In my present job,” she says, “the defence team claimed the allegations he willing to comply with more critical sections, management made it clear that working late such as performing internal surveys on was facing for sexual offences were “lies nights or round-the-clock was not going to and fibs.” salary gaps and correcting them. One hopes be the criteria for career advancement. that the signing of the treaty by various CEOs The first woman who filed a complaint Employees would be judged by their against Kazav called a press conference does not end up becoming a tool to create an productivity, and not the actual number of image of a liberal, enlightened and advanced after the state attorney’s decision. She hours spent in office. Nevertheless, I have described how Kazav assaulted her and organization.” realized that doing late nights is the best PR So, will the Skop treaty be able to bring said that he then intimidated her so she an employee can have.” would not tell anyone. about some remarkable change in women’s Enter Ayala Skop, wife of former CEO of positions in the hi-tech industry? “It all Microsoft, Israel, Arie Skop. A year ago, she depends on how the treaty is marketed and WOMEN RENEW set up Women Managers@High-Tech to CALL FOR PEACE branded. Its timing is excellent, since we’re promote equity in the hi-tech industry. A in a critical period of a great shortage of Women gathered in Dallas in July for the mother of two, Skop knew all about the third International Women’s Peace employees. Skop must present the treaty as challenges of balancing children and career a benefit to attract potential employees,” responsibilities. concludes Dorit.

8 FALL 2007 HERIZONS OVERTIME PAY HELD UP, nelliegrams Conference. TELLERS CHARGE The conference featured three Nobel BY JANET NICOL Prize laureates: Betty Williams, co-founder of the Northern Ireland Peace Movement; in B.C. woke up the Jody Williams, founding co-ordinator of the labour movement in International Campaign to Ban Landmines; 1976, organizing 22 and Rigoberta Menchu Tum, awarded for bank branches in B.C. her work for social justice for indigenous and Saskatchewan. people in her native Guatemala. The Service, Office and According to Carol Crabtree Donovan, Retail Workers Union of Peacemakers president and conference Canada (SORWUC) chairwoman: “The purpose of the managed to sign on 700 conference is to empower peacemakers by bank employees, teaching peace skills, such as mediation, gained a significant negotiation and communication.” legal victory to unionize Speakers included Pumla Gobodo- branch by branch and Madikizela, a professor at the University of publish a book (An Cape Town, South Africa, and a member of Account to Settle). the Truth and Reconciliation Commission Dara Fesco (left) with lawyers Louis Sokolov and Doug Elliot announce class In a recent appointed by former South African action suit. Photo: Aaron Harris/CP telephone interview, president Nelson Mandela, and Noeleen DARA FRESCO, a 34-year-old head teller at Jean Rands, a founder of Heyzer, executive director of UNIFEM, the Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce in SORWUC, said unpaid overtime was a key leading operational agency within the UN Toronto made headlines earlier this year when issue back then. The banks “smartened up promoting women’s empowerment and she announced a class action claim against for awhile” after the organizing drive, she gender equality. her employer for non-payment of overtime. said, and paid overtime to keep the unions The theme of the conference was Doug Elliot, a lawyer involved in the case, out. empowering peacemakers. Delegates calls the suit the “largest unpaid class action A year after SORWUC began organizing, drafted an action plan for grassroots ever launched in Canada. We believe it will eight women bank workers in Willmar, peacemakers to promote peace in their establish an important class-action Minnesota, risked jobs, friends and the respective countries. precedent” opposition of church and community to The statement of claim alleges CIBC non- embark on the longest bank strike in their BOYS LOSE SLEEP management employees are assigned heavy country’s history. Their isolated and valiant OVER SEX BOOK workloads that cannot be completed within struggle was documented by Lee Grant in a An Arkansas father was outraged that his standard working hours, and that, at least in film called The Willmar 8. two sons had a peek at The Whole Lesbian Fresco’s case, she was told not to claim any Today, banks are still largely unorganized, Sex Book by Felice Newman in a local of it as overtime. Fresco continues to work at with employees experiencing layoffs and few library. The boys, aged 14 and 16, found a the bank after filing the court claim in June. improvements to their wages and benefits. copy while they were looking for books on The suit is seeking $600 million in damages Organized bank workers are represented by military academies. on behalf of 10,000 current and former the United Steelworkers or the Canadian The father complained to Bentonville customer service staff. CIBC has responded Office and Professional Employees Union at a Mayor Bob McAslin in February that: “My that the company has a “clearly defined” small number of bank branches and credit sons were greatly disturbed by viewing this overtime policy that “exceeds legislative unions scattered across the country. material, and this matter has caused many requirement.” Fresco claims she is owed about $50,000 sleepless nights in our house.” The suit could take some time. Even the for the two to five hours of additional work The dad claims those sleepless nights first step, having the lawsuit certified—that she says she’s put in every week during her are worth $20,000. is, considered a legitimate class action 10-year career. She currently makes an Library Journal, which the Bentonville suit—could take as long as a year. annual salary of $30,715. library uses to select materials, Similar lawsuits in the U.S. have forced Elliott and his firm and are working with characterizes The Whole Lesbian Sex Book employers to pay overtime at Wal-Mart, lawyers across Canada to establish that as “suitable for all public libraries.” Starbucks, Taco Bell and Radio Shack. Class CIBC is violating the federal labour code by Felice Newman, author of The Whole action suits are less common in Canada, but denying overtime pay to employees. The Lesbian Sex Book, says “boys have been if Fresco succeeds, thousands of bank Toronto law firm has set up a web site pouring over sexually explicit materials in workers will benefit. (www.unpaidovertime.ca) where CIBC libraries since—well, since there have Since women began filling bottom-rung employees can register. Hundreds of front- been libraries. bank jobs in large numbers in the mid-1900s, line CIBC staffers have registered online to “These two young guys are the very they have complained of poor working keep abreast of the proceedings. reason libraries must be uncensored, and conditions. Trade union organizing drives in CIBC is Canada’s fifth-largest bank and librarians must be free to order the books the banks started in the 1970s, but either posted a profit of $807 million in its second they feel will benefit he public.” failed or resulted in too few bargaining units quarter, ending April 30, up from $585 million to make a difference. A small feminist union in the same quarter a year ago.
HERIZONS FALL 2007 9 Join the Growing Community of

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Assembly member Ann Thomas optimistically ONTARIO ABUZZ OVER believes “this is a time for the parties to shine and let the voters know that they recognize ELECTORAL REFORM the changing diversity of Ontario voters.” Member Catarina Fernandez is less BY MELINDA SELMYS optimistic, observing that “when it came time to vote on its importance, or value, in relation design. Then they consulted with voters and to the other key principles, it often was got down to hammering out a proposed new compromised for other principles.” system. The system they designed—and Some had hoped that parties would be accepted by a vote of 86 to 16—is called a made legally accountable for the gender mixed member proportional system. In it, balance of their lists. The assembly decided voters get two votes: one for the party they instead to require that the parties make a full, like and one for their preferred candidate. transparent disclosure of their lists and of the Seventy percent of representatives are process used to nominate list candidates, elected in local ridings, and the other 30 leaving it up to voters to reward or penalize percent come from party lists. The idea is to parties for their representation of women. compensate for the disproportionality of local While the proposed system may fall short results—women, members of ethnic for some electoral reform advocates, it is Women citizens’ assembly members debate issues. minorities and other disadvantaged groups nonetheless widely agreed that it will be an Photo: Ben Li who lack the resources to mount costly public improvement over the status quo. And, as campaigns stand a better chance. Macdonald points out, “it also opens the door (TORONTO) What do Rwanda, Sweden, Costa In October, Ontario voters will be asked to to improvement of the ratio, which will really Rica and Spain all have in common? More ratify or reject the proposed system. Marie start to help women.” than 35 percent of their legislators are Bountrogianni, the Ontario minister in charge There is also hope that a change in Ontario women. of democratic renewal, predicts such a may tilt electoral systems across Canada in Canada hovers at just over 20 percent. From system will yield a more “proper the same direction. 1984 to 1997, women’s representation rose representation of minorities and women.” “Being the largest province, there will be a dramatically. Then it stopped a decade ago. Others are less certain. June Macdonald of contagion effect,” McDonald predicts. The Many blame the problem on our electoral Women for Fair Voting says it “is likely to federal government will be unlikely to shove system. It’s called single member plurality by improve the representation of women,” but this under the rug anymore. This will be those who like it and first past the post to by predicts any improvements will not be very pivotal, in my opinion.” everyone else. It’s the system where we divide dramatic at first. Over time, she says, women That is, if the referendum passes. In order the country into ridings and then elect one nominated to party lists will become more to pass, the referendum requires 60 percent member from each riding. Parties try to put able to gain local nominations. support with at least 60 percent of ridings forward the most broadly acceptable Jackie Steele of the Collectif Féminisme et voting in favour. Meanwhile, British Columbia, candidate, the one that will earn them the most Démocratie adds, “there is no regulatory Quebec, New Brunswick and Prince Edward votes. Those candidates are usually white, framework to ensure that party elites will Island are also considering electoral reforms. heterosexual, middle-class, able-bodied men. share power [in practice] beyond their own Observers believe that the mixed member Another thing the countries mentioned cultural, linguistic and sexual groups.” proportional system being considered in above have in common is that none of them Greater demographic balance was on the Quebec would go even further to improve use the first past the post system. Ontario, minds of many assembly members—it ranked women’s representation, with a 40 percent Canada’s largest province, may adopt a new fourth in their assessment of core values. The proportional tier and legislated financial system, too. Last year, 103 randomly selected choice to propose closed lists (where the incentives to parties that recruit more female Ontarians were brought together to butt parties assign and rank their candidates) was and ethno-cultural candidates. heads, hearts and egos with the hope of guided by evidence that this would help open Regardless of the outcome of Ontario’s developing a better electoral system for the the political arena to women and under- referendum, Macdonald believes that we province. Half the members of the citizens’ represented groups. need to improve the representation of women, assembly were women. They were each given In the end, whether more women would be and changing the voting system is the main a three-month course in electoral system elected would depend on how parties formed way to do this.”

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12 FALL 2007 HERIZONS identified. A Roomful of Missing Women will be on display at Two Rivers Gallery in Prince George, B.C., from September through to November. Most of the paintings are based on small images from posters and police files, which do little to highlight the women’s individuality. Kovacic uses colours and backgrounds to tell a story about who each woman might have been. As people move through the exhibit they will have hand-held devices that play a 30- to 60-second musical selection composed by Broek Bosma, artistic director of the Prince George Conservatory of music. Interwoven audio clips that relate to sex work were developed by University of Northern B.C. political science professor Debra Poff. The painting, Mona Lee Wilson, Vanished, 2001 is a wash of reds, yellows and blues behind a woman who looks away from the viewer, her brown eyes filled with what might be described as resignment. The text of a newspaper story about her disappearance is superimposed. In all of the portraits, the women’s bare expressions call out to the viewer who knows their fates, yet can do nothing about it. The effect is chilling. Historically, Kovacic notes, only important people were portrayed in paintings. The inference of painting portraits of these women is that they were important people. One of the Kovacic’s motivations was to narrow the perceived gap between the women she painted and the viewer, to remind people that each of the women had a name and a story.

Betty Kovacic hopes to tour her exhibit of paintings of missing women, including Mona Lee Wilson. “The paintings don’t deny the actuality of their lives, but portray them as humans. We’ll never know what these women could have done.” A ROOMFUL OF Some family members of the missing women have been supportive of the project. Maggie de Vries, sister of Sarah de Vries and MISSING WOMEN author of Missing Sarah, wrote in a letter of BY JANE SHULMAN support that each portrait was “unique, each deeply personal. Other art has been created in FIVE YEARS AGO, Betty Kovacic came up significant art projects, so it wasn’t an artistic memory of the missing women, but this felt the with an idea in the middle of the night that leap for her to take an interest in the lives of most powerful to me, the most genuine.” has changed her life and touched the lives of the women who were missing or murdered. During the project, Kovacic’s husband was many others. Her mother survived a Nazi concentration diagnosed with cancer and died. “That was In March 2002, the city of Vancouver was camp, something Kovacic says has given her a really hard,” she says, “but it gave me a waking up to the reality that dozens of women lifelong awareness of the “dichotomy of purpose and a focus. I was buried in my work, had vanished from the streets of its Downtown human nature.” in frantic activity and despair. These women Eastside neighbourhood. Many of the missing “I wanted to do something respectful, that [also] needed to be grieved for.” women were sex workers, and that was wouldn’t sugar-coat the reality, that would Kovacic hopes to tour the exhibit. She has enough for most people to look the other way. treat these women as individuals,” she says. been in touch with sex worker rights groups in Kovacic, an art instructor at the College of “No one was getting what [more than] 50 cities across the country and discovered what New Caledonia, wasn’t one of them. While the missing women looked like.” activists know too well—that the violence in media tended to focus on the fact that many of The result is a collection of 50 portraits, Vancouver is far from isolated. the missing women were sex workers, almost painted with acrylic and mixed media on “This kind of work builds awareness, so ignoring the fact that their lives had been cut canvas, of the missing or murdered women that we will pay attention when someone goes short, Kovacic didn’t like how the women were from the Downtown Eastside. Since she missing, regardless of their situation.”
presented as a nameless group completed the work, more than 16 additional Betty Kovacic’s website is at Kovacic has been involved in socially missing or murdered women have been www.bettykovacicart.com.

HERIZONS FALL 2007 13 campaign updates

ARE WOMEN HUMAN? third of women seeking care through the back to 2001, when women were still barred Women and girls raped during armed conflict veterans system said they experienced rape by the Taliban from education and work are too often forced to endure stigma, or attempted rape by fellow soldiers. Of that outside their homes. Zaki’s was the only prejudice and exclusion by their societies. group, 37 percent said they were raped woman’s voice heard near Kabul on the Changing these attitudes and ensuring multiple times and 14 percent reported being station Radio-Solh, or Peace Radio. After the survivors are provided with reparation and gang-raped. fall of the Taliban, Zaki, 38, became the remedies needed to rebuild their lives and Such attacks exacerbate conditions like director of the radio station, and she remained communities is the focus of a new post-traumatic stress and may help explain in that role until her death. international campaign led by the Rights & why women are diagnosed with post- Zaki’s colleagues blamed armed groups, Democracy-based Coalition for Women’s traumatic stress disorder at a rate twice that remnants of wartime factions and militias— Human Rights in Conflict Situations. of men. According to a U.S. Department of many of whom are religious conservatives The campaign was launched in June at a Defence study, sexual assault is more likely to opposed to women—for her death. press conference co-organized by the cause PTSD than exposure to combat. Conservative Afghans oppose women’s coalition and the Women’s Legal Education In 2005, there were 2,374 reports of assault participation in the burgeoning media sector, and Action Fund. It was attended by leading in the military. About one-tenth of complaints and in some cases, women who ignore women’s rights advocates and coalition result in a court martial of the perpetrator. warnings from hostile male relatives have members from Sierra Leone and Peru. The About 30 percent were resolved through been killed. Television reporter Shekiba Sanga campaign is based on The Nairobi administrative punishments like transfers or Amaaj, 22, was killed days earlier than Zaki in Declaration, a document which aims to make letters of admonishment. More than half were her home after returning from work. A similar national truth and reconciliation initiatives and dismissed. killing occurred two years ago, when Shaima reparation projects more sensitive to the An in-depth report in The New York Times Rezayee, a popular young journalist, was slain needs of victims of sexual violence. The Magazine quotes survivors as being especially in her home. The main suspects were male campaign also seeks to influence policies traumatized by attacks from men they relatives who felt her behaviour impugned the developed by the International Criminal Court. expected to feel safe with in a life-threatening family’s honour. Gender-based discrimination is at the root war zone. The women reported intense Two of the three Afghan journalists killed in of violence against women and girls in times pressure not to report their attacks and to the last year were women. of conflict, and those injustices must be have sex with male soldiers. addressed in the reconstruction of a region’s “It’s very disconcerting to have somebody KYOTO PRESENCE IN post-conflict society, the declaration notes. who is supposed to save your life, who has ALBERTA HEATS UP Reparation, it continues, must be redefined to your back, turn on you and do something like Greenpeace has expanded its Kyoto campaign emphasize social justice and societal that,” says Susan Avila-Smith, director of by opening an office in Edmonton to oppose transformation, in order to prevent further Women Organizing Women, an advocacy tar sands in Alberta. victimization. And it espouses the belief that program designed to help traumatized women Tar sands are a mixture of bitumen, sand and clay. Bitumen is a heavy crude oil that reparation must empower women and girls, navigate the health-care system. “The family does not flow on its own, and must be mined supporting their participation in societal doesn’t want to deal with it. Society doesn’t on the surface or in below-ground mines. The reconstruction. want to deal with it.” According to Ariane Brunet, coordinator process involves heating the sand/oil mixture for Rights & Democracy: “Women and girls FEMALE MESSENGERS SHOT to make it flow. The tar sands are spread must participate in all phases of the across 77,000 sq. km. in northern Alberta in reparation process, including its design, four deposits: Peace River, Athabasca, implementation and evaluation. Such Wabasca and Cold Lake. It has been participation is crucial if we no longer want estimated that up to 319 billion barrels of to fail the victims of sexual violence in bitumen could be recovered from these conflict situations, and if we commit to deposits, or 175 billion barrels at current respond to their specific needs and prices. This far exceeds Canada’s strengths.” conventional oil reserves (4.8 billion barrels) and places Canada second only to Saudi RAPE TRAUMA Arabia (260 billion barrels) in world reserves. It takes about four tonnes of tar sands to SURPASSES COMBAT Zakia Zaki’s family members gather around her Of the more than 130,000 American produce one barrel of synthetic oil. Tar sands coffin in Jabal-us-Siraj, Afghanistan. servicewomen deployed to the Iraq war, 460 produce five times more greenhouse gases have been wounded and 71 have been killed. Two female journalists in Afghanistan were than conventional oil because they are Women represent 11 percent of U.S. troops, gunned down this summer. energy-intensive, requiring huge amounts of and it was expected that they would face their Zakia Zaki was shot seven times in her bed natural gas to separate and process the share of combat casualties. while she lay sleeping with her 20-month-old bitumen. Perhaps of greater concern than combat- son in June. One of the country’s most well- It takes four barrels of surface and ground related injuries, however, is the fact that a known female journalists, her career dated water to produce one barrel of synthetic crude

14 FALL 2007 HERIZONS from tar sands. Water is being taken in huge HAMAS INFLUENCE DECRIED quantities from the Athabasca River, while the Women and civil rights activists in Gaza say contaminated, toxic water from processing is women’s rights face further erosion now that dumped in giant holding lagoons. militant Hamas forces are in charge of the Air pollutants from tar sands processing Gaza Strip and its nearly 1.5 million people. include not just greenhouse gases, but large Honour killings—in which a woman’s life is emissions of nitrogen oxides, sulphur dioxide, taken for perceived immoral behaviour—have volatile organic compounds and particulates, risen sharply in the last year in Gaza. Between causing smog, acid rain and a variety of January 2006 (when Hamas was elected) and human health problems. March 7, 2007, 17 women were targeted and The tar sands cover an estimated 4.3 million killed in Gaza on so-called honour grounds. hectares of Canada’s boreal forest. This represents an increase from the average Reclamation efforts for forests and wetlands of 10 honour killings a year between 2000 and Margie Gillis has a will not be able to restore the forest to its 2005, according to the Women’s Center for new tour marking her original state, says Greenpeace. Legal Aid and Counselling in Gaza, which cites 35th anniversary. statistics from the Palestinian Authority’s APPLE GETS GREENER attorney general. Honour killings have claimed at least nine women since last November. Five were SOLOIST allegedly carried out by an armed religious group, rather than by family members. DANCES According to Mahmoud Abu Rahma, a coordinator for the Gaza-based Mezan Center HER WAY for Human Rights, this trend represents a new and alarming phenomenon. WESTWARD Human rights, civil rights and women’s rights activist Lama Hourani says “the problem DANCE DIVA MARGIE GILLIS will make her way is, we are not seeing any action of executive to Western Canada this fall in a tour marking Apple has declared a phase-out of the worst institutions of government to protect women her 35th anniversary as a performer and solist. chemicals in its product range—brominated against such violence.” Gillis, 54, was the first modern dancer to fire retardants and polyvinyl chloride—by Palestinian women are both veiled and receive the Order of Canada in 1988. She has 2008. That beats Dell and other computer unveiled and enjoy an atmosphere of greater been the artistic director of her own manufactures’ pledge to phase them out by openness, particularly in the West Bank, than foundation since 1981. Gillis is a 2009. women in many Arab countries. choreographer and dancer whose repertoire But while customers in the U.S. will be able “We are a secular community. Religion includes 80 original pieces. In a discipline to return their Apple products for recycling has never been a practice in our code of where an artist’s performing lifespan is knowing that their gear won’t end up in the e- life,” says Eileen Kuttab, director of the estimated at about 10 years, celebrating three waste mountains of Asia and India, Apple isn’t Institute of Women’s Studies at Birzeit decades is a remarkable achievement that making that promise to other customers. An University. “Our lifestyle has been more of an indicates the breadth of her legacy. Her Apple product today can still become open lifestyle.” choreography c.v. includes two solos for the tomorrow’s e-waste in most parts of the world. In recent months, the offices of non- Cirque du Soleil’s Las Vegas production of The Other manufacturers offer worldwide governmental groups, cafes, music shops, Beatles: Love. takeback and recycling. Overall, Dell Internet cafes and hair salons have been Gillis’s western tour kicks off October 13 in consistently rates as one of the greenest attacked or burned by extremist religious Alberta and will feature three different computer companies, according to a groups. An armed group attacked a sports programs: a stone’s poem, Fluid Stability and Greenpeace report. day event at a United Nations Relief and Voyages Into the Interior Landscapes. Her Green ratings are based on a company’s Works Agency-run school on May 6, latest creation, a stone’s poem, is the result pledge to eliminate hazardous substances reportedly because the activity included both of a journey which took her from Norway to and its commitment to take back and recycle boys and girls. One adult was killed and six the Yukon and from Martha’s Vineyard to its products responsibly when they become were injured. Baie-Comeau. obsolete. In Gaza, an Islamic group calling itself Gillis’s next piece, M.Body.7, will be Substituting harmful chemicals in the Swords of Truth threatened to behead female performed by an ensemble incorporating production of electronics will prevent worker television broadcasters who dressed seven leading female dancers between the exposure to these substances and the “immodestly.” Rights groups decried the ages of 40 to 72 in February 2008. contamination of communities, while a green threat and female broadcasters staged two Gillis, has lent her name to many causes policy enables electronic scrap to be safely demonstrations. over the years, including AIDS awareness, recycled. —Women’s E-News OXFAM and Planned Parenthood.

HERIZONS FALL 2007 15 Turf War BULLYING OF BELINDA STRONACH TELLS WOMEN “STAY OUT”

BY ASHIFA KASSAM

After enduring personal attacks, MP Belinda Stronach hasn’t shied away from talking about the impact of those remarks upon women life. Photo: Jonathan Hayward/CP

16 FALL 2007 HERIZONS o say that politics has been rough on Belinda an Alberta Homeless Foundation roast “I wasn’t surprised she Stronach would be an understatement. In the last crossed over. I don’t think she ever had a Conservative bone T two years, she has been referred to as a dog, called a in her body—well, except for one.” He continued, “Speaking bitch and seen her sex life become a joke for former Alberta of Peter MacKay....” Klein refused to apologize. premier Ralph Klein. While Stronach didn’t come out and say that sexist In talking about the effects of pollution during an October bullying was behind her decision to step down from federal 2006 House of Commons debate, Liberal MP Mark Holland politics and return to her successful career as an auto parts asked Conservative Party of Canada MP Peter MacKay, magnate, she hasn’t shied away from talking about the impact “What about your dog?” According to Holland, MacKay of those attacks, either. motioned toward Stronach’s empty seat and replied, “You “I’ve talked to many women across the country and they’ve already have her.” MacKay denies making the comment. The said, ‘You know what, I don’t know if I really want to twice-elected MP Stronach, who ended a personal participate if it’s going to be so rough and nasty,’” Stronach relationship with MacKay when she crossed the floor to sit as said. “We all have to improve the civility that occurs in public a Liberal, demanded an apology. She told reporters that the life, and in the House of Commons, in particular, because we comments were “just plain unacceptable” and said she want to attract good people to participate in public life. We believed that they were representative of the “attitude of this want to attract many more women to participate in politics.” government toward women.” Stronach’s treatment is nothing new to women in If it had just been a one-off comment, things might have politics—some say verbal jousting is just part of Canadian played out differently. But ever since Stronach left the politics. In the House of Commons MPs are known to bang Conservative fold in 2005, male commentators and political on their chairs, interrupt each other, mimic animals and even peers have barely been able to contain their contempt. Two throw objects, including firecrackers, across the floor. Insults weeks after the dog incident, political commentator Norman fly back and forth and, according to at least one tough gal, it Spector found it fitting to remark on a Vancouver radio show: is part of the political game. “You know, I’m not in politics. I can say it. I think she’s a “Politics is, sadly, a blood sport. It ain’t not place for sissies, bitch, and I think that 90 percent of men would probably say and women need to get at it, not whine and cry persecution,” she’s a bitch for the way she’s broken up Tie Domi’s home according to former MP Deborah Grey. In 1989, Grey was and the way she dumped Peter MacKay. She is a bitch.” elected as the first Reform MP, and she went on to become Spector once worked as chief of staff to former prime the first and only female leader of the Opposition in minister Brian Mulroney. Canadian history. The title of her autobiography sums up her In November 2006, Klein entered the fray, commenting at thoughts on being a woman in Canadian politics: Never

HERIZONS FALL 2007 17

Retreat, Never Explain, Never Apologize: My Life, My Politics. Setting goals for women candidates has enabled the New Grey recalls being called a “slab of bacon” by a male MP Democrats to outpace other parties when it comes to and a “dog” by a female MP.She scoffs at the suggestion that engaging women in politics, says New Democrat MP Judy women in politics are singled out for attack. “Politics brings Wasylycia-Leis, who has been in federal politics since 1997. out the worst in some MP’s—male or female,” she says. The NDP ran 108 candidates in the last election and Long-time Liberal MP Sheila Copps disagrees. She currently has 12 female MPs within its 29-member caucus— believes the insults flung at Stronach have deeper roots. an impressive 41 percent. In comparison, the Liberals ran 79 “Parliament, like our society, is inherently sexist,” she says. women candidates in the last election, 21 of whom were Copps entered national politics in 1984 and shortly elected and represent about one-fifth of Liberal caucus. The thereafter lunged across the Commons at Conservative MP Conservatives ran 38 female candidates and count 14 women John Crosbie, who told her to “just quiet down, baby.” Copps among their 124 MP’s, or 11 percent of their caucus. went on to become the country’s first woman deputy prime According to Wasylycia-Leis, targets can force ridings to minister and ran for the Liberal Party leadership in 2003. No deal with the structural and systemic barriers behind women’s shrinking violet, she will be the first to tell you that it’s not low participation in politics. It’s an examination that’s needed only women who get insulted in Parliament. But she now more than ever. “It has become uglier by the day,” she contends that while male politicians may receive insults that says of the last five years in the House of Commons. The attack their integrity and character, those aimed at women reasons are simple. “People are rewarded for their chest- are usually sexual in nature. thumping remarks and their macho talk, as opposed to being “Most people would disagree with the statement that we discouraged from using it.” Secondly, she says, “we haven’t are inherently sexist as a society,” said Copps. “We’re got a critical mass of women yet to change that.” constantly being told we don’t have a problem.” And the The NDP caucus has taken measures to counter the old sexism you see in politics is not boys’ network, she adds. All as severe as that experienced by NDP members try to adhere to women in corporate While male politicians may a “no heckling” rule and speak boardrooms, she maintains. receive insults that attack their up when they witness “We tend to point the finger at transgressions in the House of politics because it’s a public integrity and character, those Commons. They have a domain.” aimed at women are usually women’s caucus that meets Women make up 21 percent regularly and works to ensure of the MPs in Canada, whereas sexual in nature. that women have parity when it women held 12 percent of all comes to asking questions. board positions in Canada’s 500 largest corporations in 2005. “What we’re doing is countering an impression that would Still, when it comes to female representation in our national otherwise totally turn women off politics,” she says, “by them legislature, Canada ranks 42nd among the world’s seeing that there are voices that speak up, that we are visible, democracies, behind Pakistan and Portugal. And there has and that we are changing the tenor and tone of the place.” been no significant change in the number of female MPs in Changing that tone won’t be easy. Brenda O’Neill, a Parliament in a decade. professor of political science at the University of Calgary, The repercussions, Copps says, are unhealthy for believes the comments against Stronach carried an democracy. Low representation means women are under- underlying message to women entering politics: Keep out. represented in political decision-making. When it comes to “I was appalled,” she says of Klein’s remark. “It’s a subtle issues like Canadian involvement in Afghanistan and the way of letting women know that if you aspire to positions of environment, “there is a huge gender gap,” Copps says. But leadership, we’ll make you suffer.” less female representation means that the gap is “less The consequence of maintaining a sexist environment in reflective in Parliament.” politics, according to O’Neill, is that few women run The volunteers behind Equal Voice agree. This multi- federally. “You have to be a particular type of woman to put partisan national volunteer group works to raise awareness of yourself in that position,” she says. “You have to be strong.” the under-representation of women at all levels of Canadian While Equal Voice focuses on the deep-rooted issues that politics. Its proposed solutions include a system of prevent women from getting involved, Wasylycia-Leis proportional representation and lowered financial approaches the problem from a standpoint of what she can requirements for candidates—both of which, it argues, will do. “Despite the barriers, discriminatory remarks and give women a fairer chance at political success. Equal Voice systemic inequalities, I still keep encouraging women to run, welcomes the pledge by new Liberal leader Stéphane Dion to because we have to be there, and the only way we’re going to field 33 percent women candidates in the next election. change things is if we get at least 30 percent or more.”

HERIZONS FALL 2007 19 20 FALL 2007 HERIZONS On Guard WOMEN’S HEALTH ACTIVISTS ARE SKEPTICAL ABOUT A FEDERAL PLAN TO VACCINATE GIRLS AS YOUNG AS NINE WITH GARDASIL

BY DAWN RAE DOWNTON

everal years ago, I oversaw Planned Parenthood British have detected it, or her Pap may have failed to detect it. Columbia’s 40 public health clinics. A big part of the job At Planned Parenthood, we knew that condoms and Paps S was to help contain the spread of sexually transmitted could stop the virus in its tracks. But we also knew that our infections, including the two strains of human papilloma virus young patients were notoriously immortal. Young women associated with about 70 percent of cervical cancers. were unreliable about getting their Paps, just as they were The human papilloma virus is the world’s most common about using condoms. sexually transmitted infection among women and men alike. So you’d think I’d be thrilled now that Merck has Approximately 200 different strains of the virus that have manufactured Gardasil, the first ever vaccine approved for been identified to date. There is a good chance you’ve already some strains of the human papilloma virus, and now that had it—me too. Fortunately, 90 percent of those who are Ottawa assigned $300 million in its March budget for a infected will throw the virus off within a year or two. Still, on program to vaccinate Canadian girls aged nine to 13. rare occasions, the virus persists and a woman may develop But count me out. The inoculation proposition and the cervical cancer. She will have missed a Pap test that would vaccine come freighted with too many questions, many of HERIZONS FALL 2007 21 which have yet to be widely asked, let alone answered. Valerie clinical trials followed 20,000 females for an average of four- Regehr of the Women’s Health Clinic in Winnipeg calls the and-a-half years. Just 241 subjects were followed for five knowledge base that supports the use of Gardasil “unstable,” years and none were followed for longer. The youngest girls while the editors at the U.K. science journal Nature were followed for only 18 months and were not significant in Biotechnology put it this way: “in its rush to market its vaccine, the study group in any case: only 100 nine-year-olds were Merck forgot to make a strong and compelling case for included. Nonetheless, nine-to-13-year-olds are now compulsory immunization.” recommended for vaccination in Canada. (They are assumed Here are just some of the concerns. not to be sexually active or infected, although many types of Many health experts fear that a vaccine that targets some human papilloma virus infection have been found in high risk strains of the human papilloma virus could lull children, even in newborns.) women into a dangerous complacency—they may believe “It’s scary,” says Boscoe of the Women’s Health Network, they’re immune from cervical cancer or from all sexually “to think of vaccinating a whole generation of nine-year-old transmitted infections. girls in this country based on a hundred.” She advises caution “I’m very concerned that women will think they’re safe,” from parents and from government. “The duty around says Madeline Boscoe of the Canadian Women’s Health evidence here should be so much higher.” Network. Boscoe worries that vaccinated women may not Cervical cancer, rare and slow-growing, is hardly a public keep up with their Pap tests, or may mothball their condoms. health emergency. Gardasil will only replace interventions Linda Capperauld of the Canadian Federation for Sexual we already have. So why is Ottawa keen on it? Health agrees. She says Ottawa seems to lack a comprehensive In the run-up to the March federal budget, the Gardasil general strategy for women’s reproductive health. Canada’s lobby was intense. Merck’s “Tell Someone” ad campaign on three reportable sexually transmitted infections (chlamydia, national television was hard to miss, night after night gonorrhea and syphilis) have all increased substantially over the through January and February. It featured girls and women last 10 years, she notes. Chlamydia musing about “the cervical cancer and gonorrhea rates have almost virus.” By means of what doubled. In a climate of increased “It’s scary, to think of appeared to be a public service infections, Capperauld says vaccinating a whole message, Canadians suddenly Gardasil “feels like a quick fix to a knew more than they ever had much more complicated issue.” generation of nine-year-old about cervical cancer and the Women’s health advocates girls in this country based human papilloma virus. worry that an emphasis on a Or did they? Making cervical vaccination program could on a hundred.” cancer seem far more pervasive displace resources for cervical —Madeline Boscoe and dangerous than it is (first-rate cancer screening and other screening and treatment has made reproductive health initiatives. “We’re concerned that needed cervical cancer one of the lowest cancer threat in the investments and supports for Pap testing may not go ahead,” country), the commercial seemed to be more about creating a says Regehr. market than about creating awareness. In Canada, we already have highly effective screening and Linda Capperauld of the Canadian Federation for Sexual treatment for cervical cancer. Our cervical cancer rates have Health laments the lack of coherence that attended the declined by 50 percent in the last 40 years due in large part Gardasil campaign. “Women, and young men, too, are still to regular Pap testing, while cervical cancer death rates have not getting the education and the information they need to declined 60 percent. Condoms and Paps are effective, understand their bodies, and the choices they’re making, and proven ways of protecting women’s health. Condoms how to protect themselves,” she says. “There was no protect not only against HPV, but against all sexually acknowledgement that HPV is only one sexually transmitted transmitted infections. infection of several, no acknowledgement that there are According to a paper published in the August 2007 ways to prevent it—condom use, Pap testing.” edition of the Canadian Medical Association Journal, “It created a lot of anxiety and distorted facts,” adds “information about the efficacy of Gardasil appears Boscoe. “It suggested there was a cervical cancer epidemic in promising, but remains uncertain.... Related to this are other Canada, and that a vaccine could cure it.” The reason that unknowns about the vaccine's effectiveness in the ‘real 400 women died of cervical cancer last year wasn’t that the world,’ including the possible need for booster shots... and public health system didn’t know what to do, she says. “They the impact of vaccination programs on safer sex practices died because we weren’t caring for them. Either they didn’t and Pap screening rates.” come in for care, or we didn’t follow up on them.” Since Gardasil hasn’t been studied long-term, no one The women most at risk of cervical cancer, in the West and knows whether any immunity it confers will last. Merck’s around the world, are poor. In Canada, they may be

22 FALL 2007 HERIZONS “The reason that 400 women died of cervical cancer last year wasn’t that the public health system didn’t know what to do.”

immigrants or Aboriginal women with language and cultural budget consultations last October. The company was barriers, or they may be isolated, living with disabilities or be introduced at the hearings by Dr. Diane Francoeur, the head women whose immunity is compromised by stress and poor of the Association of Obstetricians and Gynecologists of nutrition. “But it doesn’t mean that we can’t get to them,” says Quebec, a physicians’ group that receives financial support Boscoe. “Given that we know something about who it is we’re from Merck. Another physicians’ group with ties to Merck, not serving, we could put our efforts there.” the Federation of Medical Women, lobbied hard on the The Canadian HPV Research Priorities Workshop, a company’s behalf just before the budget came down. Merck federally sponsored congress of experts that met in Quebec spokeswoman Sheila Murphy says the company has been City in late 2005, concluded that coherent goals and models “delighted” to work with doctors on Gardasil, as well as with for HPV mass vaccination were not in place, and that “many lobbyists. One of those lobbyists was, until recently, a senior questions need to be answered before administration of the policy advisor to Prime Minister Stephen Harper. Murphy new vaccine can be justified.” Nonetheless, Health Canada adds that the company’s relationship with the physicians’ approved Gardasil for females between nine and 26 in July groups it supports is part of the responsibility Merck has to 2006, the same month the U.S. Food and Drug provide Canadians with information on cervical cancer. Administration approved it. The American Academy of Perhaps it is. But wouldn’t we find the information more Family Physicians now recommends that girls 11 and 12 reliable if it didn’t have purse strings attached? “Companies receive the vaccine. The National Advisory Committee on have the right to push their drugs and devices into the Immunization in Canada supports the vaccine for girls and market,” says Boscoe. “But public interests are about women between nine and 26, with some conditions. evidence, and about answering these questions before a penny Merck’s campaign began in earnest when the company of public money is spent.”
appeared before the House finance committee during pre- Dawn Rae Downton is a writer living in Halifax.

Quick Facts on Cervical Cancer

• Cancer of the cervix is the 11th most associated with other factors, including • A Saskatchewan study found that status frequently diagnosed cancer among HPV types not targetted by the Gardasil Indian women have a cervical cancer rate Canadian women. vaccine. up to 10 times higher than the provincial average. • 1,400 Canadian women are diagnosed each • Regular screening can prevent most cases year with cervical cancer. About 400 die as of cervical cancer. • One in 25 Canadian women are expected to a result of the disease each year. die from breast cancer, the most commonly • Women most at risk of cervical cancer are diagnosed cancer among Canadian women. • The five-year cure rate for cervical cancer poor or less educated than the general One in 375 are expected to die from is 74 percent, about the same rate for population. Those at high risk are less likely cervical cancer. breast cancer. The cure rate for women to have regular Pap tests, along with under 44 is nearly 50 percent higher (87%) women whose first language is neither • Women over 65 have a greater chance of than is for women over 65 (52%). English nor French. Women who have weak dying from cervical cancer than women immune systems are also at a higher risk under 44. • Gardasil is designed to target type 16 and 18 strains of HPV, as well as types 6 and 11, • By age 50, half of women will have • Regular Pap screening tests are which are low-risk types of HPV associated acquired an HPV infection. In 90 percent of recommended regardless of sexual with genital warts. (Genital warts are not a cases, traces will no longer be detected orientation or sexual activity level. risk factor for cervical cancer.) after 2 years. Sources: Canadian Cancer Society, Canadian Women’s • Types 16 and 18 of HPV are associated with • Exposure to HPV is also associated with Health Network, the Public Health Agency of Canada 70 percent of cases of cervical cancer. cancer of the anus and cancer of the penis Thirty percent of cervical cancers are

HERIZONS FALL 2007 23 When it

BY CINDY FILIPENKO

Cliks24 FALL 2007 HERIZONS “A lot of people have been shocked, as was I, by the fact this major label took us on, period.” —Lucas Silveira

hree years ago, The Cliks were a semi-professional trio playing the usual gigs available to openly queer T bands. Today, they’re a polished quartet with a major-label debut, the only constant being their lead singer, who’s been through some significant changes as well. First, there was the demise of a six-and-a-half year relationship, which provided the inspiration for most of the songs on the band’s major label debut, Snakehouse. (See review page 26.) That breakup became the catalyst for another major change, the decision of lead vocalist Lillia Silveira to start living his life as Lucas Silveira. So far, the impact of Silveira’s transition to male has, happily, been negligible. “It’s been amazing how we’ve been accepted so well. We’ve found a place in the mainstream,” according to Silveira. “The label [Warner] has been totally cool. I get asked, ‘Can you The Cliks members from left to right: Morgan Doctor (drums); Nina Martinez (guitar); Lucas Silveira (guitar/vocals); Jen Benton (bass) Photo: Clint McLean

HERIZONS FALL 2007 25 educate us on what’s okay and what’s of the year, understands Wright’s The Cliks not okay?’ They’ve been nothing but reluctance. amazing. A lot of people have been “Being out on the road is a very shocked, as was I, by the fact this major surreal life. You’re in a different place label took us on, period.” every day. You never have to make your Image-wise, The Cliks appear to be bed. You never have to go out and buy alternative band. The three female groceries. You don’t have to pay bills. It members of the band—drummer just kind of takes your life away. All your Morgan Doctor, guitarist Nina friends become someone on the phone. Martinez and bass player Jen Benton— Your girlfriend is someone on the other identify as queer. Moreover, androgyny end of a phone—someone you’re is the shared preferred look. desperately trying to connect with.” “I think it works for them [Warner]. The upside of touring is that it will It’s good to have something that’s new definitely open up some doors for The THE CLIKS and different.” Cliks. The band played five of the19 SNAKEHOUSE Ironically, what’s new and different dates on Cindy Lauper’s True Colors Warner sounds a whole lot like revisiting the Tour this past summer, a tour that REVIEW BY CINDY FILIPENKO ’80s, making many critics compare The included queer mainstays Rufus The debut CD from this Hogtown quartet Cliks to The Pretenders. Wainwright, The Indigo Girls and is full of surprises. First off, “I love The Pretenders and I love Erasure, as well as hipster favourites Snakehouse is an incredibly Chrissie Hynde. I listened to them when The Gossip and The Dresden Dolls. commercial album that bucks the trend I was younger. They were definitely a Hosting the tour was the ever- of radio-friendly pop—it rocks. And rocks hard. This is good old-fashioned, band I had in my record collection. I increasingly pansexual comedian three-chord, guitar-based rock ’n’ roll don’t think we particularly sound like Margaret Cho, who recently came supported by drumbeats that would them, but if I’m going to get compared under criticism for labeling herself make Kate Schellenbach (former to someone and it’s The Pretenders, I “transsensual.” The criticism stemmed drummer of Beastie Boys/Luscious don’t have much of a problem with that.” from comments in Violet Blue’s online Jackson) prick up her ears. Silveira’s voice, a flexible contralto, is column, Open Source Sex. And secondly, this is one of the few queer bands that is a band first and probably the main reason for the “For me, it’s trans men. I’m doing a queer second. They’d be more at home comparison to Hynde. But the band’s few things, like working with Ian at Lollapalooza than a Gay Pride sound, guitar-driven rock with a Harvey. It’s not even FTM—it’s FTX. celebration. Vocalist Lucas Silveira has a rich thumping backbeat, probably has more There’s a band from Toronto called The contralto that can take a pop song like in common with the White Stripes. Cliks that’s all trans men and it’s like a Justin Timberlake’s “Cry Me a River” and Much of that sound can be attributed hot boy band,” said Cho. “The girls just turn it inside out, wringing every last to The Cliks’ drummer. go crazy and scream for them—it’s like ounce of pain out of a lyric that speaks to gut-wrenching loss. But where Silveira “Morgan adds so much to our sound. Beatlemania, but for queers! And really shines is when he rips into one of She’s essentially the backbone, she packing, and the politics of packing, his own harder-edged compositions. The decides where a song goes,” says that’s, like, so hot.” two singles, “Oh Yeah” and “Complicated,” are simply fantastic. Silveira. And as the band’s sole Cho’s comments were interpreted by Often compared to early Pretenders, songwriter, Silveira is always blown some as encouraging a view that sees The Cliks’ sound is closer to that of the away by what the others bring to the trans men as persons to be fetishized, as White Stripes. While guitarist Nina pop-influenced rock tunes he’s penned. opposed to simply being accepted as Martinez and bass player Jen Benton can hold their own, it’s drummer Morgan “The other members are solid, male. Silveira feels the reaction has Doctor who’s the real standout here. independent players who bring their been over the top. Produced by former The Pursuit of own energy into the sound. I trust the “This woman has come out and said Happiness front man, Moe Berg, vision they have for my music.” she realizes that she’s attracted to trans Snakehouse shares an energy that was apparent on the best of TPOH tracks, One of those player, Nina Martinez, men. Why should it be such a big deal? such as “I’m an Adult Now.” Berg was picked up after The Cliks’ original “There’s some website I saw that was understands the importance of wailing guitarist, Jordan B Wright opted out, going on that trans people are people guitars in rock and takes every opportunity to show them off. preferring not to tour. Silveira, who not fetishes. God forbid anybody For chicks who like to rock. expects the band will tour for the rest should be attracted to us! She’s been

26 FALL 2007 HERIZONS “Some website I saw that was going on that trans people are people not fetishes. God forbid, anybody should be attracted to us!”

such an amazing supporter of the queer community, to have do T, but I’ve had to come to terms with the fact I can’t. My a bunch of people come down on her for saying, ‘Finally, I get priority right now is absolutely my voice, and I can’t risk it,’ seems really unfair.” losing it.” While Silveira has no problem taking a stand on this Just how good that voice is becomes apparent on the band’s specific issue, he’s not interested in being an FTM poster boy. cover of Justin Timberlake’s “Cry Me a River,” a track “I represent me as being transgendered male. I don’t suggested for inclusion on Snakehouse by producer Moe Berg. pretend to represent any part of the male transgendered “I really connected to the lyrics. When I start singing a community, we’re all so different,” says Silveira. “I have a song and I can’t get it out of my head, I learn the whole thing responsibility to myself to be open and who I am, and if that so I can come to terms with it,” says the unapologetic fan of helps anybody be who they are, whoever they are in the world pop music. “I brought it to the band one day and I started and whoever they are in their body, that’s great.” playing it on the guitar. They joined in and it became To be who he is has meant a few compromises for something far different. We started playing it live, we started Silveira. Although he has changed his name, had top using it as a little therapeutic session on stage.” surgery and presents as male, injecting testosterone is not These days, Silveira is obsessively listening to Amy currently an option. Winehouse. Perhaps a queercore take on “Rehab” is in the “It kind of sucks,” he admits. “I really, very deeply want to offing?

HERIZONS FALL 2007 27 The Story of

AbeerFILMMAKERS RESPOND TO HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATION OF GIRLS

BY DAYA LYE

Rebecca Hayden and Elizabeth Lazebnik were moved by the story of Abeer Qassim Hamza al-Janabi to create a short film about how women and girls are affected by war. Photo: Jennifer Rowsom

28 FALL 2007 HERIZONS o those familiar with the gender-based war crimes that occurred in Rwanda and the former Yugoslavia, T the story is sadly familiar: four American soldiers charged and two convicted in the gang rape and murder of 14-year-old Abeer Qassim Hamza al-Janabi, as well as the killings of her mother, father and young sister. The events took place in Mahmoudiya, Iraq, in March 2006. Three soldiers were subject to courts martial while former Pfc. Steven Green faces the death penalty in American civilian court after being honourably discharged from the military. Despite past brushes with the law, Green, along with thousands of other military recruits, was offered a moral waiver by the United States military, which was desperate for recruits in the ongoing occupation of Iraq. When Elizabeth Lazebnik and Rebecca Hayden heard what happened to al-Janabi, they were moved to create a short film about how women’s and girls’ lives are affected by war. The result is Abeer, a film told from the perspective of a young girl during the U.S. invasion of Iraq.

What are your backgrounds? Elizabeth Lazebnik: My background is definitely in film. I studied film and video at York [University]. I really like mixing genres and have made three short films. I think all of my films have been about women, but this was something that originally came about unconsciously. Rebecca Hayden: My background is in philosophy, which is a driving force in my writing and the storylines I pursue. I just started writing, and [Abeer] is actually my first screenplay.

How did you first react to this story? Rebecca Hayden: This story just charges you. At first we wanted to go to Iraq ourselves. I mean, most of the media reports from Iraq come from the urban areas, because that’s where the journalists are. If you want to do a story from a rural area, you need the [coalition] military to help you, and then they influence what stories get out. The initial reports about [Abeer] said she was a 20-year-old woman.

What media sources did you use for the piece? Rebecca Hayden: The article that set us off was written for The Guardian by Robin Morgan at the Women’s Media Centre. We pieced together the story by consulting both the regular media and alternative media websites that posted

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30 FALL 2007 HERIZONS “As a filmmaker I feel I have no right to be silent.” —Elizabeth Lazebnik

Abeer’s birth certificate, giving her proper age, to figure out we cast young girls who look like they’re from right here, the story and see how it was being distorted at times by some because we want [people] to confront what happens “over of the major papers. there.” You can have a great deal of sympathy for it because you’re not expected to do immediately anything about it, What made you think you could do something about this story, because it’s “over there.” when most people thought it was terrible but then probably pushed it to the edge of their consciousness? Why do you think these events happened? Elizabeth Lazebnik: Honestly, from my end, it’s cheap, and Elizabeth Lazebnik: The problem comes from the higher as a filmmaker I feel I have no right to be silent. It’s also ranks of the military—that they allow people, kids, with about having the right mindset. emotional problems and criminal records to get in, and they teach them how to use guns. In 2006 alone, more than 8,000 What is the format of the film? moral waivers were issued—that’s a lot of fucked-up people Elizabeth Lazebnik: I didn’t want people to know, at first, trained how to use guns. that the three girls were connected, that they were telling the Rebecca Hayden: The idea of war is immoral to begin with. same story, and the unifying factor is that they say, towards In war, the valuing of the lives is different. You begin to the end, “My name is Abeer.” The girls are the same age as regard people differently when you have so much power over she was; one is white, one is black and the third is Middle them. Eastern. Especially if people don’t already know the story, they wouldn’t know that this is something that happened in What are your hopes for this film, and who would you like to see Iraq, in the war. this film? Elizabeth Lazebnik: Everyone! And [we hope] the world Do you feel you got to know Abeer through this process? changes instantly! [laughs] My hope is to submit it to as Elizabeth Lazebnik: I don’t think you can really get to know many festivals as I can, and to broadcasters. But realistically, someone this way. The news reports were saying so much I think it will probably be shown at smaller feminist or about the soldiers and nothing about her. You can’t learn human rights film festivals. about [Abeer] herself, but I think that by casting these different girls who are definitely much more relatable, in a Do you think that’s because the film is controversial? way, to this society, people will be able to accept the story and Elizabeth Lazebnik : It’s not only the controversy. Shock and we can raise awareness in a different way. So it becomes more controversy are fine today—but because it happened to a than just a news flash, but I don’t think we can say we know woman and it’s real, that contributes to why it wouldn’t be Abeer. I don’t think that’s fair. accepted.

Do you think race is a factor in how people will relate to your film, Why did you name the film Abeer? or how the original story was taken up in the media? Elizabeth Lazebnik: I want people to know the name, Elizabeth Lazebnik: Unfortunately, I think that might be because in the news, usually, they don’t mention the victim’s the case. Everyone does talk about Iraq … but as soon as name. So I think knowing somebody’s name is powerful, you see women wearing the hijab, it right away casts some because names are energy. sort of barrier. Rebecca Hayden: And it means “the fragrance of flowers.” Rebecca Hayden: If this [happened to] a white girl, the story You asked before if we found out anything more about her, would be very different. and really we didn’t, but at least there is this little personal piece of information. Somebody named her with this kind Do you think this story was just too tragic, too hard for people of care. It’s such a beautiful concept, and look what to confront? happened to this girl.
Rebecca Hayden: Actually, no. I think it might even be easier Abeer will premiere this fall at the International Female Eye Festival in Woodbridge, to see that bad things are happening to other people in Ontario. For information, contact [email protected]. The filmmakers’ next project is a feature film, History of Love, about a 17-year-old feminist who is another part of the world, rather than rape in your own persuaded, to perform ancient beauty rituals for a class project. backyard and rape on your own street. That’s the reason why Daya Lye is executive assistant at the Women’s Future Fund in Toronto.

HERIZONS FALL 2007 31 Marriages might fail

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32 FALL 2007 HERIZONS body politic BY MARIKO TAMAKI

The Education of Miss Mariko

There are lots of sayings people have about teachers. One of “Yeah,” one student asked, “so you’re, like, an expert on this?” my least favorites is, “those who can’t do, teach.” I dare And it was as if I suddenly looked down and saw the line anyone who believes this to TRY teaching for a day.Teaching drawn in the sand, between their banks of desks and where I is hard. Recently, as part of Toronto’s newly minted SWAT stood in front of the chalkboard. The teacher versus student (Students, Writers and Teachers) program at Scarborough line. The line between the “white girl,” as I had been told I Catholic school Blessed Mother Teresa, I was imparted with was (technically, I’m not), and them, a student population the task of teaching Grade 11s and 12s creative writing. As a consisting mostly of visible minorities. A similar divide had bonus, I was included in several media studies classes. One in emerged when we discussed Biggie Small’s lyrics relating to particular involved a discussion of sexism in the media. drug dealing, of which, I admitted, I knew very little, whereas As a women’s studies graduate, a feminist and an activist, I they, the students, went to school in a community described was excited about this class. What could be cooler than the by the media as one of Toronto’s “ganglands.” Clearly, in this opportunity to discuss sexism in the media with a bunch of classroom, my opinion on these lyrics was tempered by my amazing teenagers? I chose to bring in Kanye West’s “Gold outsider status. Digger,” both because it’s a fairly well known hip hop song “Look,” I said, “I’m not this idiot snob who’s saying that and because of its blatant and exaggerated construction of this music sucks, okay? I’m saying that there’s no way you can women who “use” men for money. I figured the song, with its convince me that men are suffering from the wicked ways of negative portrayal of women, would generate discussion. gold diggers.” I handed out the lyric sheets and the students worked for a “You don’t know that.” while in groups. Then we opened the floor. I asked the “But Kanye West knows? Reality? Kanye West knows what students what lyrics jumped out at them, which ones they it’s like to live in your neighbourhood? Kanye West is an wanted to talk about. A girl raised her hand. The lyric she authority on the ways of women?” found most interesting, she said, was the thing about the “You don’t get it.” women taking half a guy’s things. (A line followed by the tag After class, several students suggested other songs we “Holler we want pre-nup!”) It was a problem, she noted, that should talk about, not only to continue the class discussion women did this. but in the interests of educating me on music I didn’t know I was floored. Really, this is a problem? Gold diggers? about. I took them up on their offer. For several weeks, I “What about the fact that he’s calling these women gold talked to students about their favorite rap lyrics. Many diggers, like it’s a female thing?” What about that? arguments followed. “But they were gold diggers,” the students protested. In the end, I’m not sure I changed anyone’s minds. I added After a couple of back and forths on this, I threw up my my own contributions, my own messages, mixing their music, hands. I admitted that I hated the song, that, in my opinion, as often as I could, with music by amazing artists like d’bi it was a ridiculous categorization of women. I couldn’t believe young (See Herizons, Winter 2005). Perhaps, in the end, my they put any stock in West’s message. small victory was managing to sneak in a couple of positive The class erupted. How could I say that? “You didn’t messages, a little activism, to counteract the rap lyrics these understand,” they said. “This stuff happens, Miss. Women students seemed to take as gospel. use men for money all the time!” I did, so you know, try to throw a little Ani DiFranco into “I don’t believe it,” I said. A rare example, maybe. the mix, but they were having none of it. Maybe next year…

HERIZONS FALL 2007 33 HELP HERIZONS REACH OUT TO WOMEN...

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BY WENDY ROBBINS

ova Scotia’s lieutenant-governor is a well-known certificate in equal opportunity studies from Cornell human rights and women’s rights advocate. Last University and a certificate in theological studies from the N November, Mayann Francis became the first Atlantic School of Theology. Early in her career she worked African Nova Scotian and only the second woman to hold as a human rights officer at the Nova Scotia Human Rights the position of Queen’s representative in the province’s more Commission. Francis advanced women’s equality and than 400-year history. employment equity through positions at Dalhousie Francis was born and raised in Whitney Pier, a unique part University in Halifax and the District Attorney’s Office in of Sydney which, for over a century, prided itself as a home Kings County, New York. She became the province’s to people from many parts of the globe who came seeking a ombudsman from 2000 to 2003 and went on to head the better life. Among the many thousands of immigrants over Nova Scotia Human Rights Commission, a post she held the last century who came to the Pier were the new until 2006. Her feminist credentials also include service at lieutenant-governor’s Caribbean-born parents, Archpriest the Ontario Women’s Directorate and a stint at the George Francis and Thelma Francis. Canadian Advisory Council on the Status of Women, Mayann Francis recalls Whitney Pier with great affection where, in the early 1990s, she helped educate her council as a “mini United Nations,” embracing a diversity of people, peers on the importance of “intersectionality,” or what some including blacks, Jews, Irish, Ukrainians, Poles and Lebanese, now simply call an integrated feminist analysis that “well ahead of any official policy of multiculturalism.” The addresses both gender and race. She has worked on African Orthodox Church, where her father was priest and international projects in Brazil and Ghana. her mother ran the sewing circle, was a focal point for the Francis says a large, loving family and The Pier’s unique community’s spiritual and social gatherings. In this working- community helped offset prejudicial attitudes she class community where many were materially poor, families encountered early in life. When asked about representing a cared for one another, sharing food and clothing with those monarchy that once wielded the unequal power of empire in the greatest need. That kind of a caring community is a over much of the world—including Africa and the model Francis wants to foster. Caribbean—she emphasizes not any ignominies of the past, Crediting her family with instilling in her “dedication to but the rich diversity of the Commonwealth today. excellence” and “commitment to success,” Francis is a firm Francis is clearly a woman who feels deep satisfaction with advocate of continuing education. Her mother went on to both her journey and her current destination. She considers earn a practical nursing certificate by taking correspondence herself to be an “ordinary person” who got where she is with courses. “She treated that certificate like it was made of gold. a diverse network of supporters whom she can trust for And maybe it was,” recalls Francis. honest feedback and advice. Balancing paid work and study, Francis earned a bachelor Her goals include support for emerging artists and culture, of arts from Saint Mary’s University, a master’s degree in and a special focus on seniors and youth. public administration from New York University, a Her advice to young women? “Believe in yourself.”
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36 FALL 2007 HERIZONS Once UponBY JANET NICOL a Time

Deborah Ellis says Canadian children often find parallels with their own lives in her novels. “There are war zones within Canadian families,” she says.

female baby with a disability is born into a harem in “It all started when I was listening to the stories of Afghan Persia, circa 1400, and left to die in the desert. But she women living in Toronto,” Ellis says. She was volunteer A miraculously survives, is returned to her mother and fundraising in Toronto to help women in Afghanistan whose named Anubis, after the jackal, the Egyptian god of the dead. lives had been turned upside down after the Taliban seized So begins Jackal in the Garden, the most recent novel by power in 1996. Deborah Ellis to captivate young readers. A long-time “That the Taliban could take away all women have gained feminist and peace activist in Ontario, Ellis, 46, found her baffled me,” Ellis says. “I wondered how this could happen in gift as a storyteller for young readers only eight years ago. this day and age.” Now, she is as unstoppable as her central characters, most of Ellis traveled to neighbouring Pakistan and interviewed whom are intelligent and resourceful pre-adolescent girls Afghanis living in refugee camps. “I was inspired by women overcoming incredible hardships. who were secretly smuggled out of Afghanistan to Pakistan to Her first novel about child poverty in Toronto, Looking for X, celebrate International Women’s Day, risking their lives and won the Governor General’s Award. But Ellis made her mark liberty,” she recalls. At the women’s rally, Ellis heard about an with the Breadwinner trilogy, novels set in modern Afghanistan 11-year-old girl who dressed as a boy to help her family survive. and based on interviews with Afghani refugees. She has built a This gave her the idea for her central character, Parvana, in The devoted readership in Canada—and around the world—while Breadwinner. “I wanted to reflect the tales of courage, ingenuity continuing to interview and write about children and teens in and resourcefulness of children.” the Middle East, Africa and South America. “I decided to collect the stories of refugees because it gives Ellis was in Vancouver earlier this year and shared her dignity to lives that may not be visible to us. Real people are experiences in an interview and during a talk at the University harder to kill.” Ellis also learned from this experience that of British Columbia and the Vancouver Public Library. “those killed by the (lack of ) infrastructure are the hidden

HERIZONS FALL 2007 37 “We need to give the Afghan people hope so they can take over their lives again.” victims of war.” Not surprisingly, perhaps, Ellis touched a sensitive political The royalties for the Breadwinner trilogy, published nerve. Three Wishes has been censored by two Toronto school between 2000 and 2003, are donated to Women 4 Women in districts as a result of complaints made that the book Afghanistan, a Calgary-based organization Ellis helped demonizes Israeli soldiers and glorifies suicide bombers. found. Ellis has directed royalties of subsequent books to While a number of groups are fighting the censorship ruling, Street Kids International and UNICEF. Ellis stays out of the fray. Ellis is in favour of Canada’s involvement in Afghanistan, Following her Middle East experience, she traveled to but believes the government’s priority should be Malawi and Zambia in Africa and conducted interviews with reconstruction, not a military campaign. “Keep schools open children living in the crush of the AIDS epidemic, thousands and hire as many teachers as possible,” she says of how of whom are orphaned. What was it like to be a kid at the Canada’s investment should be directed. “We need to give the epicentre of AIDS? Ellis wanted to know. And how do Afghan people hope so they can take over their lives again.” people rebuild after losing everything? The result was a novel, For Ellis’s next project, she interviewed Israeli and Palestinian The Heaven Shop, and a non-fiction book, Our Stories, Our youth in the Middle East.The result is Three Wishes: Palestinian Songs: African Children Speak Out about Aids. Ellis debated and Israeli Children Speak, a collection of heart-wrenching first- with her publisher about including interviews with child person accounts by 20 Israeli and Palestinian youth, ages 8 to prostitutes—central to the issues of the AIDS epidemic— 18. Ellis elicited young people’s perspectives from “opposing” but in the end these interviews were left out. “We just sides. “It lessens fear if children can see each other,” she says. wouldn’t have been able to get the book on school library Their views “are not how we like to think kids are. They are shelves,” Ellis says. forced to grow up early and with hatred.” In all the despair of the AIDS crisis, Ellis does see

38 FALL 2007 HERIZONS “In order to find out what women are trying to say, you have to get through all their talking and listen to what they are really trying to tell you.” solutions, especially in the areas of health and education. “It Canadian children can find parallels with their own lives of is possible to keep AIDS orphans in schools,” she says. violence, poverty and racism. There are war zones within Ellis has a talent for getting young people to talk openly. Canadian families.” She attributes this partly to listening skills she developed over A year-and-a-half ago, Ellis was able to quit her day job at years working as a counsellor in a psychiatric group home for a group home to write full-time. She continues to work in a women. “In order to find out what women are trying to say, women’s shelter, in Simcoe, Ontario, where she now resides. you have to get through all their talking and listen to what More books are in the works, including two with Canadian they are really trying to tell you.” settings and another in New York, where feeder Ellis responded with I am a Taxi, a fast-paced novel neighbourhoods have sprung up by a prison. published last year and set in Bolivia. A young boy, Diego, is Ellis’s global travels have given her an appreciation for the drawn to the drug world through a chain of unfortunate freedom she has to be living at this time in history. “It gives events. He represents “disposable children in the cocaine us a responsibility,” she believes. “I am always surprised at trade”, Ellis says. “When I went to Bolivia, the prisons were how kind people are to each other, and it gives me hope.” filled with people involved with the drug trade, as part of a Hope appears in her books, too. In The Jackal, Anubis crackdown so the government could get money from the survives abandonment in the desert and returns to her mother. West.” Part of a trilogy, the sequel will be published this fall. But a woman of the harem warns: “She is an ugly little girl. She Ellis divides the world into valued children and throwaway will be an ugly woman. She will have no worth.” children. But the divide does not necessarily fall between In this story as well as others, Ellis entertains and educates developed and less developed countries. Even though most of in equal proportions as she portrays an unjust and violent her books are set outside Canada, Ellis points out “many world that coexists with kindness and beauty.

HERIZONS FALL 2007 39 arts culture MUSIC

Times) are well represented. Disc 1: Songs showcases Parry, the singer- songwriter. Here, she ventures into uncharted territory, moving from her primarily autobiographical past efforts into the realm of theatre. For example, on “Sailor” she takes on the character of a seaman who encounters the ghost of the Edmund Fitzgerald, while “Honey” is sung from the point of view of a man who wrestles bears. While entertaining, such tunes only reinforce the fact that Parry’s forte remains more personal, humorous compositions. The highly amusing ode to mystery novels, “Another Mystery,” and the anti-stalking “Please Stop Following Me” are the disc’s highlights, although the politically charged “Girls” and “War Dream” are also very strong. Disc 2: Spoken Word is the more provocative disc. Here, Parry’s hypnotic, rhythmic speaking style is reminiscent of American performance artist Laurie Anderson. Parry tackles topics as varied as femicide, diminishing natural resources, public transit and the lack of role models for redheads on six startlingly engaging spoken-word pieces. Engaging, clever and constantly surprising, Parry evokes laughter and tears in equal measures. Throw Disc 1 on for pleasant background diversion, but listen—really listen—to Disc 2. You won’t be disappointed.

CORI BREWSTER LARGE BIRD LEAVING Independent REVIEWED BY CINDY FILIPENKO Parry’s hypnotic, rhythmic speaking style is reminiscent of American performance artist Laurie Anderson. Large Bird Leaving is Cori Brewster’s fourth album, appearing almost 10 years after her RUTHIE FOSTER “Mama Said,” have a timeless quality that will critically acclaimed 1998 CD, Stones. In the THE PHENOMENAL have listeners swearing they’ve heard them meantime, Brewster, who became a mother along the way, has matured considerably as Blue Corn Music before. She can also take a classic like Sister Rosetta Tharpe’s “Up Above My Heart (I Hear an artist. REVIEW BY CINDY FILIPENKO Music in the Air)” and completely make it her The 12 songs that make up Large Bird The Phenomenal. The title here comes from own. And her version of Lucinda Williams’ Leaving, notably “What Casanova Told Me” Maya Angelou’s poem “Phenomenal Woman,” “Fruits of My Labour” leaves one wondering and “Broken Compass” have a tone which appears on Ruthie Foster’s disc set to what a country album by this Texas-bred reminiscent of Mary Chapin Carpenter’s gentle music by Amy Sky and David Pickell. Foster songstress might sound like. yet compelling storytelling. More country than lets the words of Angelou’s anthem to female Highly recommended. folk, the string-heavy arrangements on Large self-acceptance take centre stage, offering a Bird Leaving are pure roots. vocal that is at once understated and EVALYN PARRY Born in Banff, Alberta, to one of the area’s incredibly powerful. SMALL THEATRES long-established families, Brewster has always An immensely talented, multi-faceted Borealis made the Rocky Mountains her home. This rich musician (she writes, sings and plays piano and dynamic landscape is as much a character and guitar), Foster carries on in the tradition of REVIEW BY CINDY FILIPENKO in her songs as the people who populate her Aretha Franklin’s best work. Like Franklin, this Evalyn Parry was born to be played on CBC tunes. For example, on “Look for the Sun” she southerner employs the gospel tradition in her radio. Her songs and spoken-word pieces writes: “The magic of these mountains/Are approach to soul. And when she branches out prove that it’s possible to be smarter than the nowhere to be found/When the clouds circle into traditional gospel, as in her cover of Son average bear and still be accessible and around them/The wind howls a ghostly sound.” House’s “People Grinning in Your Face,” the entertaining. With the release of the two-disc Large Bird Leaving is an incredibly well result is soul shaking. set Small Theatres, both sides of this eclectic produced album, with credit in that area being Foster’s original compositions, such as artist (she also teaches a theatre program for shared by Brewster and Murray Pulver. Pulver “Heal Yourself,” “Beaver Creek Blues” and queer youth with Toronto’s Buddies in Bad is an exceptionally talented producer whose

40 FALL 2007 HERIZONS previous projects include the Wyrd Sisters’ Sin from a number of other projects. She’s part of and Other Salvation and Dominique Reynolds’ Montreal pop-rockers Stars and has done time Coming Home. with Toronto indie-rock collective Broken Like most country-folk-roots albums, Large Social Scene. And while Millan was bound to Bird Leaving yields no obvious singles, but it step out on her own sooner or later, her does make for satisfying listening. musical resume helped pull in a whole bunch of Recommended. guest musicians to help out. Most of these songs were written years ago, before Millan JOSS STONE was part of Can-rock’s club of cool kids and INTRODUCING JOSS STONE before she was christened one of Rolling Stone EMI magazine’s Top 10 Artists to Watch in 2006. Three years in the making, Honey From the REVIEW BY CINDY FILIPENKO Tombs is chock full of dreamy atmospherics Introducing Joss Stone brings this powerful, and breakup tunes with a country flavour. But soulful singer to the attention of North this record isn’t all twang and heartbreak. American audiences. Featuring Lauryn Hill and Nestled against rootsier tracks like “Ruby II” Windy City rapper Common, this album has and “Blue In Yr Eye” are the poppier sounds of been engineered to ensure that not only will “Headsfull” and “Wayward and Parliament.” she be introduced across the Atlantic, she’ll And even though she has two distinct sounds be embraced. on the disc—going so far as to record with Positioned as a debut, this is actually the different musicians to capture each style— third CD the 20-year-old Brit has released there is a lovely cohesiveness to this record. since her 2003 debut, the multi-platinum Soul Some days, you might prefer one sound Sessions. A couple of tracks from her over the other, but it’s kind of nice to just sit sophomore album, Body, Mind and Soul, the back and let it all wash over you. amazing “Super Duper Love” and “Right to Be Wrong,” made it across the pond and into the SERENA RYDER ears of discerning listeners. Those same IF YOUR MEMORY SERVES YOU WELL listeners might be surprised to see her latest EMI opus on racks in their neighbourhood Starbucks. But there’s an MOR homogeny to REVIEW BY ANNA LAZOWSKI this disc that wasn’t present on her previous It’s an interesting strategy for an up-and-coming two, making it ideal for the chain that’s singer—to record a number of covers for your perfected selling a side of hipness, with a very major label debut album—but that’s exactly low-fat, high-foam, extra-wet latté. what Serena Ryder chose to do. If Your Memory The culprit here seems to be production that Serves You Well features her interpretations of jumps the barrier from lush to gooey. Stone’s songs by artists including Sylvia Tyson, Paul Altantic Records soul-session style vocals are Anka, Carmen Lombardo and Bob Dylan. Ryder just as remarkable as they were on her previous also tucked a few originals into the mix. award-winning outings, but Introducing Joss Her versions of songs like “My Heart Cries Stone is a case of great songs getting lost on a For You” and “It Doesn’t Matter Anymore” CD that’s just trying too hard. really showcase her gorgeous, soulful voice. That said, the more upbeat numbers— She clearly feels a connection to this material, specifically, “Baby, Baby, Baby,” “Tell Me but it’s an uneven listening experience. Over ’bout It” and “Girl They Won’t Believe It”—are the course of the album, we move from her worth a trip to the iTunes music store. take on Leonard Cohen’s “Sisters of Mercy” to Pick up copies of her last two recordings versions of Carmen Lombardo’s “Boo Hoo” and wait for the next one. and “Good Morning Starshine” from the Hair soundtrack. There are so many styles of music AMY MILLAN mingled together that it’s hard to get a handle HONEY FROM THE TOMBS on Serena herself. Maybe, listening to her interpretations and Arts & Crafts her fantastic voice should be enough to carry REVIEW BY ANNA LAZOWSKI the covers on this record; but I was happy to The first time I popped this disc in the stereo, get to the final three songs on the album— the opening lines of “Losin’ You” made me the originals. If these last few had been stop what I was doing and just listen. It’s still mingled in, the record would have worked one of my favourite songs on Honey From the better as a whole. But after listening to songs Tombs, but when I finally let the CD continue like “Weak in the Knees,” “Out of the Blue” on to track two and beyond, I discovered a (co-written with Randy Bachman) and “Just few more gems tucked into the mix. Another Day,” I wanted to hear more from Though this is Amy Millan’s first solo record, Ryder’s own songbook. Canadian music fans will recognize her voice There’s nothing wrong with recording

HERIZONS FALL 2007 41 arts culture MUSIC

covers, but I want to be able to count some of needs a day job to pay the bills. Featuring Ryder’s songs among my favourites before I Vancouver dub poet CR Avery, who also made spend time getting to know her favourites by an appearance on Vagabond Lullabies, the other songwriters. song is both catchy and thoughtful. This is not to say that some of the mellower DANIELLE FRENCH tunes fail—they definitely do not. Texiera’s SHADOWS “Go on and Pass Me By” and “Drive All Independent/2007 Night” beautifully showcase the women’s intricate harmonies. Klein’s “Angels of Grace” REVIEW BY CINDY FILIPENKO will have you reaching for the bottle of CC to Having been kicking around since her 1995 join her in lamenting a distant love, and debut with Me, Myself and I, singer- Russell’s “Texas” will have you looking for songwriter Danielle French has never quite hit, steer manure on your boots. despite have strong similarities to Sarah Ultimately, Home to You is a pleasant album McLachlan and Tara McLean. that falls short of the promise of the band’s Now an independent, French has released earlier work. one of the most interesting Canadian albums of the year, Shadows. The disc is an incredibly DOBET GNAHORÉ theatrical venture—the 11 songs that make up NA AFRIKI (TO AFRICA) this CD all have a cabaret feel, employing Cumbancha rising and falling crescendos, concertinas and lyrics that evoke Brecht. Moody and intense, REVIEW BY SHEILA NOPPER Shadows has a slightly sinister feeling that When she was only 12 years old, Dobet draws the listener in, demanding full and Gnahoré assertively informed her father that absolute attention. Songs like “Alive,” she no longer wanted to attend school. Rather, “Sincere,” “Descending and “Drowning” have she wanted to learn to sing, dance and perform titles that reflect their emotional content—a by immersing herself in the vibrant pan-African thick, rich mixture atypical of most pop music. community of musicians, artists, actors and On these tracks French has more in common dancers who frequented the renowned artist with fellow westerner Veda Hille than the co-operative, Ki-Yi M’Bock, that her father co- aforementioned scarf-dancing duo. The production is solid but if there are any founded in 1985 on the outskirts of Abidjan, the singles here, they don’t leap off the disc. capital of Ivory Coast. Impressed by her However, French may be the kind of artist independent stance and clear vision, her father, that other musicians look to when master percussionist Boni Gnahoré, obliged. considering featuring the work of others on Dobet’s subsequent arts education is their own projects. conveyed in the subtle and sometimes overt Well worth a listen. layers of African rhythms interwoven throughout her music and in her ability to sing PO’ GIRL in the indigenous Ivorian languages of Dida HOME TO YOU and Malinké, Senegal’s Wolof, Benin’s Fon, Nettwerk Congo’s Lingala and South Africa’s Xhosa, as REVIEW BY CINDY FILIPENKO well as French. Vancouver’s favourite roots side project is back The track “Djiguene” pays homage to the with its third album in four years. Po’ Girl, now a women of the world who fight for freedom, quartet, features The Be Good Tanyas founding heal sickness, cultivate the earth and feed the member Trish Klein, local jazz singers Awna youth, while “Khabone-n’Daw” mourns for the Texiera and Alison Russell and, most recently, children survivors of incest and harshly Diona Davies. Forerunners in a traditional style critiques their abusers. In addition to a that has now been termed Americana, Po’ Girl yodelling tribute to the pygmies and a short a is exceptionally skilled at producing timeless cappella lament, there are also several praise music derived from the foundations of jazz and songs and uplifting dance tunes. country. When it works, it’s quite fantastic. Though clearly influenced by such critically Unfortunately, on Home to You the group is acclaimed vocalists as South Africa’s Miriam teetering into coma territory. Makeba and Benin’s Angelique Kidjo, Gnahoré This is particularly frustrating, as their previous effort, Vagabond Lullabies, has a distinctly powerful, yet gentle sound of demonstrated a direction that was fresh and her own. Complemented with sweet alive—politically valid while leaning towards harmonies and the steady groove of sensuous the upbeat. The only track on the new CD that guitar and percussion riffs, her soothing, continues in that vein is “9 Hours to Go,” an velvety voice makes Na Afriki a pleasurable homage to the working musician who still experience.

42 FALL 2007 HERIZONS arts culture FALL READING

COMFORT FOOD FOR BREAKUPS: THE MEMOIR OF A HUNGRY GIRL MARUSYA BOCIURKIW Arsenal Pulp Press REVIEW BY FARZANA DOCTOR “Who owns these memories? How is it that each of us remembers in a different way? If my way of remembering makes it to print, what does it do to theirs?” Marusya Bociurkiw ponders these questions in the collection of stories Comfort Foods for Breakups: The Memoir of a Hungry Girl. She delicately treads through shared history with family, friends and lovers, examining the meanings of her relationships, culture, queer identity and, of course, food. The author links each memory to the meals IN THE NAME OF FRIENDSHIP personalities and character. that comforted, celebrated or accompanied it: MARILYN FRENCH Nor has she shied from her quest for a story of her journey through the Ukrainian The Feminist Press women to achieve an equal footing in society. countryside to see her grandmother’s sister, a Her fiction is worth reading just for her candid REVIEW BY IRENE D’SOUZA woman who serves nothing but eggs; a reflections. Anyone hoping to learn that The very thought of Marilyn French stirs up bittersweet rendering of a fleeting and final French has modified her views will be images of a rebel with a cause. Her dinner of vegetarian curry with her brother disappointed. French’s mantra, “to me, a groundbreaking ‘70s novel The Women’s Room feminist is simply any woman who thinks Roman; and the description of Curacao and saw her form a trinity along with other women matter as much as men do,” is evident potatoes, a soothing supper after a first influential second wave writers that included throughout her novel, which should be lesbian breakup. Simone de Beauvoir (‘50s) and Betty Freidan required reading for those who think the Some of her stories are complicated, (‘60s) before her. feminist movement is waning. confusing and painful, without easy answers French’s latest book, In the Name of or neat endings. Perhaps most compelling Friendship, was not published in the United are the vignettes of her parents. In LULLABIES FOR LITTLE CRIMINALS States until it was a best-seller in Europe. “Radishes and Salt,” her father’s weekly HEATHER O’NEILL French follows four women in the Berkshire pilgrimage to the Bon Ton Bakery in Harper Perennial Mountains of Western Massachusetts—all of Edmonton is counterpointed with his REVIEW BY LISA FOAD whom have had an imposed life with thwarted emotional and physical distance from the Lullabies for Little Criminals has set the and unfulfilled ambitions. family. publishing industry agog. The winner of the The bad news is that even women who Her difficult visits with her mother are 2007 version of Canada Reads was also appear to have it all do not. Maddy, the 76- described in a similarly nuanced way in chosen for Barnes & Noble’s Holiday 2006 year-old matriarch of this quartet, has always “Torte”: “Those were rare, formal occasions, Discover Great New Writers campaign, and resented her forced role of caregiver. It was a benevolent monarch greeting her distant, People magazine’s book club has elected it always assumed that, being the oldest girl in queer subject.” These are punctuated by prime pickings. the family, she would watch over her siblings euphoric descriptions of her mother’s perogies Collective zeal of this magnitude always while her brothers played. in “Varennyky.” And, perhaps consistent with elicits the skeptic in me, but suffice it to say, Seventy-year-old Emily, who has never the lack of closure that one feels while the hype is true: Heather O’Neill’s debut novel married, is able to harness and nurture her reading much of her memoir, a recipe is really is a knockout. creative powers composing music. Alicia, 50, offered at the end of only some of the Staged within the sparkling grit of has to contend with a taciturn psychiatrist chapters, but not all of them. downtown Montreal, Lullabies is the walloping husband who has withdrawn from their gay Bociurkiw is a prolific artist; this is her story of 13-year-old Baby coming of age amid son. The 30-year-old Jenny, married to a much fourth book. She has written a novel, poetry the red-lit cacophony of impoverishment, older internationally recognized artist, is and short stories, and has made nine films. addiction and desperation, while her ebullient, consumed with her biological clock. But you can’t stop there. She is a professor of madcap, mid-20s father, Jules, routinely In the same intelligent, if caustic way as media studies and a dedicated blogger. shoots heroin and moves the pair from one The Women’s Room before it, this novel With language as rich as the food she rundown hotel apartment to the next. reaches places that are morally complex, describes, Bociurkiw shows us that there is Don’t be deceived by the carefree whimsy exploring women’s roles in modern society much to be hungry for in what we have and depicted on the book’s cover: Baby’s tale is a and the havoc wreaked upon them by guilt, what we don’t. But sometimes, as she jawbreaker. While Jules battles health issues fear, anger and silence. Although the women reminds us in her final chapter, “Apples,” and attempts rehab, Baby is shuttled in and carry an enormous amount of emotional there can be the knowledge “that what you out of foster care, where value and security baggage, it is the bond with one another that have is enough.” are transients and loneliness is a lump in her provides the salve for all the catastrophes life throat: “If you want to get a child to love you, Farzana Doctor is the author of Stealing throws at them. French is never timid about then you should just go and hide in the closet Nasreen (Inanna, 2007). imbuing her women with dimension, for three or four hours. They get down on their

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44 FALL 2007 HERIZONS arts culture FALL READING knees and pray for you to return. That child will turn you into God. Lonely children probably wrote the Bible.” Jules aces rehab, habit kicked. However, he comes for Baby hefting an unwieldy volatility, the maddest of love. Left to navigate the complex architectures of age 13 on her own, Baby oscillates between the cupcake dreams of childhood and the darker, more insidious elements of maturity that beckon. As she plots her way through streets peppered with pimps, pedophiles, wildly eccentric junkies and achingly misfit children, Baby’s development moves at breakneck speed. The fallout is both chilling and heart-rending. O’Neill, who penned coming-of-age flick Saint Jude (2000) and poetry collection two eyes are you sleeping (1998), charts this by “the air of a Chateau Marmont bungalow car radio reported that a gunman in Montreal territory with staggering skill. Shouldering about [Schneider], a sense of RKO.” had separated male and female engineering equal parts optimism and melancholy, Baby is Blue and the gang spend weekends students, then killed young women, saying: a richly imaginative, increasingly self-reflexive languidly loafing at Schneider’s place, “You are all a bunch of feminists, and I hate gem of a character, whose poetic sensibilities showcasing their spurious wit while feminists.” and clever wit make Lullabies necessary attempting to unravel Schneider’s intriguing, That event forever changed me. Since that reading. secreted past. moment, I have been unable to believe that Pessl’s prose is utterly intoxicating— violence against women is simply a result of a SPECIAL TOPICS IN nouns function as verbs, metaphors are crazed madman, bad luck or the dynamics of a CALAMITY PHYSICS fantastically fresh. An unremarkable particular relationship gone wrong. Every time MARISHA PESSL character is “an extra packet of salt one I step on stage, every time I walk with other Viking misses at the bottom of a bag of fast food,” women at Take Back the Night, every time I and Blue’s narration is rife with wild literary publicly protest inequalities, I remember that REVIEW BY LISA FOAD references and footnotes, many of which violence against women threatens us because After disarming heavyweight literary agent Pessl has cooked up herself. Once the initial of our gender, and particularly if we dare to Susan Golomb with an unsolicited pitch letter spell of wizardry wears off, however, the step outside the traditional bounds of what it (unheard of!), Marisha Pessl found her debut consistent interruptions feel tiresome and means to be a woman. The events of novel—a 500-page slugger, Special Topics in vertigo inducing. December 6, 1989, taught me that all violence Calamity Physics—the cynosure of a fevered Three-quarters of the way in, though, the against women is political: it is misogynist and bidding war. In the end, it fetched Pessl a six- mystery Blue promised to solve in the novel’s systemic. figure jackpot and heaps of tongue-wagging first pages—how it is that Schneider wound So why would I want to rush out and read critical acclaim. up dead during a Bluebloods overnight romp in two recent books that reflect upon the Despite the novel’s vacillations—it begins the woods—finally heats up. Pessl pulls out Montreal Massacre? Because I wondered with a formidable bang, nosedives for a spell, all the stops. The relentless plot intricacies are whether enough time has passed that I am then surges forward explosively—Special arresting, the suspense killer and the final ready to view the Massacre in a larger Topics is a dazzling thriller, meticulously twist dizzying. historical context. crafted and audaciously executed. When Rage + Resistance is subtitled: “a Gareth van Meer, a blinding swagger of RAGE + RESISTANCE: A Theological Reflection on the Montreal erudition and ego, accepts a bottom-tier Massacre.” Oh ye of little faith, do not be professorship in Stockton, North Carolina (to THEOLOGICAL REFLECTION ON THE MONTREAL MASSACRE dissuaded from reading on! Author Theresa “enlighten America’s unassuming and O’Donovan’s definition of theology, THERESA O’DONOVAN ordinary,” of course), his brainy daughter, “understanding seeking faith,” is sufficiently Blue, coolly prepares to wrap up her senior Wilfred Laurier University Press vague to encompass the full spectrum of year at pompous private school St. Galloway. REMEMBERING WOMEN spiritual beliefs and non-beliefs. Inside the “gray-topped, heavy brow” MURDERED BY MEN: In this slim volume, O’Donovan offers building, however, she’s summarily encircled MEMORIALS ACROSS CANADA valuable food for thought, particularly by the bluebloods, a pestilent coterie of sniffy, THE CULTURAL MEMORY GROUP regarding the media’s interpretation of the vainglorious spoiled-rottens who devotedly Massacre. Tightly written gems reflect on how Sumach Press pirouette around their bewitching film studies television makes events real in our culture and teacher, Hannah Schneider. REVIEWS BY SHAWNA DEMPSEY describe what O’Donovan refers to as “the Despite having the resolve of “an Like every Canadian woman of a certain age, I myth of a coherent society:” the media’s all- implacable nun,” Blue’s also taken with “the remember exactly where I was on December too-quick reflex to declare tragedy over and lone bombshell slinking into a Norman 6, 1989. That night, it was 40 below in healing complete. Questions regarding the Rockwell,” and can’t help but feel romanced Winnipeg and I was apartment hunting. The place of God and the spirit in light of such

HERIZONS FALL 2007 45 arts culture FALL READING violence are answered by a rallying call for Baum (who, incidentally, has been cited by Remembering Women Murdered by Men. action. For any Canadian feminist, particularly Green Party leader Elizabeth May as a key Clearly, this volume was written by people those for whom the Montreal Massacre was influence), this lengthy academic who do not mince words. Here, written on the formative, chapters 2 to 4 are must-reads. contextualization almost brings the book to a cover, is what remains taboo in our culture: an Rage + Resistance grew out of O’Donovan’s standstill before it begins. Rage + Resistance admission of who is killing whom. doctoral thesis, and therein lies the key to the also loses focus at the end, concluding with a Collectively written by five academics and book’s shortcomings. Dear Herizons reader, I series of creative writing exercises and an community activists, the book examines how know all of you are destined for a graduate oddly unfootnoted fact sheet about violence murdered Canadian women have been degree, but a thesis does not a book make! against women. Both serve to muddle memorialized. More than a description of a Rage + Resistance begins with a lengthy O’Donovan’s very readable core analysis, statue here or a plaque there, Remembering description of the conceptual framework which is intelligent and enriching. Women Murdered by Men explores the behind O’Donovan’s inquiry. Although I I was brought up short by the title of processes by which public monuments were appreciated learning about theologian Gregory another Montreal Massacre-related book, created, the obstacles they faced, the ways

Book of the Month was empowering, educational and comical. to do this.” She’s a woman who admits that The book has helped me define who I am she’d rather put a fork in her eye than as a human being and what I want for me, discuss the juice policy at her children’s and then decide how those things will school, but at the same time is grateful to impact on my children. What I’m saying is parents who do get involved in school that this book facilitated a shift inside of me, administration. which allowed me to put myself first. My Minsky’s essay is important reading for new self truly believes that if mom’s not work-at-home moms because it says, sure, happy, no one’s happy. you can try to have it all, marriage, family, I didn’t read these essays in order; I read career—and, in her case, antidepressants, them based on what I thought they’d be too. What I took away from this essay is that about. The last essay I read, “Happy,” by she chose career over antidepressants, not Anne Marie Feld, was an essay I had no career over family. interest in because I thought it would be My favourite essay was Leslie Lehr’s “I about a happy woman with a life I could not Hate Everybody.” The title is so basic, yet relate to. Wrong! The first paragraph is funny and understandable. Now that I’m a about her mother, who hung herself when mother, I, too, hate everybody sometimes, the author was 16. Paragraph after and most often myself. Lehr began hating her paragraph, Feld tries to come to terms with husband when her first daughter was six her mother’s need to escape life, a life which months old. “I had never imagined using hate was simply a series of to-dos. and husband in the same sentence” she says What resonated with me was how she of the man she’d eventually divorce. Her hate was able to figure out what made her mother list goes on to include stay-at-home-mothers, MOMMY WARS: STAY-AT-HOME become suicidal. She writes: “In her supermoms, working moms and working AND CAREER MOMS FACE OFF insistence upon getting things done, on living moms without kids, too. If you have a sense ON THEIR CHOICES, THEIR LIVES, an ordered life, my mother managed to miss of humour and go along for the ride, she’ll THEIR FAMILIES out on the nourishing aspects of family life— confess her parenting philosophy: “My life is EDITED BY LESLIE MORGAN STEINER laughing at silly things, lying spooned on the a trap of my own creation. Basically, I’m at Random House couch with your beloveds…. Without this, peace with my choice, some days more than family life is an endless series of menial others.” After I read her essay, I e-mailed the REVIEW BY SUSANA MOLINOLO tasks: counters and noses to wipe… again writer to thank her. In a parent self-esteem workshop I attended, and again in soul-sucking succession.” This book empowered me to become the we received a handout on which I There is a hint of she-did-it-wrong-I’m- kind of person I’d want raising my children— underlined this sentence: “Define what is doing-it-right, but definitely no hint of war in someone who is going to make choices and important for you and your children, then use this touching piece. live up to those convictions. I’m grateful to those convictions to guide your actions.” Less touching, but certainly a motivating these women and their stories. If this book This sentence has kept me sane while essay, is Terri Minsky’s “The Mother Load.” gets reprinted, it should go for a more humane mothering two children, including one who’s Minsky, a television show creator/executive title—perhaps Twenty-Seven Different been colicky for over nine months. The other producer and writer, is the woman I will Women, Twenty-Seven Different Paradigms— pillar of strength has been my review copy of never be but secretly would love to be, a because there is no mommy war, there are Mommy Wars: Stay-at-Home and Career woman who has an opportunity to get a just different women making different choices. Moms Face Off on Their Choices, Their Lives, show on a network and takes it because she Their Families, edited by Leslie Morgan knows it’s a thousand-to-one shot. She Susana Molinolo is a Toronto-based writer Steiner. Reading this collection of 27 essays knows how to say “I want to do this. I need and mother of two.

46 FALL 2007 HERIZONS in which they name or gloss over violence against women and the attributes they project upon victims. The history of these memorials becomes a metaphoric inquiry into societal attitudes towards femicide and a moving examination of collective memory- making. Most of the monuments described were created to remember the 14 women killed in Montreal, but the book also examines other memorials, ranging from the gravestone of Annie Kempton, who was murdered in Nova Scotia in 1896, to a boulder in a Vancouver park commemorating the now 72 women who have disappeared from that city’s Downtown Eastside. The Cultural Memory Group (authors Christine Bold, Sly Castaldi, Ric Knowles, Jodie are very adult tirades against the Bush sets out to re-frame perimenopause, a McConnell and Lisa Schincariol) speak with one presidency, the conflation of church and condition sexist medicine misunderstands, articulate and passionate voice. Supplementary state, and the lack of tsunami warnings in misdiagnoses and mistreats. Prior has been a materials by guest Aboriginal writers expand key contributor to this work: she is author or the scope of the discussion to include women global areas mainly populated by poor and co-author of 25 of the 138 scientific references often victimized, yet rarely heard. marginalized people. cited, and is founder and scientific director of Both books are important additions to the Humour, playfulness and possibility inform the Centre for Menstrual Cycle and Ovulation canon of Canadian feminist scholarship. As much of Daly’s past writings, but Amazon Research (CeMCOR) at UBC. both Rage + Resistance and Remembering Grace is curiously unfocused. Although I The book is narrated by a fictional alter ego, Women Murdered by Men attest, who and appreciate her linguistic inventions, such as “Dr. Kaily Madrona,” a specialist in women’s how we remember informs our actions in the “academentia,” I find it annoying that she has reproductive health. The book is written as a present. recycled her previous work and quotes herself liberally. And while the title signals series of connected stories about eight Shawna Dempsey is a Winnipeg-based female strength and a longing for connection women experiencing “midlife miseries.” The performance artist and curator who works in between women who have the “courage to composite characters span a range of ages collaboration with Lorri Millan. sin big,” I found myself disengaged and life conditions, motherhood statuses, emotionally from this work. sexualities and ethnic identities. AMAZON GRACE Daly’s incessant preaching is numbing. A One of Prior’s key objectives is to challenge MARY DALY former professor, Daly writes that “Hopeful the conventional medical view that dropping estrogen levels are the cause of women’s Palgrave Macmillan Wild Women can Realize our Real Presence, that is, ‘Female Elemental participation in symptoms. She believes that the REVIEW BY CY-THEA SAND Powers of Be-ing, which implies Realizing as corresponding treatment of estrogen Raise your hands, dear reader, if you like Present Other Past and Elemental realities.’” In replacement actually exacerbates symptoms. rhetoric to be repetitive, dense and disjointed. the next paragraph, she insists that there is “no Prior also underscores that perimenopause Wave if you are fond of reading feminist flights ordinary/foreground ways to think and speak and menopause are distinct and different of fantasy during which you can participate about this interconnectedness.” But effective phases of female reproductive development. “in a mode of Be-ing that is peculiar to those writing makes fantastic ideas mean something. The book provides useful information on a who have Dis-covered Lost and Found Good writing makes the reader care. range of symptoms that includes hot flashes, Continent,” or where women and animals constipation, sleep problems, disordered commune in happy harmony in a time and Cy-Thea Sand teaches introduction to eating and lowered libido. Readers also learn space beyond patriarchy. Maybe I should women’s studies at McGill University. that the average age in North America for warn you: This review may appeal only to menstrual disruption is 48, an average period those whose hands remain firmly clenched. ESTROGEN’S STORM SEASON: uses about eight soaked pads or tampons; and Two of Daly’s previous books had a huge STORIES OF PERIMENOPAUSE ibuprofen for cramping has advantages over impact on me. Beyond God the Father (1977) DR. JERILYNN PRIOR other pain relievers, including decreasing critiqued Christianity and Gyn/Ecology (1981) Centre for Menstrual Cycle and Ovulation menstrual flow. creatively and powerfully deconstructed Research (CeMCOR) These insights, however, don’t fully misogynistic language. However, Amazon compensate for the stilted tone which aims to Grace is marred by jagged, juvenile dialogue REVIEW BY SUSAN PRENTICE popularize medical education through and abrupt tone and scene changes. “My This book is for “the woman who no longer stories—“‘The low-dose cyclic Provera,’ I say Goodness! That Last Trip over to Lost and recognizes herself” as she is buffeted by the slowly, consciously trying to be calm and Found was so High and so Fast that Here I hormonal storm that precedes menopause. positive, ‘was simply not strong enough to am back/ahead again already!” is an According to Dr. Jerilynn Prior, such chaos counterbalance effects of the high estrogen example of the book’s fairytale style. may be experienced by one in five women, your body is making in perimenopause.’” However, interspersed throughout the text and can last up to a decade or more. The book To make things weirder, the fictitious

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INANNA POETRY AND FICTION SERIES www.yorku.ca/inanna

48 FALL 2007 HERIZONS arts culture FALL READING

Madrona regularly tells her eight patients that expanse and the Gulf of Guinea, this region is simply because remembering is not always an she was a student of the esteemed Dr. a mosaic of ethnic groups, languages, easy task…. I also believe that Africa needs Jerilynn Prior and cites scores of Prior’s cultures, histories and countries. In our its diaspora.... Africa is not poor, it has been studies and reports, recommending several volume, we represent 12 nations: Benin, impoverished…. As such, and despite the times a chapter that the character visit Burkina Faso, Cóte d’Ivoire, Gambia, Ghana, monumental difficulties people are confronted CeMCOR’s website (www.cemcor.ubc.ca). The Guinea-Conakry, Liberia, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, with, there is an enormous potential for hope, self-promotion makes some sense once you Senegal, Sierra Leone.” a will to live that is absolutely resistant to all realize the book was self-published by One has to applaud the team of 150 odds.” CeMCOR. researchers, translators and editors working The history of medicine is full of well-known in 11 countries and 26 languages who put this Published by TSAR, Rosa’s District 6 is Rozena reversals. (Recall the 19th-century wandering powerful collection together. The richness of Maart’s collection of five short stories set in uterus that made women unfit for higher the task is eloquently introduced in 70 pages Cape Town. education?) In an aging society, older by the editors. A history of colonization sets women’s health concerns will likely come the stage for understanding issues pertaining IN THE NAME OF HONOUR under closer scrutiny. Prior’s may be an to language and expression, both oral and MUKHTAR MAI opening—if far from the final—shot in that written, and their emergence in modern-day Simon & Shuster rethinking. Africa. It is through orality that colonial history REVIEW BY MAYA KHANKHOJE came to be redefined, and African women Susan Prentice is having a peaceful In June 2002, the world was horrified to hear have been instrumental in this task. perimenopause in Winnipeg. that a Pakistani woman was gang-raped as In one subsection, “Ritual and Ceremonial punishment for indiscretions allegedly Words: Thirteenth Century to 1916,” we learn of WOMEN WRITING AFRICA: committed by her 12-year-old brother. Her name ritual and ceremonial words spoken at birth, is Mukhtar Mai, and this book is her amazing VOLUME 2, WEST AFRICA AND death and marriage. Whether or not one agrees first-person account, as filtered through Saraiki THE SAHEL with the sentiment expressed around marriage and Urdu interpreters. Linda Coverdale’s English EDITED BY ESI SUTHERLAND-ADDY AND and motherhood, one still learns of the richness translation is based on the French text put AMINATA DIAW and diversity of the oral tradition and comes to together by Marie-Thérèse Cuny. The result is a The Feminist Press understand the intricacies of the literary fabric book as powerful as it is simple. that has been woven in the region. REVIEW BY ROZENA MAART Crimes of honour are condoned in feudal “Lullabies and Songs of Young Women” is a Women Writing Africa is a rich, and patriarchal societies. The village of subsection that contains mainly oral poems comprehensive literary treat that is difficult to Meerwala witnessed one such crime, where and performances recited among young put down as it informs, engages, incites, an illiterate divorcee was ordered to be gang- women and between mothers and children. entertains, soothes and lulls. It is simply raped by a powerful clan to avenge the Here, anti-colonial songs reverberate. So, too, deliciously stimulating. dishonour inflicted on one of their women by a do letters and short essays on the topic. The This volume is composed of diverse styles boy from a poor peasant caste. Mai sets the entry by Mariama Bá, from Senegal, titled “My of writing. They range from oral traditions that record straight: Her little brother was innocent little country,” particularly moved me. It is told have sought written presentation to dance and the real reason lay in clan disputes. Mai in a format where memory is recounted and songs and prayers, performance poetry and had to bear the physical and psychic pain of private letters, public declamations and legal provides many possibilities for teaching the text as well as for understanding the gang rape as well as the initial repudiation of depositions, as well as prose, poetry, short society. But with the support of her family and stories and critical essays. Together, they form significance of memory in Africa—as contemporary fictional writing seems to a distant cousin from another village, she a remarkable West African journey. fought back and the tides slowly turned. A modern-day compendium, the book suggest, over and over, from all four corners of At first, the government authorities were contains insightful historical information. For the continent. hostile, but in the face of public pressure at those interested in leisure reading, it provides In “1970s and 1980s: Negotiating New home and abroad they were forced to punish historical as well as contemporary poetry and Social Identities,” readers learn of the the perpetrators and award her compensation. prose of the highest quality. For scholars and methods employed in fiction to write African With that money, as well as contributions from researchers, it provides the much-needed women into the literary fabric of their lives— CIDA and other international donors, she textbook of writing from the region (not merely rather than simply as girls learning the established a school for girls and boys and on the region), since it discusses the colonizer’s curriculum in French, English, learned to read and write in the process. The complexities of the very definition of African Italian or Portuguese. Pakistani government went as far as to award writing while tactfully yet vigorously tackling Meanwhile, the subsection “1990s and the her the Fatima Jinnah gold medal for bravery. contemporary debates around what New Century” reveals the words of constitutes an African woman writer, and the contemporary African women, each engaged If one were to quibble with the book, it grounds upon which fiction or non-fiction can in writing pertaining to Rwanda, jihad, hunger, would be on account of Mukhtar Mai’s picture be regarded as African writing. Editors Esi child soldiering, ethnic violence, teaching the gracing the cover: There is a hint of eye Sutherland-Addy and Aminate Diaw assert Qur’an and western depictions of Africa as a makeup and lip gloss. No need for that! Her early on in the preface that: “From its poor continent. eyes shine with conviction and her lips do not inception, the West African and Sahelian To close, I would like to quote the words of gloss over the truth: “Because the real volume took on the intense richness and Aminata Traore: “It is quite difficult to retrace question my country must ask itself is: If the complexity of the West African region it the path of one’s life, not because it is a honour of men lies in women, why do men represents. Situated between the Sahelian particularly complicated or rich life story, but want to rape or kill that honour?”

HERIZONS FALL 2007 49 50 FALL 2007 HERIZONS arts literature

The Promise of Peace BY SIMA ELIZABETH SHEFRIN

A fabric artist for 35 years, Sima Elizabeth Shefrin draws her imagery from her Jewish heritage and the Middle East peace movement. It was through a 1989 National Film Board production called Half the Kingdom that Shefrin first learned about Women in Black, the Israeli peace organization which, for 20 years, has taken to the streets holding signs that read “Stop the Occupation.” Struck by their mission and their visual effectiveness, she began depicting the activists in her artwork. Last March, Shefrin travelled to Israel and Palestine with Interfaith Peace Builders, an organization which focuses on observing and listening to experiences and perspectives from both sides of the conflict. She returned to Canada inspired and more committed than ever to sharing the stories of hope for a just peace for Palestinians and Israelis.

any years ago, while reading Penny Rosenwasser’s international community art project by 300 people of all ages Voices from a Promised Land: Palestinian and Israeli and backgrounds, including Israeli and Palestinian. It consists M Peace Activists Speak their Hearts (Curbstone of 277 squares, each created in answer to the question: “What Press, 1992), I spotted a photograph of a beautiful, elderly is your vision of peace in the Middle East?” The quilt was first woman holding a sign protesting the occupation. The caption exhibited in Vancouver in 1999 and has been touring North read: “This woman is demonstrating because her family was America ever since. Jews, Muslims and Christians have killed in Auschwitz, and she doesn’t want the Palestinians to worked together to bring it to their communities. suffer as she has suffered.” Inspired, I stitched her portrait The Middle East Peace Quilt continues to be a project of with those words embroidered behind her. hope. I think of it as a way for people who will never meet to Then, in 1994, I met the subject of my portrait at a Women be in the same room together and listen to each other’s in Black conference in Israel. Her name was Anna Colombo, stories. Conducting the workshops and creating the panels she was 86 years old, she had grown up in Italy and those has been a rich and moving experience. This year, after 12 were indeed her words. I gave her the portrait I had made. years, I returned to Israel and Palestine, where I hosted art Later, she wrote to me saying that she had once been asked workshops and met peace activists from many communities. why she wasn’t afraid living in Europe under Hitler. She had When I think about the Middle East, it is with a sadness replied, “Why should I be afraid? All Hitler can do is kill me, that springs from deep caring about both Israelis and but he can never be right.” Colombo became one of my Palestinians. I have witnessed the effects of the Israeli heroes, and I have taken great pleasure in telling her story. military presence: the arrests, the checkpoints, the curfews, In 1998, I created the Middle East Peace Quilt, an the wanton demolitions of Palestinian homes and uprooting

HERIZONS FALL 2007 51 Herizons Marketplace

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52 FALL 2007 HERIZONS scream so the world could hear me and maybe open their eyes to this injustice. If everyone opened their eyes they’d see that there is something wrong! I play basketball so I could forget all this INJUSTICE!!!!!!” Meeting Marcelle was a privilege, as was meeting Daoud Nasser, an olive farmer who lives near Bethlehem. Even though he has titles dating from the Ottoman Empire and the British Mandate, he has been involved in a court battle with the Israeli government since 1991 about the ownership of his land. In every direction there are Israeli settlements built on land appropriated from Palestinians. Yet Nasser is not allowed to make improvements to his property without an impossible-to-obtain permit. Among the structures the Israeli government has slated for demolition are a flagstone patio and a tin roof erected to shelter his goats. And yet Nasser is full of hope. He recognizes that each side in the conflict has a story to tell and human rights that need to be met. He organizes activities with Palestinian youth and works with women in the village, teaching computer and other skills. He has welcomed settlers to his home, and the day after our visit, he served lunch to a group of 45 rabbinical students. On my trip, I also met Ruth Hiller, an Israeli woman living on Kibbutz Haogen. When her 15 year-old son declared himself a pacifist, she was so ashamed she could speak about

The author reunited with Anna Colombo in Jerusalem. it only in whispers. Now, Hiller is an active member of New Profile, a group of Israeli feminist women and men that of olive orchards, the constant humiliation imposed on the describes itself as “a movement for the civil-ization of Israeli Palestinian people. society.” New Profile supports Israeli citizens who don’t want I am also aware of the fear in which Israelis live—the fear to perform their required military service. of suicide bombs and rockets, the terror of being Bassam Aramin is a member of Combatants for Peace, an surrounded by hostile nations, the very live memories of the organization of former Israeli soldiers and former Palestinian Holocaust, and their grief and frustration that they cannot prisoners who are committed to working together non- live peacefully in the land that so many truly believe God violently. In January, his 10-year-old daughter, Abir, lost her gave to the Jewish people. life to an Israeli rubber bullet. Yet he remains committed to Palestine is a country under occupation and it is his goal of a peaceful, just solution to the conflict. heartbreaking. The Israeli-built separation wall is “I will not seek revenge,” he told us. “I believe in this peace everywhere. More than twice the length of the 1967 border, and I will not break it.” it loops into the West Bank fragmenting towns and villages, As Aramin kept vigil in the hospital, he was joined by both cutting off farmers from their fields. Only small pockets of Palestinians and Israelis. One of those Israelis was Rami the West Bank are under Palestinian jurisdiction. New Israeli Elhana. Ten years ago, Elhana’s daughter was killed by a settlements are connected by roads to which Palestinians are suicide bomber in Jerusalem. “What ties us together,” Elhana denied access. With the confiscation of agricultural land, explained, “is the power of pain. You can use this power to there is a rapidly diminishing economic base on which to destroy or bring light. We can use this to bring two nations build a country. together. I’m proud to call Bassam my brother, and with Life under the occupation was perhaps best described to people like this I believe there is hope.” me by a 13-year-old Palestinian girl who attended one of my As for Anna Colombo, my elderly Israeli friend, when the art workshops. I invited youth at the Palestinian Conflict Interfaith Peace Builders delegation arrived at the Women in Resolution Center to create fabric self-portraits and messages Black vigil in Jerusalem, there she was, still dressed in black, expressing what they wanted to say to Canadians. Above a now 98, still proudly holding her “Stop the Occupation” sign. smiling picture of herself in basketball attire, Marcelle wrote: Although her hearing is poor and we spoke through a “I don’t know much of politics. But what I do know is translator, she remembered me. We had hugs and took Palestine is my country and I have the right to live in it! I photos. It was a gift to meet with her again.  http://coalitionofwomen.org/home/english/organizations/women_in_black wish I could go out of Bethlehem to see the rest of my www.vcn.bc.ca/quilt country, but I’m not allowed. Why? Sometimes I wish I could www.interfaithpeacebuilders.org

HERIZONS FALL 2007 53 arts culture FILM

In the Australian film Somersault, everything is turned upside down and examined. Photo: Mongrel Media

SOMERSAULT like a beautiful dream in the midst of the most pulses with the creepiest of sexual innuendo. DIRECTED BY CATE SHORTLAND mundane activity: taking clothes off the line. Somersault speaks for girls in high school Mongrel Media The cinematography is extraordinary—each who were marginalized for being someone shot resonates thematically, alluding to none of these “good” girls should associate REVIEW BY MAUREEN MEDVED Shortland’s background in short films, where a with, lest they somehow fall off the rails to be Cate Shortland’s Somersault is a beautiful film is like a poem, each beat speaking a found wearing too much blush or fucking the and flawless meditation on the power and thousand words. Kate Chapman (Jane odd boy behind the neighbourhood swimming threat of female sexuality. It centres on Heidi Campion’s producer) was executive producer pool. This polarization is society’s way of (Abbie Cornish), a 16-year-old whose on this feature, and much of the imagery is keeping these wild girls at bay, or, more burgeoning sexuality and haunting pre- reminiscent of Campion’s early work. accurately, keeping the so-called good girls at Raphaelite beauty is mind blowing to all men Somersault is an intelligent, complex bay and helping to save us from ourselves. who encounter her. Heidi walks the fragile narrative with dramatic integrity and rich Today, the media talks with relish and line between adult and child, seducing her minor characters who defy traditional regularity about the proliferation of so called mother’s boyfriend in one scene and stereotypes. Not all the male characters are “normal” pubescent girls who are soothing herself by chanting schoolyard sexual predators. Many of the female promiscuous in ways most women of my rhymes in another. She reveals the characters also have the capacity to be generation discovered only in their 20s. unresolved, unhealed attitudes towards emotionally compassionate. One of the most According to Shortland’s film, the divide female beauty and sexuality that persist touching scenes is when Heidi befriends between good and bad girls is intact. But as today. Like the scapegoat archetype in another girl her age, Bianca (Hollie Andrew), we know, any polarization creates dangerous mythology, Heidi must be exiled to preserve who seems judgmental at first, but eventually blind spots in our consciousness that make it the equilibrium of society. Men’s perceptions extends to Heidi her friendship as fragile and easy for us to lose touch with our compassion, of women’s power to transfix and possibly tentative as a twig. Even though Bianca’s our humanity and our reality—causing us to destroy them hearkens back the mythical mother seems immune to Heidi’s power, believe, somehow, that such a polarity truly sirens who had deadly power over all men Bianca’s father isn’t. Fearing that Heidi might exists triggering a kind of social insanity and who set eyes upon them. contaminate his daughter, he pressures Heidi preventing us from responding to real crises At the opening of the film, Heidi emerges into severing this friendship in a scene that when they surface.

54 FALL 2007 HERIZONS cole’s notes BY SUSAN G. COLE

What make a Feminist?

Ever wondered what makes a feminist? It’s only now that my announce yourself when you talked to him so he’d know who father, Max, has passed away that I’ve had the chance to you were, my partner Leslie used to say, “It’s me, Leslie, your consider just how much of a role he played in making me favourite.” And just the other day, my cousin introduced himself who I am. to someone as Yitz, “Maxie’s favourite cousin.” And I always You wouldn’t have predicted such a thing, considering his harboured my own opinions as to who was his favourite child. background. He was brought up in an Orthodox Jewish That was the thing about my father—he was so loving, so household, a circumstance not exactly known for nurturing present, that he made everyone he cared about feel like his progressive-thinking men. He was the first born—the favourite. But who were we kidding. We always knew who prince—and was given all the privileges that accrue to that his favourite was. It was my mother, Lil. His love for her was status. He was coddled, catered to and taken care of. pure, almost heroic, and I will always feel privileged to have Yet he wasn’t afraid of strong women. In fact, he loved grown up in the light of that love. them, especially my mother. He was wildly respectful of When she decided to go back to women in general. At a family university when I was 13, he His love for her was pure, wedding, one of the guys giving a supported that decision. When almost heroic, and I will toast made disparaging mother- she went back to teachers college in-law jokes, and when it came so that she could teach school, he always feel privileged to time for Max to speak he began never discouraged her, even have grown up in the light his remarks by talking about what though that choice meant that she a wonderful women his mother- was no longer as available to him of that love. in-law was—not in heavy way as homemaker—the official role that suggested severe censure, but of women of her vintage. in a gentle way that made the point. In fact, during that period, he started behaving in unusual And he knew how to cry. It was terrific family fun to watch ways. When I was a child, he and my mother reflected the him try to read his birthday cards out loud without bursting extreme sex roles of the ‘50s. She stayed home, he went to into tears. We’d make wagers on how many lines he’d get work and he came home at 6 p.m. with the expectation that through before the dam burst. In so many ways, he was a very dinner would be on the table—which he sat down to in his unusual guy. jacket and tie—and it was. Typically, when we imagine what creates a feminist, we In most ways, our home looked like any other middle-class think of a few things—timing, history, a strong mother— set-up. But when my mother went back to school, he began and almost everyone assumes that a basic requirement is a doing housework—not the heavy stuff, but he almost always son of a bitch of a father. That’s why people were always did the dishes and made the tea after dinner. He did this surprised when they met the gentle and loving Max. despite the gentle mocking he received from his male friends, But those people missed the point. It was my father who who could never imagine themselves stepping in that way. made me a radical feminist, because he showed me what a Late in his life, when he couldn’t see and you had to man could be.
HERIZONS FALL 2007 55 on the edge BY LYN COCKBURN

Sexism in Full Swing

want a private club, just like the private club that I want to open a private club. Don’t want no stinking human serviced dear old dad. And I want it now, in 2007. I do rights tribunal telling me what to do. I not want to go to the bother of inventing time travel just And for the odd person unconvinced that private clubs are so I can go back to 1907. the way to go, I offer the explanation given by John Turley- And why, you may well ask, would I want a private club? Ewart of the National Post, who recently wrote: Aren’t women-only fitness centres and quilting clubs enough “This is not a case about discrimination. It is about the right for me? of private clubs to make arrangements such that members of Because fitness centres and quilting clubs don’t have the two sexes may enjoy their distinct and peculiar modes of lounges to keep men out of. It’s not that women who lift social interaction among their own kind. weights and do crafts don’t drink. In fact, there was a woman “The Marine Drive Golf Club is no more discriminatory in my crocheting class a few years back who regularly showed than the traditionally minded dinner party hostess who issues up just tipsy enough to be interesting. the post-prandial command that women are to adjourn to the It’s that fitness and quilting clubs rarely have the money to parlour while the men smoke their cigars ... (a most convivial build big, luxurious clubhouses complete with three lounges: and civilized practice long overdue for a comeback).” one for men, one for women and one for both. Well said, John. And I like the part of your column in The Marine Drive Golf Club in which you ask, plaintively: “Is it Vancouver does. Have money, that really important that men must is. And three lounges. And the Don’t want no stinking place themselves under female august leadership of this club supervision in every square inch of wants to keep it that way. Some of human rights tribunal this country?” its women members don’t. Over telling me what to do. So you can have your Bullpen the past several years, they have lounge, Bri and John. I’m tired of been in and out of the news and the whole thing. It’s time for a new the courts as they attempted to get the men-only lounge game plan, and that’s why I want a private club of my own. changed. I think I’ll open a swanky sports bar—one that features It all began in 2004, when 36 women filed a complaint women in hockey, golf, basketball and soccer. with the B.C. Human Rights Tribunal in which they asked Not that I’m advocating the omission of male sports—it’s for access to the Bullpen lounge. They also documented just that Sidney Crosby and Teemu Selanne, my favourite numerous accounts of alleged harassment that ranged from players, will not be allowed into the main lounge to watch any obscene gestures to a man asking “did anyone else smell games. Nor will Brian Butters or John Turley-Ewart. that?” as two women walked through the men-only lounge. This, of course, is not discrimination. I just don’t want men In 2005, the tribunal ruled in the women’s favour, but both watching the men in the same lounge with me watching the the BC. Supreme Court and the B.C. Court of Appeal found men. Or women. the ruling incorrect because the club is a private place and not And when I discuss business deals, job opportunities and subject to a tribunal ruling. tell delightful explicit jokes about menstruation or men’s The latest salvo in this New Hundred Years war is that the genitalia, I don’t want those dudes from Mars listening in. Supreme Court of Canada recently refused to hear an appeal Now of course, we can’t bar men completely, so there will be brought by the women. Said Brian Butters, president of the a room at the back with an outside toilet reserved for them. golf club: “Had the Supreme Court ruled against us ... we as I haven’t made up my mind yet about the drinking a club would have been subject to the jurisdiction of the B.C. fountains in our new club. Ought we to mark them “Women Human Rights Tribunal.” Only” and “Men”? Bang on Butters, I am with you. That explains exactly why Oh, let’s go for it. It will be, after all, a private club.

56 FALL 2007 HERIZONS Expand Your Herizons Collection!

Winter 2004 Spring 2004 Summer 2004 Flying High with Ann-Marie Margaret Atwood asks, Is This Elizabeth May: How to Change the MacDonald; Which Alternative the Path We Want to be on?; World in Your Spare Time; Jane Menstrual Products are Best?; Feminist Book Publishing; A New Doe asks, What is a Rape Victim Women and Depression. Body Politic: Bellydancing; Supposed to Look Like?; Ann Female Clergy Keep the Faith. Hansen in profile.

Fall 2004 Winter 2005 Spring 2005 The Indigo Girls’ One Perfect A Passion for Revolushun: The Drama Queers: The Canadian World; Nobel Peace Prize-Winner inspiration of a new generation of connection to the edgy drama The Sherin Ebadi; The Raging dub poets; Linda McQuaig on L-word; Feminist artists talk back Grannies. Crude Dudes; Ember Swift on to feminine icons; The rise and fall politics and music. of Mothers are are Women.

Summer 2005 Fall 2005 Winter 2006 Miriam Toews: A Complicated Why Women Love their Tattoos; Tanks R US: Artist Sarah Beck Kind of Author; Riot Prrrls: Cast The Search Begins for Canada’s on the Fine Art of Defence; Doris Off Your Stereotypes; Aboriginal Disappeared Women; Treasured Anderson 35 Years Later: Still Women Inspire Hope; Third Wave Chest: Kyle Scanlon’s Surgical Ain't Satisfied; Transfeminism— Mothers Rise Up. Journey. Shifting Political Ground.

Spring 2006 Summer 2006 Fall 2006 Pump Up the Volume: Mary Walsh: Defender of the Hip Hop Mohawk Musician Throat-Singer Tanya Tagaq; Disenfranchised; Star Feminist Kinnie Starr; A Short History of Big Pharma: Too Hard to Swallow; Michele Landsberg; the fight for Cross-Dressing Women; Jane Rule Pays Tribute to Literary Security for Afghan Women. Maude Barlow on the dangers Mothers. of U.S.-Canada integration.

Winter 2007 Spring 2007 Summer 2007 Catherine MacKinnon; Ani Difranco on Hope for the Are Your Cosmetics Toxic? Sex Trafficking; How to Stop FGM; American Left; Betsy Warland’s Fundamental Concern for Women Afghan Women (Sold out. pdf Meditation on Recovery, Bonnie in Tajikistan; Time to Close the only. [email protected] Klein’s ‘Not a Disability Story;’ Lynn Chapter on Chick Lit; Up Close for details) Crosbie: The Truth about Lying and Personal with Shani Mootoo

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