THE DIRT ON MUD HOUSES | STATUS OF WOMEN OR STATUS QUO? | MUSIC MUST-HAVES: HAYLEY SALES, CARA LUFT

WOMEN’S NEWS & FEMINIST VIEWS Winter 2008 Vol. 21 No. 3 Made in Canada

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News THE DIRT ON MUD HOUSES 6 by Janet Nicol

STATUS OF WOMEN BECOMES STATUS QUO 7 by Melinda Robinson 8 CAMPAIGN UPDATES ARAB HOUSEMAID FACES DEATH 12 by Lasanda Kurukulasuriya

THINK INSIDE THE BOX 13: Think Inside the Box 13 by Krista Scott-Dixon

MORE MOMMY TIME 14 by Melinda Robinson

Features DO NO HARM 16 What would you do if a doctor groped you after you had gone for a consultation about tonsillitis? Sixteen years after Ontario’s groundbreaking task force on patient abuse, Herizons takes a pulse on the issue. by Zoe Cormier

SHOCK DOC 20 Naomi Klein’s No Logo helped spawn the anti-globalization movement. Klein’s latest target is those who use “shock doctrine” to pillage public services and spawn private 24: The Colour of Loss profiteering. by Susan G. Cole The Colour of Loss New reproductive technologies and fertility treatments 24 promised to expand reproductive choice, providing more women with the means to have children. As one lesbian couple discovered, however, the baby business has made choice more complex than ever. by Elizabeth Ruth

LOOK BOTH WAYS 33 Jennifer Baumgardner discusses bisexuality and feminism in her book Look Both Ways. by Jennifer O’Connor 38: Tracy Myers

HERIZONS WINTER 2008 1 table of contents WINTER 2008 / VOLUME 21 NO. 3 For kick-ass women in a world that needs its ass kicked

MANAGING EDITOR: Penni Mitchell FULFILLMENT AND OFFICE MANAGER: Phil Koch ACCOUNTANT: Sharon Pchajek BOARD OF DIRECTORS: Ghislaine Alleyne, Phil Koch, Penni Mitchell, Kemlin Nembhard, Valerie Regehr Arts & Ideas EDITORIAL COMMITTEE: Ghislaine Alleyne, Gio Guzzi, Penni Mitchell, Kemlin Nembhand ART PROFILE ADVERTISING SALES: Penni Mitchell (204) 774-6225 Tracy Meyers 38 DESIGN: inkubator.ca by Sheila Nopper WEB MISTRESS: Rachel Thompson/BlueMuse MUSIC MUST-HAVES RETAIL INQUIRIES: Disticor (905) 619-6565 40 Cara Luft, Feist, Carolyn Mark, Hayley Sales, PROOFREADER: Phil Koch KT Tunstall, Emily Hayes and The Soft COVER PHOTO: Debra Friedman Skeleton HERIZONS is published four times per year by HERIZONS Inc. in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. One-year subscription price: $27.50 WINTER READING (includes GST) in Canada. Two-year subscription is $43.92 in 43 The Breakdown So Far by M.A.C. Farrant, Tell Canada. Subscriptions to U.S.: add $6.00. International Me Another Morning by Zdena Berger, The Skin subscriptions: add $9.00. Cheques or money orders are payable to: Beneath by Nairne Holtz, The Book of Emma by HERIZONS, PO Box 128, Winnipeg, Manitoba, CANADA R3C 2G1. Marie-Célie Agnant, The First Man in My Life Ph (204) 774-6225. edited by Sandra Martin, My Wedding Dress SUBSCRIPTION INQUIRIES: [email protected] edited by S. Whelehan and A.L. Carter, EDITORIAL INQUIRIES: [email protected] Enough Bloodshed: 101 Solutions to Violence, ADVERTISING INQUIRIES: [email protected] Terror and War by Mary-Wynne Ashford, WEBSITE: www.herizons.ca Worldchanging: A User’s Guide edited by Alex HERIZONS is indexed in the Canadian Periodical Index. Steffen, Prisoner of Tehran by Marina Nemat, GST #R131089187. ISSN 0711-7485. 13 Women: Parables from Prison edited by The purpose of HERIZONS is to empower women; to inspire hope Karlene Faith, The Colour of Stone: Sculpting the and foster a state of wellness that enriches women’s lives; to build Black Female Subject by Charmaine A. Nelson, awareness of issues as they affect women; to promote the Everything Conceivable by Liza Mundy. strength, wisdom and creativity of women; to broaden the boundaries of feminism to include building coalitions and support FILM among other marginalized people; to foster peace and ecological 54 Room awareness; and to expand the influence of feminist principles in Review by Maureen Medved the world. HERIZONS aims to reflect a feminist philosophy that is diverse, understandable and relevant to women’s daily lives. Views expressed in HERIZONS are those of the writers and do not necessarily reflect HERIZONS’ editorial policy. No material may be reprinted without permission. Due to limited resources, HERIZONS Columns does not accept poetry or fiction submissions. PENNI MITCHELL HERIZONS is a member of the Manitoba Magazine 5 Sober Second Thought Publishers Association. HERIZONS acknowledges the financial support of the LISA RUNDLE Government of Canada through the Publication 15 Teaed Off Assistance Program (PAP) and the Canada Magazine Fund our toward mailing and editorial costs.

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2 WINTER 2008 HERIZONS letters

WANTED: MORE COVERAGE OF OLDER WOMEN stages identified in the grief literature, and that when we go through When I was younger and healthy, I didn’t realize how important good denial, bargaining, anger, depression and reach acceptance, we can health is in older age, and did not pay much attention to what I could surrender the things of youth and “allow the good times to return, no be doing to stay healthy. I wish I had. Ill health not only costs time and longer caring what others think of us,” and enjoy one’s niche in the energy, it costs money because most provincial and private health and world, given, I would add, the financial security to be able to do so. dental plans diminish drastically after retirement. Key to older women’s ANN ELIZABETH CARSON wellbeing, therefore, is that health care remain public, and that feminist Author and sculptor, Toronto, ON frameworks are used to make policy decisions in areas of particular importance to older women, such as pension reform, poverty, housing, WRIGHTING THE transportation and mobility. RECORD I am writing to ask that Herizons give more prominence to issues as I have been familiar they affect older women. For example, at the Older Women’s Network with your magazine in Toronto, they are urging young and mid-life women to look seriously over the years and have at long-term financial planning. An economic plan defines the kinds of always been impressed decisions you will be able to make now about jobs and benefits, and with your strong will determine your future lifestyle. One in seven women in Canada live approach to feminism, in poverty and few younger women realize that many of these women queer issues and the are living alone, isolated, lonely and often sick. And could very soon be quality of your them, since 40 to 50 percent of women have no access to a meaningful published works. Therefore, I was excited to have my name published in employment pension plan, i.e., above the poverty line. Herizons (Fall 2007) in your article about the recent success of The Cliks. There is a prevailing attitude that it’s all been done, which is When I first saw the article, I could not wait to read the review of especially discouraging for those older women who have worked hard Snakehouse, an album I wrote the bass lines for and played on. But, on for women’s equality and now find themselves in powerless positions further reading, I realized I had been misrepresented in this article. personally and politically. This compounds the difficulties of accepting I left the band for private matters which were between Lucas the fact of aging and old age. Silveira and me. I did not leave The Cliks because I did not want to tour. We live in a youth-obsessed society which regards aging with horror As a professional musician, I love touring and look forward to being on and in its desperate attempts to extend youth does not look at the the road with other talented musicians. benefits inherent in the aging process and age itself. As talk show host This kind of false information can affect me as a musician in my Dina Petty said in a recent interview: “No matter how many face lifts, professional career, so I would like to set the record straight (or young hip fashions you wear or how often you lie about your age until queer) to let everyone out there know that I am excited to tour the you almost believe it, 40 is not the new 60. If you’ve worked out until world. Bring it on! your 60-year-old body is in perfect shape, perhaps you are a fabulous Keep on rockin! 60, but you ain’t 40.” JORDAN B. WRIGHT She goes on to say that accepting aging follows the well-known Former bass player, The Cliks contributors

KRISTA SCOTT-DIXON LASANDA SHEILA NOPPER IRENE D’SOUZA is the author of Trans/Forming KURUKULASURIYA lives on Denman Island in B.C., When not reviewing intellectual Feminisms (Sumach Press 2006). is a freelance journalist based in where she summons the Orishas gems for Herizons, Irene D’Souza She is currently a researcher at Colombo, Sri Lanka. A long-time and the Priestesses of Voudoun sits on the board of Prairie Fire the Institute for Work and Health contributor to Herizons, she also and together, they conjure up a magazine. She is the executive in Toronto. writes for the New Internationalist. potent witches’ brew to protect director of The Joshua Project, a Mother Earth from the insatiable private foundation that aids social greed of developers. service organizations in Winnipeg. HERIZONS WINTER 2008 3 Manufacturing Jobs Matter to Women

& Over the past five years, women have lost more than 55,000 good paying jobs in manufacturing alone. & Women work in jobs like food manufacturing, fish processing, auto, auto parts, aerospace and general manufacturing. & The loss of these jobs has severely impacted women and their families, especially the single moms and primary earners.

The setbacks to women’s equality and hard-won gains are very real. We must call on all levels of government to join the fight to defend manufacturing jobs in Canada.

Fighting for Canadian Jobs Manufacturing Matters first word BY PENNI MITCHELL Sober Second Thought

Did you hear about the study by Dr. Arthur Klatsky of the reason that only men were included in the study. And in fact, Kaiser Permanente Research Group in California, the one the body of research showing that moderate alcohol intake is that found that a single drink per day increased a woman’s associated with decreased coronary heart disease for both risk of breast cancer? men and women is growing. Alcohol appears to have a At first blush, this fall study sounded as scary as last year’s favourable effect on blood clotting and has been proven in its study from the Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in ability to raise levels of HDL, or good cholesterol. Moderate Boston, the one that reported that a glass or two of red wine consumption is also associated with lower rates of daily helped lower the risk of heart attack—but only for men. atherosclerosis, heart disease and brain diseases such as What kind of sexist biology-is-destiny fates had Alzheimer’s. Interestingly, moderate intake is more beneficial determined that men could drink a glass or two of wine a day for the heart compared to either zero intake or heavy alcohol and see their health improve, yet women who do the same use. In fact, the British Heart Foundation says that between were risking theirs? Is it time for women to give up the grape? one and two drinks per day has a protective effect in I took a sober second look at the Klatsky study and found preventing heart attacks among men over 40 and for post- a few interesting things. First, the media focussed almost menopausal women. A bonus is that red wine contains exclusively on the finding that women who drank one to two resveratrol, a natural antioxidant linked to a reduced risk of drinks per day had a 10 percent higher risk of breast cancer many types of cancer. compared to those who drank less than one drink per day. What would Klatsky say? In going back over the reports, And yet, any epidemiologist worth her salt will tell you that I noticed that Klatsky noted that the “heart protection a 10 percent increase isn’t exactly stop-the-presses news. The benefit from alcohol is real.” And yet, researchers who had important news in Klatsky’s study was actually under- nothing to do with Klatsky’s research were quoted instead, reported: namely, that heavy drinkers, those consuming three preaching abstinence to women. Tim Key of the Cancer or more drinks per day, had a breast cancer rate 30 percent Research UK Epidemiology Unit at Oxford found himself higher than those who drank less than a one drink per day. suddenly famous, saying: “Any alcohol consumption will “A 30 percent increased risk is not trivial,” Klatsky pointed raise your breast cancer risk.” Ditto for Patrick out. “It provides more evidence for why heavy drinkers Maisonneuve, the head of epidemiology at the European should quit or cut down.” Institute of Oncology in Italy, another researcher totally He is right. Among the 70,033 multi-ethnic women whose unconnected to Klatsky’s study, who made the six o’clock health records Klatsky examined between 1977 and 1985, news when he declared that for breast cancer, alcohol “is a four percent had been diagnosed with breast cancer by 2004. hugely underestimated risk factor.” Heavy drinkers were twice as likely to have had the diagnosis. Huge. Really? And yet when moderate intake of alcohol in A woman’s lifetime risk of having breast cancer is about one a recent Harvard alumni study was found to elevate prostate in nine; for heavy drinkers, the risk could be nearly one in six. cancer risk by 60 percent, there were no headlines screaming Moreover, heavy drinkers are already at an elevated risk of abstinence for men. Could it be that researchers know the diabetes, osteoporosis and many types of cancer. If you’re heart benefits of moderate alcohol consumption outweigh drinking three or more drinks per day, breast cancer is one the possible risk of prostate cancer? Why is it presumed that more reason to cut back. women will do anything to decrease their chances of getting At the same time, we need to put a 10 percent increased risk breast cancer—even if it kills them? of breast cancer in perspective. Coronary artery disease is the Let’s keep a clear head on this. The clear benefits of leading cause of death for Canadian women. In 1996, 39,924 moderate alcohol consumption in protecting women from Canadian women died of cardiovascular disease, while 5,300 heart disease still appear to outweigh the minimal increased women died from breast cancer. Women are eight times as risk of breast cancer for those consuming one drink per day. likely to die from heart disease as from breast cancer. And heavy drinking is bad all around. What’s a woman to do? Well, she could start with a glass In the end, the lesson is that all scientific news about of wine each day. Last year’s red wine study trumpeted that women’s health should always be consumed with a healthy men benefited from moderate alcohol intake for the simple shot of feminist analysis. !

HERIZONS WINTER 2008 5 nelliegrams THE DIRT ON BORDER STINKS, MUD HOUSES THINKS BY JANET NICOL CODEPINK Two leading U.S. peace activists Gobby says. denied entry into Canada after their names The building withstands West Coast appeared in an FBI criminal database were rainfalls with its long overhangs, high, dry invited to address Parliament in October. rock foundations and wide gutters. Ann Wright, a retired army colonel, and “There are cob homes in Britain that are Medea Benjamin, co-founder of women’s 500 years old,” assures Gobby. peace group CODEPINK, were en route to Cob homes today also have composting Toronto to appear at an anti-war event. toilets and reuse grey water for irrigation. Their names are listed in an FBI database And, according to the Mud Girls’ website, called the National Crime Information cob building is safe for people with chemical Center. Emily Bamford (with son Atticus) hoses down one of sensitivities and for pregnant women. “First, the FBI should not have put us on the Mud Girls’ projects. It will take another week to finish the that list,” said Wright at a news conference walls, then another to build the roof. After outside the Canadian Embassy. “And (LASQUITI ISLAND) “It changes our ideas holding training workshops, the Mud Girls secondly, the Canadian government should when we see a women-built house,” says return in September with their trainees to not be doing the dirty political intimidation Jen Gobby. Gobby is a member of the Mud plaster and paint the walls. work for the Bush administration by using Girls collective, whose mandate is “to stop The collective has 20 full- and part-time that database.” harming and start healing the Earth and members who earn $15 an hour. Business is CODEPINK launched an on-line petition ourselves.” conducted via the Internet, as both members that gathered 150,000 names to protest their On an August morning, the Mud Girls are and clients are scattered throughout the Gulf blacklisting. building a cob studio in the woods of Lasquiti Islands and Vancouver Island. The peace activists came to draw Island, a 22-kilometre strip of land off The Mud Girls also take on smaller attention to the 2.2 million internally mainland British Columbia. A buzz of human building jobs, such as cob ovens, outhouses, displaced Iraqis, 2.5 million Iraqi refugees activity fills the air as earthen materials are cabins and garden walls. and 650,000 Iraqi casualties in the war. They mixed and moved around by wheelbarrow. In “We have more work than we can also pointed out that the 3,700 U.S. soldiers the past five weeks, the stone foundation and handle,” according to Gobby. killed in the war and occupation are greater post-and-beam framework have been So why has cobbing become so popular? in number than Americans killed in the Twin completed. The women are now working on Gobby believes the shift in perspective is Towers on September 11, 2001. the partially built cob walls alongside because of climate change. “People are The U.S. military spends $280 million in volunteers, including their client, relatives desperate for alternatives,” she says. direct military costs per day on the Iraq War. and assorted neighbours and friends. Four The idea of a feminist builders’ collective pet dogs are tied up nearby. began on Lasquiti Island—which comes as MONEY EQUALIZES “Working with clay is like being at the no surprise, considering the 400 island A Toronto Dominion Bank report says spa,” according to Claire, a member of the residents decline BC Hydro’s services and women who earn $100,000 or more are collective. “I feel cleansed at the end of the use alternative energy. more likely to have a partner who does their day.” Gobby bought 10 acres of island land with share of the housework. The muddy cob mixture is made from friends after taking a hands-on building The September report noted that the island-found sand and clay and “imported” course in Winnipeg. Even though she shares number of Canadian women earning more straw from Vancouver Island farms. The an island home with her partner, Jen wanted than their spouses has tripled, with 1.3 materials are doused with water and “a room of my own,” so she built a cob million women out-earning a spouse among stomped on by foot, then made into mud balls studio with a garden-top roof with the help of 4.6 million couples in 2005. That means that and applied by hand to build two-inch-thick 15 friends. women out-earn men in 28 percent of walls. (Cobbing is contagious, and even this Soon after, the Mud Girls were born. They couples. The study also found that women writer puts down pen and paper to help out.) bartered their labour for other services. The make up only 12 percent of directors in “The great thing about cob building is you four-year-old bartering collective still exists corporate boardrooms. can do more with the shape of the on the island, along with the wage-earning The report notes that in the past three structure,” says Gobby, “like using rounded collective formed earlier this year. decades the participation rate for walls and arched windows.” “The collective is symbolic, by showing Canadian women in the paid workforce The two-storey cob studio is designed like women can take matters into their own has risen to 82 percent, from about 50 a four-leaf clover. Assorted glass bottles are hands,” Gobby says as she picks up a garden percent. The report concludes that higher occasionally inserted into the walls, as are hose. The Mud Girls’ tasks and visions seem education is the key to women’s economic conventional glass windows. as clear as the water she sprays on the prosperity and to reducing the wage gap. “We empower the clients to take charge drying mud walls. More Canadian women than men are now of the designs, and we show them how to For more info visit enrolled in Canadian universities. care for the cob home when it is completed,” http://www.mudgirls.ca. !

6 WINTER 2008 HERIZONS STATUS OF WOMEN nelliegrams RULE RULES BECOMES STATUS QUO Ground-breaking author Jane Rule has been appointed a BY MELINDA ROBINSON Member of the Order of Canada, in recognition of her lifetime regulations. Most notably, NAWL—an contribution to literature. organization Diamond once headed—closed Rule is the author of 12 novels and the its doors in September. recipient of several awards. Her first “They have removed the means of making novel, Desert of the Heart, a lesbian love systemic changes that will benefit all women, story published in 1964, was made into an not just individual women who are in crisis,” award-winning film, Desert Hearts, in according to Diamond. 1985. Born in New Jersey in 1931, Rule The new guidelines under the Women’s moved to Canada in 1956. She taught Partnership Fund make it clear that the English at the University of British government is looking for small projects that Columbia and gained prominence as a will produce a single, measurable outcome. leader in the gay rights movement and as The word equality has been omitted from the an advocate of free speech. program’s goals and objectives. Organizations Rule was the subject of a Genie- Under Stephen Harper, the goal of women’s equality seeking systemic or legal reforms that would awarding winning documentary, Fiction and has been nixed. impact millions, not merely hundreds, of Other Truths; A Film about Jane Rule, by Canadian women are ineligible. Aerlyn Weissman. She has also received (OTTAWA) Governments often withdraw In the past, women’s organizations worked the Canadian Authors’ Association Best funding when first elected, save a bit of to ensure that women’s rights remained a Novel and Best Short Story awards, the money, and then correct their unpopular constitutional priority, developing strategies American Gay Academic Literature Award, mistakes towards election time. In the case of to allow immigrant women to access work the U.S. Fund for Human Dignity Award of the removal and restoration of $5 million from commensurate with their qualifications, and Merit and the Alice B. Tolkas Medal, for Status of Women Canada’s Women’s Program, protecting victims of sexual assault against lesbian fiction. however, funding is being redirected to a new personal attacks in court. Rule opposed Canada’s gay marriage Women’s Partnership Fund. The new guidelines also allow private lobby on the basis of her belief that The stated purpose of the new fund to is businesses to apply for funding from an marriage ‘mainstreams’ gay and lesbian to “achieve the full participation of women in agency set up to fund grassroots feminist relationships. the economic, social and cultural life of equality initiatives. As Marika Morris, “To be forced back into the heterosexual Canada.” Notably absent is a commitment to research coordinator for CRIAW, put it in her cage of coupledom is not a step forward women’s full participation in the political life analysis of the federal budget, “the Royal but a step back into state-imposed of the country. Bank has a better chance of obtaining definitions of relationships,” she told the The Women’s Program’s priorities include Women’s Program funds than CRIAW.” Globe and Mail. economic security and targeting violence In May, the all-party House of Commons against women, with a focus on Aboriginal, Standing Committee on the Status of Women PRIZE REMARKS immigrant, visible minority and senior recommended that the government reverse British novelist Doris women. However, new guidelines specifically these changes, reinstate funding for Lessing has become the exclude organizations involved in advocacy, advocacy groups and agencies that work to 11th woman to win the lobbying or research from receiving funds. promote women’s equality, work towards the Nobel Prize for Literature According to feminist activist Bonnie full participation of women in Canadian since it was instituted in Diamond, the Harper government is “trying to society and address the issues of violence 1901. Lessing’s 1962 novel, craft a political climate for women that will towards women and girls. The committee The Golden Notebook, was hailed as a keep the status quo in place and will not also recommended that the federal breakthrough depiction of women’s inner address issues of inequality.” government reverse its decision to close the life when it was published. “Removing advocacy removes the ability 12 regional offices of Status of Women The Nobel Committee referred to Lessing of citizens to impress on the government the Canada, maintain Status of Women Canada’s as “that epicist of the female experience, need for changes in law and politics,” says policy research fund and restrict funding to who with scepticism, fire and visionary Diamond. non-profit organizations. Last, but not least, power has subjected a divided civilization In fact, several advocacy and research the committee recommended that Ottawa to scrutiny.” groups, including the National Association of reinstate the goal of equality in the mandate Her reaction to receiving the prize, Women and the Law (NAWL), the National of the Women’s Program. arriving home after shopping in London, Organization of Immigrant and Visible “When you take away the ability of suggested the description was apt. “I’ve Minority Women of Canada, and The women’s organizations to advocate, you take won all the prizes in Europe, every bloody Canadian Research Institute for the away the impetus to change,” says Diamond. one, so I’m delighted to win them all. It’s a royal flush,” quipped Lessing, 88. Advancement of Women (CRIAW), have To tell Status of Women Minister Beverley Despite her obvious sympathies, Lessing already been forced to close offices or cut Oda that your Canada includes equality, email: [email protected]. said recently of the women’s movement: “I back on their services because of the new ! HERIZONS WINTER 2008 7 campaign updates

PROSTITUTES workers of the Downtown Eastside.” Switzerland. SOLICIT The Vancouver Rape Relief and Women’s But neither the Kyoto Protocol, which OTTAWA Shelter objects to the idea, as it views expires in 2012 and aims to reduce In her 21 years as a prostitution as a means of perpetuating greenhouse gas emissions through legally sex worker, Susan violence against women. An overwhelming binding measures, nor the United Nations Davis, 39, has known majority of prostitutes would leave the sex Framework Convention on Climate Change— countless peers who trade if given a choice, said shelter the first international treaty to address global have died of suicide, spokesperson Daisy Kler. warming, which entered into force in 1994— murder, AIDS or drug “The idea that there are women who, given mention women or gender. overdoses in an autonomous decision, given all other In order to reduce the high levels of female Photo: William Tinq Vancouver’s options, would stay is a fantasy,” she said. mortality during natural disasters, the round- Downtown Eastside. She added that a co-op would not protect table organizers urged governments to analyze Davis and other local sex workers have Vancouver’s most vulnerable women, as those and identify the specific risks such events banded together to establish Canada’s first co- who work the streets solely to survive would pose to women, as well as gender-specific operative brothel and they want Ottawa to not likely have the money to join. protection measures. grant them an exemption so they can set up a Cracking down on pimps and johns would “Climate change policy-making has failed to co-op brothel during the 2010 Winter more effectively improve the safety of sex adopt a gender-sensitive strategy,” said Aguilar. Olympics. They say it will give them a safe workers than offering a place where men The annual UN climate change place to work as officials polish the city’s could continue to exploit women, Kler said. conference takes place in Bali, Indonesia, in image for the Games. “We don’t think men should be entitled to buy December. During that conference, The British Columbia Coalition of and sell women to satiate themselves.” governments are expected to begin Experiential Women is already setting the —Wency Leung, Women’s E-news negotiating for a new international climate groundwork to open the co-op brothel. www.womensenews.org change agreement that will replace the Members have begun scouting for a location Kyoto agreement. and are enlisting the backing of local WOMEN TURN UP GENDER- Ulrike Rohr, director of the Berlin-based businesses, police and labour organizations. EQUITY HEAT AT CLIMATE TALKS Genanet, added that women’s groups need to Faced with the task of cleaning up the city Women’s perspectives must be included in move the debate over climate change away to host the 2010 Winter Olympics, Vancouver international negotiations over climate change, from purely scientific and economic authorities said they are open to the idea. according to delegates at a round-table meeting viewpoints, reframing it as a sustainable- “We would be willing to explore anything in September. Sixty government, United Nations development issue, and in that way make it a that … would be helping the situation of sex and civil society representatives met with the social issue. trade workers, and make it safer for them and aim of influencing discussions during climate —Bosana Stopatic, Women’s E-news make it better for the community,” said change talks at the UN. www.womensenews.org Vancouver police spokesperson Howard “Climate change will increase existing Chow. He noted one requirement: “It has to be inequalities,” said Irene Dankelman, vice-chair something that is lawful.” of the Women’s Environment and Development Prostitution itself is legal in Canada. Organization. “Not only are women adversely However, since most activities associated with impacted by climate change, they also it are not—such as soliciting sexual services contribute differently from men to its causes in a public place, operating a bawdy house and and its solutions.” living off the avails of prostitution—the group The group highlighted women’s wants an exemption. Ottawa has already disproportionate vulnerability to the types of allowed the operation of a safe, supervised natural disasters that climate change is MOTHERS STILL AT RISK injection site in the city, where authorities give expected to cause as well as women’s often There has been virtually no progress in amnesty to intravenous drug users. overlooked capacity to join mitigation efforts. reducing maternal deaths for the past 15 years “Vancouver truly is the testing ground for In Indonesian villages worst hit by the 2004 in countries where mortality rates are already new ideas,” Davis said, citing the site as well tsunami, up to 80 percent of the victims were the highest. Sub-Saharan African nations, for as other initiatives, such as free needle female, according to Oxfam International. And instance, account for more than half the exchange programs and the testing of during the 2003 heat wave in Europe women world’s maternal deaths. prescription heroin on addicts. accounted for 70 percent of the deaths in International agencies say universal access “We can’t do anything that would put police France, which totalled almost 15,000, to reproductive health services must be in a position to arrest us,” she said. “So, what according to the French government. priorized to reverse the trend. A new report we’re saying is, this is such a little place. Let “During emergencies, women are less likely follows the release of studies that found that us try and demonstrate to you what we think to have access to information about abortion rates dropped sharply between 1995 will happen, which is it will greatly diminish assistance than men,” said Lorena Aguilar, a and 2003, particularly in places where abortion the complaints from the neighbourhood and senior gender advisor for the World is legal. will greatly increase the safety of the sex Conservation Union, based in Gland, The joint research from the World Health

8 WINTER 2008 HERIZONS campaign updates nelliegrams never liked the movement because it’s too ideologically based.”

Organization and the New York-based stigmatizes rape. The family of 15-year-old PERSONS Guttmacher Institute found abortions Nadege Mininani, for instance, expelled her HONOURED worldwide had declined to 29 per 1,000 women from her home after her rape resulted in Wendy Robbins, a of childbearing age in 2003 from 35 abortions pregnancy and told her she had brought social activist and per 1,000 in 1995. The lowest rates were shame upon them. a champion of pay recorded in Western Europe, where abortion Van Baeren says only about one percent of equity in New Brunswick, whose recent is largely legal and women have better access his patients follow through with judicial efforts include measures to ensure more to contraception. recourse. women are appointed research chairs, The lack of safe abortion services in many “There are no laws for rape,” he says. was one of five recipients of the 2007 developing countries continues to take a toll, “There is a lack of rule of law in general.” Governor General’s Awards in killing about 67,000 women annually and After 13 years of civil war, 27 years of Commemoration of the Persons Case. A hospitalizing five million others, according to dictator rule and violence between Hutu and founder of the feminist listserv PAR-L, the report, published in the British medical Tutsi ethnic groups, much of Burundi’s Robbins teaches English at the University journal The Lancet. infrastructure is suffering. The long war of New Brunswick. Guttmacher concluded that safe access to resulted in lawless police and armed forces, Another name familiar to Herizons abortion and increased family planning and and a judicial system in shambles unprepared readers, Shari reproductive health services could curb the to process the huge number of legal battles Graydon, received toll and substantially reduce maternal piling up at its doors. a Persons Award mortality. The research organization estimates The government, aided by the international as well. Best- that more than 100 million women worldwide community, is attempting to rebuild the nation. known for her role have unmet needs for contraception. The World Bank has pledged more than $130 as president of —Kara Alaimo, Women’s E-news million U.S. in aid to finance education and MediaWatch from www.womensenews.org community development. The United Nations 1992 to 2000, has switched tactics in Burundi from Graydon has used peacekeeping to peace-building, with the her vast expertise establishment of one of the first UN peace- to promote awareness of media sexism. The building commissions. author of In Your Face also initiated the As part of its reconstruction effort, the Annual Persons Day Reception on country is hoping to stage tribunals for war Parliament Hill. criminals and a truth and reconciliation The awards were instituted to honour the commission. The commission will be modeled Persons Case in Canada, brought by a group on that of South Africa, which was hailed for of Alberta Women (Louise McKinney, Nellie its ability to help heal a divided country McClung, Henrietta Muir Edwards, Emily through the simple use of organized public Murphy and Irene Parlby) who fought all the confession and forgiveness. way to the Privy Council of Britain to have But as Burundi struggles to maintain a women recognized as persons, and, thereby, delicate peace, women’s rights advocates are qualified to be appointed to the Senate. calling for nationwide legal and social reforms This year’s recipients also included to address the countless crimes of sexual Manitoba’s Muriel Smith, former deputy violence committed during the war and to premier of Manitoba from the 1980’s reform the country’s legal treatment of rape. administration of NDP Premier Howard PEACE MUST INCLUDE Eugene Nindorera, Burundian activist and Pawley. TOUGH RAPE LAWS former human rights minister, says the new “Muriel Smith has made a profound As post-war Burundi prepares for a post-war government must make substantial impact on improving the status of women,” reconciliation process based on South changes to its legal system if it really wants to said Winnipeg North MP Judy Wasylycia- Africa’s, women’s rights advocates say the protect the rights of women. He says the Leis, who nominated Smith. “She has first step must be bringing the perpetrators of current government seems to favour ignoring worked tirelessly and selflessly, for the sexual violence to justice. the perpetrators of human rights abuses, in better part of half a century, on women’s At a small rape clinic run by Doctors part because many government officials fear issues and the pursuit of equality.“ Without Borders in Bujumbura, the capital of prosecution themselves. Awards were also bestowed upon Dr. the small East African, about 10 victims per “To strengthen human rights and the justice Mildred L. Burns, a McGill professor who day line up for antiretroviral medication to system is very important, but it’s not seen as worked to promote women’s full treat HIV. The war has ended, but the rape very important, according to the resources participation in senior educational roles, crisis continues. that are accorded to these different sections. and Élaine Hémond, an advocate for Luk Van Baeren, a field officer at the clinic, It’s frustrating.” women’s equitable representation in ! says patients suffer enormous shame and —Anna S. Sussman, Women’s E-News, government through the organization alienation in a country that still heavily www.womensenews.org Femmes, politique et démocratie in Quebec.

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10 WINTER 2008 HERIZONS RESETTLEMENT URGED nelliegrams BY LAURYN OATES GUARD AGAINST HARASSMENT The New York State Division of Human is entered through a tattered sheet hanging Rights awarded an $850,000 US settlement over a mud doorway. In a small room to 55-year-old Alicia S. Humig, a lesbian outside, a dozen women and their children prison guard who was subject to repeated wait to see the doctor, the only one for this harassment from a male colleague. The camp. More wait inside. complaints about the abuse were ignored Dr. Najia (many Afghan women use only by her employer, Wende state prison in one name) sees up to 100 women daily and Alden, N.Y., the agency ruled. her team delivers between three and 10 —Women’s E-news, babies a day. She sees as many deaths in a www.womensenews.org day, and tells me about the difficulty getting medicine for diseases running through the CONNECT camp, such as Hepatitis B. She looks TO KLEIN exhausted as she keeps wiping away the We’ve sweat and dust from her forehead and interviewed Afghan refugees, mostly women and children, live in moves her short hair aside with the back of harsh conditions along the Pakistan border. This photo Naomi Klein in was taken at Torkham, where all refugees cross. her hand. this issue of “This is a place where people just subsist. Herizons, but if (AFGHANISTAN) Fanning myself in the shade They don’t really live, just subsist,” she you want to find outside the border guards’ office on the road explains in Dari. out more about how populations that are in that marks the entrance from eastern Refugee camps are under the rule of shock are subsequently robbed of rights Afghanistan to western Pakistan, I watch Afghan warlord cronies. There is a high and wealth, check out www.naomiklein.org. two young Pashtoon refugee sisters. It’s a incidence of forced marriage in refugee The YouTube Shock Doctrine promo sweltering 50°C and they are at ease in their camps and domestic abuse is rampant. (directed by Children of Men’s Alfonso breezy layers and scarves. They are wearing Afghanistan’s long series of conflicts has Cuarón) is a shocker in itself. the bright purple, blue and red clothes and seen its people fleeing to Pakistan and other gold jewelry of the Kuchi, Pashtoon nomadic neighbouring countries for the better part of BREAKING 30 years. Some camps are 20 years old; they tribespeople who roam from the dry deserts BREAD are settlements with electricity, running of southern Afghanistan to the northern Help support water and mud houses. Last summer, mountain valleys. They could not be more girls and women Pakistan began demolishing camps in the than six and eight, but they are laden with in Afghanistan North-West Frontier Province, the region that roped baggage, standing guard over one of and host a hosts the majority of the three million Afghan the rickety wooden carts, known as Kashmiri potluck dinner refugees in the country. carts, which hire for about 40 rupees back with nine of your friends. A project Meanwhile in Afghanistan, a growing and forth across the border at Torkham. coordinated by Canadian Women for Women women’s rights movement is pushing for The sisters are two of thousands of in Afghanistan, a national women’s legal reforms, including a law against Afghans who have hastily collected their few organizations with chapters across Canada, domestic violence, expected to come before belongings and started the exhausting can get you started. parliament within a few months. As host, you invite nine friends for journey across the Khyber Pass, a The Afghan Women’s Network, a coalition dinner and request that they bring a dish treacherous mountain pass, back into of over 60 women’s organizations, is hard at to share. Each participant donates $75, so Afghanistan. work writing a human rights report to be each potluck raises $750 (tax receipts The UN High Commission for Refugees submitted to the United Nations. The report available)—an amount that will pay the has offered families $100 US for their will take the Afghan government to task for salary of a teacher for one year in transportation back to Afghanistan and for failing to report on its progress in Afghanistan. resettlement. While this is a small fortune in implementing the Convention on the Herizons added the breaking bread Afghanistan, the fourth-poorest country in Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination project to its annual fall fundraising drive the world, most have rejected the offer Against Women. One positive sign is the and raised more than $600 at press time because they have little to return to: no Afghan Institute of Learning, which has for the Breaking Bread project. You can shelter, no work opportunities, and they are trained thousands of female teachers across become a host and enjoy the company of terrified of the violence that engulfs their the country to meet the overwhelming your friends, and excellent food, while homeland. For women in particular, demand for girls’ education. sharing the opportunity to participate in Afghanistan remains a lawless state unable Afghanistan’s women parliamentarians facilitating change for Afghan women to protect them from violence, rape, forced are also raising their voices in an and girls. marriages, child marriage and a long list of intimidating parliament which includes For more information on how to host a other gender-based human rights violations. warlords and well-known human rights Breaking Bread event, call Canadian And yet life in the camps is marginally abusers. Despite facing uphill battles and Women for Women in Afghanistan at better at best. Dr. Najia, a gynecologist, runs occasional setbacks, women in Afghanistan 403.244.5625 or email a clinic in the corner of a refugee camp of remain determined to shape their country’s [email protected]. some 45,000 outside of Peshawar. Her clinic future social and political life. ! HERIZONS WINTER 2008 11 nelliegrams HOUSEMAID

UGANDA HELPS WOMEN FACES DEATH Uganda opened its first factory for anti- BY LASANDA KURUKULASURIYA retroviral HIV drugs and anti-malaria medication in October. Locally produced A teenage Sri Lankan housemaid sentenced statement to court. Nonetheless, Nafeek was drugs are vastly cheaper and will allow to death by beheading in Saudi Arabia for charged with murder and sentenced to death Uganda to deliver medical treatment to allegedly strangling her employer’s infant has on the basis of the first confession. more people. Three-quarters of HIV- filed an appeal of her case. According to Sri Lankan Deputy Foreign positive people in sub-Saharan African Rizana Nafeek was 17 at the time of the Minister Hussein Bhaila, the embassy was in nations are female. infant’s death and had no legal touch with Nafeek after her arrest two years “The challenge is to make sure that the representation at her trial. The case ago. But the government made no move to production is followed by a good generated a flood of appeals on her behalf. offer her legal assistance. distribution system that makes sure that the The Asian Human Rights Commission, a “Neither government gives legal drug can reach all corners of the country,” Hong-Kong based non-governmental human representation. That has been so all along,” said Leonard Okello of Action Aid rights organization, filed an appeal through said Bhaila, who made a much-publicized visit International. the Sri Lankan Embassy in Riyadh on her to Riyadh with Nafeek’s parents to seek a Currently, only 41 percent of Ugandans behalf. The commission raised the required pardon from the bereaved father. Such a who need AIDS drugs receive them. lawyers’ fees of SAR 150,000 ($40,000 Cdn) pardon would have acquitted her under Saudi —Women’s E-news, from well-wishers. law; however, the plea was not successful. www.womensenews.org While Nafeek’s fate remains uncertain, the Last year, Sri Lanka acceded to the Vienna CLOSER TO GOD case has raised searing questions in Sri Convention on Consular Relations, which Lanka regarding the lack of legal and other gives a state the right to promptly arrange for The Anglican Church in Australia has protection for its 1.5 million overseas migrant legal representation for its nationals in paved the way to allowing women to workers, one million of whom are women foreign custody. Saudi Arabia is party to the become bishops. The Church’s highest employed as housemaids in West Asia. Convention on the Rights of the Child, which authority, the Appellate Tribunal, ruled that Nafeek is from Mutur, a poor, mainly expressly prohibits the execution of there is nothing in the Church’s Muslim village in Sri Lanka’s wartorn, offenders for crimes committed when they constitution that would prevent the tsunami-affected Eastern Province. While it were under 18, according to Amnesty consecration of a woman priest as a is common for impoverished families to seek International. diocesan bishop. employment in oil-rich West Asia for Migrant workers garnered more than $2 A central issue in the September ruling underage children, unscrupulous job agents billion last year, making them Sri Lanka’s concerned the definition of canonical frequently exploit them. When Nafeek left the highest foreign-exchange earners. fitness. In the Church’s constitution, country in 2005, her passport said she was Government policy on foreign employment adopted in 1962, canonical fitness 23, though she was only 17. appears to be driven by the objective of included a requirement for maleness. The Shortly after she was hired as a maximizing remittances, critics say, with little requirement was removed in a process housemaid, Nafeek was assigned to bottle- consideration for the safety and dignity of that began in 1989, when a canon feed her employer’s four-month-old infant, a workers overseas. With no minimum wage, redefined the term. The canon came into task for which she was not trained. The Sri Lankan housemaids earn between $100 effect in 1995 after 75 percent of dioceses, incident of the baby choking occurred within and $150 a month. There are reports of including all metropolitan dioceses, 18 days of her arrival, according to the physical and sexual assault, and even death adopted it. commission. The infant’s parents blamed at the hands of employers. A system of safe The Church has ordained female priests Nafeek and called the police. It is alleged houses maintained by the Sri Lankan for 10 years. that she was coerced by police into embassies abroad to accommodate GAYS SAY “I DO” confessing that she had strangled the infant. runaways in distress is viewed as grossly After being allowed to talk to an interpreter inadequate to cope with the demand. The 2006 Canadian from the Sri Lankan embassy, Nafeek related Four Sri Lankan men were beheaded in census marked the first her version of what had happened and, Saudi Arabia in February. They had no legal time gay and lesbian according to the commission, made a second representation at their trials. couples were ! specifically polled on their marital status. According to Family Portrait: Continuity and Change in Canadian Families and Households in 2006 data, 7,460 of Canada’s 43,350 queer live-together couples are married—16.5 percent. By comparison, 80 percent of the more than seven million straight couples who live together are married. Since same-sex marriage became legal

12 WINTER 2008 HERIZONS THINK INSIDE THE BOX nelliegrams BY KRISTA SCOTT DIXON in parts of Canada in June 2003, 12,438 queer marriage ceremonies have taken a boxer denied the right to fight in place. But an estimated 40 percent of 1983 because at the time Boxing those marriages are believed to have Ontario argued that fighting might involved couples from other countries. In give women cancer. Canada, same-sex couples represent 0.6 Most significantly, this is only percent of all live-in couples in Canada, a the fourth event in Toronto to rate similar to the United States, where feature an all-female fight card. same-sex couples comprise 0.7 percent of The gym is home to the first all- households. female boxing club in Canada. The rate of same-sex marriage varies Along with catering to women greatly. In the Yukon, 33 percent of the 40 looking to test their limits, whip same-sex live-together couples noted by their bodies into shape, and Stats Can were married, compared to just maybe do a little butt-kicking 9.2 percent of the 13,685 same-sex live-in along the way, the gym wants to couples in Quebec. Lesbian married target marginalized populations: couples were more likely to have children survivors of violence, trans (24.5 percent) than lesbian couples in people, sex workers, people with common-law unions (14.6 percent). disabilities and special needs, at- Similarly, nine percent of gay married men risk youth and others not had children, compared with only 1.7 typically found channelling Savoy Howe, known as “Kapow” by her fellow boxers, is the owner percent of gay men in common-law of the only women’s boxing club in Canada. Photo: Arantxa Cedillo Rocky. The gym and its goals are couples. unabashedly queer-positive, grrl The Netherlands was the first country to (TORONTO) It’s a warm Saturday night in late powerrific and feminist. legalize same-sex marriage, in 2000. spring, and the crowd packed into the The ringleader of this innovative Belgium came next in 2003, followed by Toronto Newsgirls boxing club gym is endeavour is Savoy Howe, an energetic Canada. Spain (2005) and South Africa sweating. The gym itself, in a old warehouse woman in her 40s whose easy smile, her (2006) came next. Meanwhile, Israel in an industrial corner of Toronto’s east end, hobby of standup comedy and her recognizes same-sex marriages performed is right out of a movie set: concrete-block enthusiastic encouragement of her fiercely in other countries. Massachusetts legalized walls, rows of old dented lockers, slightly loyal Amazons belies both a knockout punch same-sex marriage in 2004, the only U.S. rusted free weights, carefully lettered and an iron will. state to do so. inspirational slogans, fight photos and Howe’s initial reason for boxing was fear. posters, and well-used punching bags As an out lesbian who just moved to Toronto BLAME IT ON HORMONES exuberantly slathered with duct tape. The from the East Coast, she was afraid she Studies show that heterosexual women in place smells like hot people, iron, dust and might “get a brick in the back of the head” a relationship are attracted to hunkier men leather. Spectators who didn’t arrive early for it. So she began training. Fear became just prior to ovulation. Jan Havelicek of enough to grab a folding chair are squeezed satisfaction, self-esteem and skill mastery. Charles University in Prague found that against the walls. It seems pretty much like a From the early days of asserting herself in a ovulating women prefer the scent of the stereotypical boxing match. mostly male gym, where she had to change pheromones of more dominant men (those Except, this event is a little different. First, in the broom closet and aggressively defend thought to confer a reproductive the night opens with Wilma, a.k.a. her territory, to founding the Newsgirls in advantage), whereas single women “Vilminator,” one of the boxers, belting out a 1996, and finally to opening her own gym in ovulating have no preference for the rendition of Gershwin’s “Summertime” in the the fall of 2006, Howe’s journey has been a pheromones of either dominant or less ring. The scantily clad “ring girl,” who testament to her scrappy strength and gift for dominant men. He theorized that single normally marches in a bikini around the ring leadership. Fighting back in the ring and women may be seeking nurturing men between rounds, is nowhere to be seen helping other women find their strength has who will help raise a family. (although at a previous Newsgirls event a become a way for Howe to fight back in Louann Brizendine, author of The good-natured Speedo-wearing male other arenas: against sexism and Female Brain, puts it this way: “Once the bodybuilder, and a grinning butch in a blond homophobia, and for social justice and home is secured, they have the biological Dolly Parton wig, were kind enough to empowerment. urge to sneak around with men who have oblige). There is a photo exhibit of female Tonight the hard work is paying off. Howe the best genes.” boxers. An activist seeking participants for a is presented with a Breakthrough Award Ah, that explains it. Pheromones are women/trans-people-against-poverty-and- from the Canadian Association For The released into the air from skin and sweat violence march makes a five-minute speech Advancement Of Women And Sport And glands and influence emotions and a desire between fights. “We’re sick of this bullshit! Physical Activity for her pioneering for sex. Brizendine suggests this may We’re not gonna be victims anymore!” she contributions. The crowd goes nuts. Howe explain why genetic studies have found that yells, and the crowd hollers, “YEAH!” grins her lopsided grin. She’s not down for up to 10 percent of fathers are not A closer inspection of the gym’s walls the count yet. “Boxing is a metaphor for life,” genetically related to the children they reveals that all the framed images and articles she says. “The best stage in the world, man, believe they fathered. is that ring.” are about women, such as Suzanne Hotchkiss, ! HERIZONS WINTER 2008 13 nelliegrams

IN MATHEW’S MEMORY The U.S. Senate passed the Matthew Shepard Act in September. The bill expands American hate crimes legislation to include gender, sexual orientation and disability. The U.S. House of Representatives passed a companion bill last May. “The Matthew Shepard Act sends a bold and unmistakable message that violent crimes committed in the name of hate must end,” said a statement from Dennis and Judy Shepard, Mathew’s parents and the founders of The Mathew Shepard Foundation. The month after the bill was passed, the foundation launched MatthewsPlace.com, a Parental leave should be doubled, women’s advocates say. comprehensive online resource for LGBTQ youth in America. The website launched on October 12, 2007, the ninth anniversary of Matthew Shepard’s death. Shepard died MORE MOMMY TIME following a group assault motivated by his BY MELINDA ROBINSON assailants’ hatred of homosexuals.

PINK TURNS A major overhaul of Canada’s maternity and The Standing Committee on the Status of GREEN parental benefits plan is needed to raise Women has recommended that Ottawa parental benefits to the levels received by double leave to two years and increase the The U.S. women’s Quebec parents, according to women’s wage replacement to 60 percent. The Harper anti-war group organizations and the all-party House of government has rejected calls to improve the CODEPINK has spun Commons Standing Committee on the Status family support policy. off a green campaign that makes a link of Women. Meanwhile, women with children have between the Iraq war and global warming. Parental benefits are covered by significantly lower lifetime earnings—as Its slogan: No War. No Warming. Employment Insurance in all Canadian much as 60 percent lower than women According to CODEPINK’s website: “The jurisdictions except Quebec. Last year, without children. Although improvements to war is a direct result of our addiction to oil, Quebec negotiated a separate parental leave parental leave made in 2000 increased the and the continued U.S. occupation of Iraq is program—the Quebec Parental Insurance number of fathers qualified to take leave, further perpetuating our need for it.” Plan (QPIP). It allows for parents to receive most of the personal and financial burden The U.S. military is the single largest up to 70 percent of their salary, compared to involved in the early care of children still lies single consumer of petroleum in the world. 50 percent under the EI parental program. with women. The QPIP model addresses this “As our military grows, so does our There is also a separate five-week benefit in by providing a distinct entitlement for a dependence on oil. While chaos and death Quebec available to a second parent, second parent to take leave. Under the tolls in Iraq heighten, temperatures providing more incentive for fathers or same- national EI regime, parental leave must be continue to rise,” the group notes. sex parents to take leave. shared between parents: a woman may take The U.S. military uses 100 million barrels Last Mother’s Day, the National nine months of leave for herself, or she may of oil a year for its aircraft, ships, ground Association of Women and the Law called on give up a part of her leave in order to have vehicles and facilities. One hundred million Ottawa to raise the bar on the Canadian plan. her partner home. This means that if a barrels of petroleum is enough fuel 7.6 Its recommendations were based on two woman needs physical and emotional million cars to drive 15,000 miles each year. years of cross-country consultations and support from her partner during the often Jet fuel constitutes nearly 70 percent of the called for increased benefits to 70 percent of difficult postnatal period, she must shorten military’s petroleum use. earnings; a lowered eligibility requirement (to the amount of time she takes off. “It is necessary that we end our 360 hours, from 600 hours); and the Statistics from other countries suggest addiction to oil and stop the war, as it would implantation of a three-to-five-year “reach- distinct entitlement is essential to encourage enable us to better use our resources to back period” to enable those who paid into men to participate more fully in the care of develop a green economy,” concludes EI in the past to qualify for benefits. NAWL children. In Norway, where such a system is CODEPINK. also called for a higher benefit ceiling and for in place, almost 80 percent of fathers take www.codepink.org coverage to include self-employed workers. parental leave. ! 14 WINTER 2008 HERIZONS out of bounds BY LISA B. RUNDLE

Teaed Off

I’ve managed to become someone who takes pleasure from feels like a metaphor for all the ways people with power take herbal tea. It’s so much healthier than the caffeine-laden up space, in every kind of landscape, at the expense of those beverages I was shackled to. around them. And appear so blithely unaware, to boot. Chamomile calms a stress-induced upset stomach and it These same men are the ones who don’t move to their own is good in the morning. Together, they can make you side of the sidewalk when passing. My tactic is to also refuse sleepy. My kitchen cupboard is full of flavours and brands, to move: If we’re abandoning that particular social contract, but the ones I gravitate to are Yogi Teas. I admit that I let’s both abandon it and see what happens. Then I look as enjoy the wee words of wisdom that float on the paper tabs appalled as possible when we collide. It jostles, but it’s better at the end of the Yogi tea bag strings. I saved one and stuck than feeling as though it’s my job to dance around someone it where visitors could see it: “Socialize with compassion else’s enormous sense of self. and kindness.” I did attempt resistance on the subway once. Sat with my Reading these messages usually has the effect of reminding legs wide. Shoulders broad against the back of the bench. me to take a deep breath, and then of trying to imprint deep And in the middle seat. My thigh battled for territory for a in my brain that taking deep breaths can help with the vast good few seconds with the guy’s beside me. It felt aggressive, majority of quotidian challenges. and absurd, but as though I was fighting the good fight. And The other day, however, I encountered a tea-tab tidbit then the situation suddenly transformed itself and I was just that produced a whole other pressing my leg up against some reaction. I’d just been set off on guy, and it didn’t seem to be one of my longest-standing pet My thigh battled for communicating what I’d hoped. peeves, one even higher on my territory for a good few The injustice of that infuriated list than people who push into me further. the subway before other people seconds with the guy’s Now I try to use my words. are finished exiting. beside me. It has occurred to me that I’m But I digress. First the tea bag jealous of the male sense of tidbit. It read: “Man is as vast as he acts.” entitlement. Curious too. I suppose anyone who struggles for Yes, the supposedly gender-neutral “man” thing is irritating, her sense of self-worth will envy, to some degree, displays of but in this case “man” seemed entirely appropriate. Here is my seemingly rock-solid entitlement, whether or not they in truth peeve: men who ACT SO VAST. Especially in, say, a shared- mask the space-taker’s own vulnerabilities. seating situation. Like their knees couldn’t possibly come But only in part. I don’t want to be in the world in that way. closer than three feet apart without crushing their very Another Yogi nugget: “Live with an attitude of reverence manhood. I notice it mostly on public transportation, where it for yourself and all others.” That is, in a nutshell, what I want couldn’t be clearer that they are taking space that’s reserved for those wide-kneed dudes to meditate on. others. They are surrounded by women, children and other And leave me be to do the same. I made some tea as I men who all seem perfectly capable of confining their bodies, wrote; it felt wrong not to. The tab-sized wisdom was more whatever their size, to their own area. Many women visibly try obscure than usual. A new one. “Recognize that the other to make themselves smaller–drawing in shoulders, knees person is you.” pressed together, feet tucked under. Being one of those I took a deep breath and tried to imprint the message on women leaves me steamed whenever I’m in the presence of my brain — I am as vast as I feel. And I don’t need to steal the space-stealers. other people’s space to know it. ! Tempest in a teapot? In my defence, this space behaviour Lisa Rundle takes up space in Toronto.

HERIZONS WINTER 2008 15

Do No

HarmBY ZOE CORMIER

hat would you do if your doctor groped your breast thought she must have misunderstood, or it must have been after you had gone to see him about your throat? her fault in some way. Then, when she was in her early 30s, W When it happened to Beth, she just stood there. she saw a counsellor and realized she had been assaulted. She was 19, visiting a Calgary physician about her chronic Now 39, Beth says, “it breaks my heart that I would have tonsillitis. After examining her throat, he told her to stand in allowed that.” the centre of the room and asked her to take off her top. She Beth’s story is not unique. Even the 2000-year-old did. She started to feel uneasy. But, she thought, he’s a doctor. Hippocratic oath refers to sex with patients as an “intentional He must have a good reason for asking, right? injustice” and prohibits it. However, according to a 1991 Then he asked her to take off her bra and said he needed Ontario telephone survey, eight percent of female to listen to her heart and lungs. With his head and one hand respondents over the age of 15 had been sexually harassed or against her back, he groped her breasts with the other hand. abused by a physician. Behaviour ranged from inappropriate For 10 minutes. comments and groping to sexual relationships. Perhaps even “You must be thinking, why would you stand there and let more revealing was an Ontario Medical Association survey this man do this to you?” says Beth (not her real name). conducted the following year in which 11 per cent of doctors “Well, I was raised in a Catholic 1960s home: doctors and said they had knowledge concerning a colleague who had priests are infallible and don’t you dare question them.” sexual contact with a patient. When she left the office, Beth felt sick. The same doctor How do they get away with it? For starters, experts on was going to operate on her in a week. If he grabbed her sexual abuse report that those who are in positions of breasts when she was awake, what would he do when she authority—clergy, teachers and health professionals—make wasn’t? Instead of being angry with the doctor, however, she up a disproportionate percentage of offenders. became angry with herself. “I thought, how dare I think that According to Saskatchewan law professor Marilou about a doctor?” McPhedran, one of Canada’s top experts on the sexual abuse of Several days later, sitting in Calgary’s Grace Hospital patients, doctors in particular are given a very high level of waiting for her surgery, she broke down. A nurse wandered in trust. “The abuse can therefore happen relatively easily, because and Beth told her what happened. The nurse promised her: people come to them in a state of vulnerability.They say things “Don’t you worry. You will not be left alone with him.” to a health professional they would say to nobody else—this True to her word, nurses made sure she was never alone ramps up the potential for the abuse of power and trust.” with him during her stay. “It was like this sisterhood of nurses And because doctors are held in such high regard, victims protecting me. That was the first time I felt the power of feel less willing to come forward and report the assault. women supporting each other,” recalls Beth. “What has been the most telling is the fact that the ‘mister

Illustration: tamara rae biebrich and Mike Carroll For 13 years, not a word passed her lips. A part of her still stranger danger’ was, and continues to be, the stereotype of an

HERIZONS WINTER 2008 17 assailant. That was what we were combating all the time— sexual abuse of a patient should be stripped of their license, somebody with a position in the community was not period, said the report. Even if the sex appeared to be considered suspicious,” according to Pat Marshall, a co- consensual, the report continued, a strict barrier was needed founder, along with McPhedran and others, of the to protect patients because of the inherent power imbalance Metropolitan Action Committee on Violence Against between a health care provider and a patient. Women and Children (METRAC), one of Toronto’s first Despite fears the report would gather dust, many of the organizations devoted to ending violence against women. task force’s recommendations were incorporated into various “This all goes back to what has historically been a provincial laws, including the Regulated Health Professions profound misunderstanding of sexual abuse involving breach Act of 1994. The Ontario law is clear. A physician found of trust. The impact of those breaches of trust are guilty of sexual abuse—which can include anything from misunderstood and trivialized, and yet are so long-lasting and sexualized behaviour and inappropriate touching to sexual intense. When your basic trust foundations are gone, the intercourse—faces disciplinary penalties, with the toughest whole world becomes topsy-turvy,” says Marshall, an anti- being a five-year mandatory revocation of his licence if found violence advocate for over 30 years. guilty of any of the following: “sexual intercourse, genital to Many victims do not even realize at first that they have genital, genital to anal, oral to genital, or oral to anal contact, been assaulted. However, they suffer the same repercussions masturbation of the [doctor] by, or in the presence of the as other victims of sexual assault: shame, confusion, guilt, patient, masturbation of the patient by the [doctor], self-doubt, anxiety, depression and even suicidal thoughts. encouragement of the patient by the [doctor] to masturbate Their health is likely to deteriorate because they may also in the presence of the [doctor].” Doctors guilty of so-called avoid doctors altogether—some women go decades without lesser sex offences may have their licence suspended for six seeing a physician. months or more, or conditions may be attached to their If the problem is so serious, why aren’t more doctors licence by the college. For example, a physician could be punished? prohibited from conducting physical examinations of female The only authority that can strip a doctor of their medical patients without a nurse present. licence is a self-governing provincial college of physicians and Adds Kathryn Clarke, senior communications coordinator surgeons. The same goes for nurses, psychologists, for the Ontario College of Physicians and Surgeons: “In cases chiropractors, dentists and other health professionals. where sexual abuse of a patient has been proven, the doctor According to many who work in the field, the self-regulation cannot apply for reinstatement until five years have elapsed.” of the medical profession is one of the biggest factors. However, Clarke goes on to say, the mandatory penalty of “I think it is idiotic that sexual abuse falls under self- revocation is not applicable to all cases of sexual abuse, and regulation,” says Susan Armstrong, a violence counsellor in the discipline committee “uses its discretion” when imposing Vancouver. “For a botched operation, I buy that you need penalties. another medical professional to assess what is appropriate. Ontario’s zero-tolerance approach influenced similar laws But you don’t need a medical background to know whether in P.E.I., New Brunswick, Alberta and B.C. And in a someone’s hand should be on my breast.” groundbreaking 1992 Supreme Court of Canada case, Historically, provincial colleges have not been eager to Norberg v. Wynrib, the court found that “where such a power investigate the abuse of patients by their members. Dr. Gail imbalance exists, it matters not what the patient may have Robinson, a psychiatrist and another co-founder of done, how seductively she may have dressed, how compliant METRAC, recalls what happened in Ontario 20 years ago. she may have appeared, or how self-interested her conduct “When we first went to the college about these issues, they may have been—the doctor will be at fault if sexual tried to minimize them. We knew for years that they had exploitation occurs.” been getting complaints and that they had been dismissing Some 16 years later, however, some of the original task force them,” recalls Robinson. To its credit, the organization members say the promise of zero tolerance has not been appointed a task force of lawyers, counsellors and fulfilled and the few advances made by the college have largely psychiatrists in 1990. McPhedran led the task force and been eroded. “The pendulum has swung back everywhere, the Robinson and Marshall were two of its members. issue has largely disappeared,” observes McPhedran. The task force produced a groundbreaking report that A glance at the College of Physicians and Surgeons of came to the conclusion that the only way to fix the problem Ontario annual report from 2006 shows that few complaints was to enact a law based on the policy of zero tolerance of reached the discipline committee. Of the 2,364 investigations sexual abuse. Any regulated health professional (including the college made into public complaints in 2006 (42 of which nurses, dentists, chiropractors, psychologists and more than involved sexual abuse complaints), fewer than half were 20 other disciplines) found guilty of acts that constitute the forwarded to the college’s complaints committee. The

18 WINTER 2008 HERIZONS college’s complaints committee took no action in three- “The tribunal was much worse than the actual violation. quarters of the 1,033 of the complaints. And just 33 cases, or The system absolutely traumatizes you. At the time, I was 3.2 per cent of the all complaints made, were sent on to the still under the delusion that they would do something. Now, discipline committee (the annual report does not specify the I just wish I had had a Tony Soprano in my life—at least outcome of cases involving sexual abuse). then I would have had some justice.” One way the current system avoids sending doctors to a Perhaps most troubling of all is that unless a doctor (or any discipline committee hearing is to shunt complaints into other health-care provider) is found guilty after a full alternate dispute resolution—a form of private mediation disciplinary hearing at the college, a complainant cannot find that tries to create a mutually satisfying solution between a out whether other complaints have been made against a doctor. complainant and physician. Although alternative dispute When Karen found out that several sexual complaints with resolution is cheaper and quicker, blame is never assigned and the College of Psychologists of Ontario had been filed against patients usually have to agree not to discuss the abuse they her psychologist, she was outraged. Her therapist coerced her experienced or how the case was resolved. So these cases stay into a sexual relationship that lasted several months. What off the public record. made her even angrier was that, when the college eventually did There are further problems with Ontario’s system and with take away his licence to practise as a psychologist, he was still others across the country. One is that if a doctor appeals the allowed to treat patients as a “therapist.” decision of the college, he can usually continue to practice “I went through hell, and he was still treating patients,” during the years that appeal may drag on. Patients, on the she says. other hand, do not have the ability to appeal. Second, In part because complaints against those providing therapy physicians can rely on their legal insurance plan run by the are common, Ontario’s Health System Improvements Act of Canadian Medical Protective 2007 brought in a new requirement Association to cover their costs, but which requires that anyone practising patients have no such support. Third, under the title of “psychotherapist” must those who bring complaints forward are “I went through hell, belong to a regulated health profession— only allowed in as witnesses at the and he was still one of the existing colleges or the new proceedings; they cannot bring forth treating patients,” College of Psychotherapists being evidence or ask questions of the doctor established under the act. and his witnesses. Karen says. The Criminal Code of Canada does “The justice equation is unbalanced,” contain prohibitions on sexual assault observes McPhedran. “Money, power involving non-physical coercion by and authority have access to money, power and authority— authority figures. And often, doctor-patient sexual abuse cases that’s how it works.” could qualify for a straight charge of sexual assault. South of Another shortcoming is that there is no direct the border, 22 U.S. states have made sex between a compensation for victims, unless a victim wins a civil suit, psychotherapist and a patient a felony punishable by up to 15 which they must fund themselves. However, Ontario does years in prison. require the college to set up a fund to pay for some therapy Gary Schoener, a psychologist who helped form the and counselling for some sexually abused patients. It has paid Minnesota law, believes that coercion is difficult to prove. out more than a million dollars for more than 100 “You would have to show beyond a reasonable doubt that applications since 1994. the sex was accomplished only because of the power And yet, even when a physician is found guilty, the ordeal differential,” says Schoener. “Not just that it played a role, but can be horrendous for victims. More than 20 years after a that it was the reason the sex happened. And remember, the Toronto pediatrician grabbed Sharon Danley’s breasts and benefit of the doubt would go to the defendant doctor—this stuck his tongue down her throat when he was supposed to is not the lower level of proof needed to take [away] a licence be examining her disabled two-and-a-half-year-old son, she or registration, or even win in a civil case.” filed an official complaint with the College of Physicians and Ultimately, the fact that health professions in Canada are Surgeons of Ontario. allowed by provincial governments to act as investigator, In 1993, the doctor was found guilty by the College. Yet, prosecutor, judge and jury when there are allegations of Danley says that, after four years of having her personal life abuse by their own members is the greater concern, scrutinized, watching other victims denied the opportunity to according to McPhedran. testify and then seeing the doctor receive a three-month “It all basically comes down to the same thing,” she says, suspension of his licence, it felt as though she had been “layer upon layer of privilege and access that is built on the

“emotionally gang-raped.” subjugation of women…. But that’s old news.” !

HERIZONS WINTER 2008 19

Shock Doc NAOMI KLEIN HAS A REMEDY FOR THE INJUSTICES OF NEO-LIBERAL POLICIES. READ HER NEW BOOK AND CALL YOUR MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT IN THE MORNING.

BY SUSAN G. COLE

t’s not easy talking about the excesses of capitalism, even when you’ve got an army of facts to back you up and a reputation for having inspired an entire I generation to take up activism against global capital’s greedy excesses. As Naomi Klein tells it, people aren’t exactly falling all over themselves to celebrate the release of her new book, The Shock Doctrine: The Rise of Disaster Capitalism (Random House). Things have been particularly nasty in the U.K. ”It’s been brutal in Britain,” she tells me on the phone from Edmonton, where she’s promoting the book. “The response has been really dismissive there—a lot of men of a certain age acting like I spoiled the party. Even the lefties are furious. But I just got a fan letter from Harold Pinter this morning, so I’m feeling a lot better.” She should take some heart from the fact that her new release is a jaw-dropping accomplishment. Its stunning premise uses shock therapy as a metaphor to describe how

Debra Friedman massive corporate privatization has been imposed all over the world.

HERIZONS WINTER 2008 21 The book starts in Montreal, where Klein encounters a about older male economists. Sometimes they’re dismissive. victim of the original shock therapy experiments conducted A headline in one of the British papers read: ‘Miss Angry’s by Dr. Ewan Cameron in the 1950s. The CIA-funded Cold Brand New Target.’ I definitely feel that the gender dynamic War-era experiments, conducted on unwitting Canadian has been used to trivialize the work. But it can work both psychiatric patients, used electroshock treatment in an ways—being young and a woman makes me threatening, but attempt to erase a person’s whole personality, with a view it also makes me more appealing at the same time.” towards recreating that person from scratch. One of the mysteries surrounding the right’s academic Klein takes that process of shock and applies it to Latin henchmen is their motivation. Unlike the Donald America in the 1970s, where state repression put entire Rumsfelds and Dick Cheneys of the world, they don’t populations into such a state of paralysis that they couldn’t personally profit from the agenda they proscribe. Klein react to governments’ decisions to sell over entire doesn’t speculate on what drives them, but she’s quick to economies. She goes on to apply the metaphor in impressive point out their contradictions. ways—to South Africa when the ANC took power, to Lech “There’s a willingness there to sit down and say nothing Walesa’s Poland, to Boris Yeltsin’s Russia and to parts of when Republicans intervene with massive corporate welfare, for Asia in the late ’90s. In each case, various shocks made the example. So the so-called ideologues don’t have the same populace compliant. enthusiasm for critiquing a regime that’s driving up the deficit.” A recent example comes out of the post-9/11 U.S., when You can trace the roots of the ideas of other bona fide U.S. President George Bush used the terrorist attacks to build ideologues, she points out. “Ayn Rand’s dad’s property was a labyrinth of private security companies that have made seized. Milton Friedman’s mentor, Friedrich van Hayek, had a huge amounts of money personal history, so he while trampling all over equated Naziism with big citizens’ civil rights. Or government.” consider post-tsunami I definitely feel that the She is prepared to say that Thailand, where a devastated gender dynamic has been used to one of the core problems population was left helpless with neo-liberal ideology is to fight the removal of local trivialize the work. that it doesn’t factor humans fishers from the beaches and into the equation. subsequently witnessed the “Friedman was asked, when ensconcing of high-end tourist traps in the area. Post-Katrina it came to the dictatorships in South America, whether a New Orleans saw the impact of the shock doctrine, too, when free market was worth the pain,” she recalls. “And he its public education system was decimated and replaced by responded: ‘That’s a silly question.’” charter schools. You can tell that a book’s going to hit hard when it pisses Klein’s research is staggering. The army of facts harnessed off both the right and the left, and Klein admits she’s losing to prove her thesis is wholly persuasive and her thesis is allies of all political stripes. But actually, her work does more enough to fill any reader with outrage. We knew Klein was than challenge pre-existing political dichotomies. It rewrites smart—No Logo and its ability to bring millions to a new the political map. It doesn’t matter whether the subject is a consciousness about globalization proved that much. But Communist government in Russia, a worker-run state in Shock Doctrine takes Klein to new places. She’s gone after Poland, the fascist Pinochet regime in Chile or Bush in individuals—specifically, economic theorist Milton America—they’re all susceptible to the doctrine. Different Friedman and his University of Chicago acolytes. Friedman kinds of shocks—be they political oppression, or natural preached that very limited government intervention and disasters, or terrorist attacks—pave the way for drastic absolutely free markets created rich social dividends. His actions by governments that promote economic private views on taxation and deregulation influenced governments interests at the expense of citizens. Even Nelson Mandela’s around the world, including the administrations of Ronald African National Congress gets heat for neglecting the Reagan in the U.S. and Margaret Thatcher in Britain. implications of allowing South Africa’s economy to be And it hasn’t gone unnoticed that Klein is going on this hollowed out by private business interests kind of attack in a climate dominated by men. Klein’s got the entire political spectrum covered. One of ”It’s such a male world that I’m in, that I’m writing about the more startling elements of The Shock Doctrine is Klein’s and debating in,” she observes. “Being a woman within it is a criticism of Amnesty International. We’ve heard criticisms of double-edged sword. Certainly, there have been personal Amnesty before—human rights scholar Catharine pieces written about me that wouldn’t have been written MacKinnon has complained that Amnesty has refused to 22 WINTER 2008 HERIZONS look at systemic violence against women because those the banking sector and the other was to lecture the village violations did not specifically meet the organization’s people on the perils of prostitution and drug use.” mandate to take on state oppression. However, Klein has a Carting Klein’s powerful ideas on a promotional tour is not different criticism. without its challenges. Our interview took place just as she “The neo-liberals (the term used to describe the theories of emerged from a stint in the U.S. promoting the book. Friedmanites) refer to their privatization policies as “It was an exciting experience,” she assures me, when I ‘technical,’ separating monetary policy from the reach of express worry over how the U.S. media treated her. “It politicians,” explains Klein. “Human rights groups do showed that it’s possible to do an end run of the mainstream something similar, by working to legalize rights … without media and still get the word out. I only talked to Democracy looking at the why behind policies. It’s not a sinister plot. Now, The Nation and The Huffington Post, and the book still Amnesty had to prove its neutrality, so they make a point of made the New York Times’ extended best-seller list. adopting cases equally from within totalitarian and “But it’s been frustrating, too. I’m happy to be nourishing communist governments, so they wouldn’t get sucked into those people who need to be fuelled—I have no problems the ideological warfare. It’s just like the way anti-war preaching to the choir—but this is a contested book, and I protesters don’t like to talk about the economic issues behind really wanted debate. And that hasn’t happened. As far as wars, because they don’t want to alienate people in the peace reviews are concerned, it’s only been given to men to review, movement. So, we’re still living with that legacy.” and that drives me crazy.” While women’s issues per se are not the focus of The Shock Ask Klein a question and words and concepts flow freely in Doctrine, the relevance of Klein’s theory to women’s lives is accessible ways. That’s amazing, given that economics can be clear. Women suffer more hopelessly dry. But when I when economies are ask her about her stardom, privatized and governments she takes a deep breath, and reduced. In Klein’s analysis “I’m being given space to talk the pause before the answer of the monetary crisis in about capitalism, and that freaks is longer. Asia, for example, she makes “Stardom—it’s a strange an important link between everybody out.” word. This is about politics, the shock doctrine and the not celebrity. What I’m rise of sexual slavery in doing is so much more Southeast Asia. In 1997, after the full-fledged economic contested territory than anything having to do with celebrity. depression sank in, the International Monetary Fund came in I do feel a responsibility to take this forum while I have it— and the forced governments of Thailand and Cambodia to the clock’s running out on it. I’m being given space to talk adopt policies that eviscerated their economies, throwing the about capitalism, and that freaks everybody out.” poor into even greater poverty. That’s why, Klein says, It does help that she has a supportive family. Her mother, families started to sell off their daughters. Bonnie Sherr Klein, is a celebrated feminist filmmaker and “These are human disasters that rarely leave the business an activist for people with disabilities; her father, Michael pages,” she laments. “We need to hear these human stories. Klein, is a physician involved with Doctors without Borders. The 1997 crash in East Asia was the equivalent to the Great Her in-laws only expand her political pedigree. Her father- Depression and was created by a run on currencies. Alan in-law is Stephen Lewis, the former ambassador to the Greenspan (former chairman of the U.S. Federal Reserve) United Nations, who most recently was special envoy for saw this as an opportunity to push his agenda onto East Asia, HIV/AIDS in Africa, and her mother-in-law is the well- which resulted in a fire sale of the countries’ financial assets. known and much-loved feminist Michele Landsberg. “I want to talk about what it means to put a country But it’s husband Avi Lewis that Klein credits for getting through this kind of shock. There was a lot of scapegoating her through the gruelling process of getting the word about of the Chinese in these populations. There were more rapes The Shock Doctrine out into the world. of Chinese women, explosive growth in the sex trade and an Male writers always have a support system for doing this unprecedented rise in human trafficking.” kind of work, she tells me. “I have a rare husband who put his Typical of the disconnect between economic policies, career on hold to tour with me. He’s taken three months off. human rights abuses and the experiences of real people was Most women don’t have that. That’s why there are so few the behaviour of Madeleine Albright (then U.S. secretary of women doing what I’m doing. It’s not that I’m so special.” state) when she came to visit Thailand. Klein’s The Shock Doctrine may be completely convincing,

“She had two agendas,” says Klein. “One was to cheer on but I don’t believe that last statement for a second. ! HERIZONS WINTER 2008 23 Illustration: Jaime Drew cothe our of oss lBY ELIZABETH RUTH

know something of missed opportunities, stunted and reproductive and mental health, researched the history of miswoven cells, futures undone. I know relentless, raging various cutting-edge drug treatments and pored over I optimisms, babies not yet wished into being. Yes, I know recommendations made by the Royal Commission on New all too well these trying, trying times that so many face, Reproductive And Genetic Technologies. I wrote papers on because, for almost five years, my partner and I have watched the ethics of anonymous sperm and egg donation and argued, younger women with buoyant, hopeful energy push double from a feminist point of view, for regulation. I investigated strollers through fertility clinic doors and flip the pages of potential long-term side effects of pills like Clomid, both on glossy magazines while we wait for blood draws and women who took them and on the offspring produced. I ultrasounds, and a successful pregnancy. We’ve celebrated learned that very little research had been done in the area. friends and family as they gave birth to their second children, There are still no long-term studies—which is why doctors while we experienced miscarriages and continued trying for are able to tell me, with great assurance, that there’s no link our first.They are everywhere, the fresh, naive faces.They don’t between the fertility drugs so many of us now swallow and look haggard, weary, defeated. How I’ve hated them for their inject, and the cancers all women fear. blind privilege, and especially for their optimism. Not being So, when I decided, on my 35th birthday, to have a child, I able to bear a child will break your heart, but hopes raised and wasn’t naive about the history of the Western medical model dashed, month after month, will bleed all joy from living. responding to women’s health. I knew other drugs deemed safe had later been proven dangerous and taken off the Flesh of my flesh, market. I believed our bodies, especially our hormonal bodies, Blood of my blood, who will I be without you? are routinely perceived and treated as defective, or in need of Who would I have been if you’d stayed? control and management, and that childbirth itself has More than a decade ago, at the University of Toronto, I become a state of emergency in North America, with C- concentrated my graduate studies in the areas of women’s sections and early interventions fast becoming the norm. I

HERIZONS WINTER 2008 25 also expected that, because I was old, reproductively thyroid. (Another fertility doctor was adamant that it speaking, and because my partner was a woman, I’d find probably had been the cause.) What exactly is the myself in a doctor’s office. At the very least, I had a sperm relationship between hypothyroidism and miscarriage? I still access issue. What I couldn’t envision then, and swore I’d don’t know. I was told to grieve and move on, because never do, was to give over control of my body. Of course, miscarriage is common, and an easy first conception is a sign that’s exactly what I ended up doing. of fertility. I tried for another year without success. I conceived without drugs on our first attempt, using That first doctor had many lesbian patients, yet her frozen sperm from an anonymous donor. I was optimistic, receptionist routinely asked for my husband’s health card with no visible stress in my life. I knew it wouldn’t be long number. The doctor, a walking infomercial who answered our before I was pregnant. The procedure was a simple, non- questions before we had a chance to finish asking them, never invasive insemination (sperm deposited in the vagina, at the spent more than 10 minutes with us. She told us she wouldn’t opening of the cervix) and not, as it would be for years speak with my partner, as I was the patient, so that’s how it subsequently, the highly touted, invasive and more expensive was for almost a year—both of us at morning ultrasounds intrauterine insemination (IUI). I was certain I was pregnant and blood draws (10 days per month), both at scheduled within hours, though people told me it wasn’t possible to information appointments, and both at two monthly know so soon. Two weeks later, the pregnancy was confirmed inseminations—but only one of us invisible. I only with a blood test. Unfortunately, I miscarried at eight weeks. understood this to be discriminatory after a straight couple I Despite reassurances to the contrary, I wondered whether my knew began seeing the same doctor and, though they were hypothyroidism was a factor. also using anonymous donor sperm, the male partner in that My thyroid, previously regulated with a prescription couple was actively involved in conversations and decision- medication, had spiralled out of control the instant I became making. That first doctor was a gynecologist and pregnant. I searched for answers online, in bookstores, and at reproductive specialist, but not an endocrinologist, which is the library as to why this might’ve been and how to prevent the reason I finally left. I was willing to put up with it happening again. Though I can never know for certain discrimination because I wasn’t sure the situation would be what caused that miscarriage, the doctor doubted it was my different at another clinic, and finding a new doctor meant

PARTICIPANTS SOUGHT FOR STUDY ON STRESSFUL SAME-SEX RELATIONSHIPS

I am a lesbian graduate student from the Department of Psychology at the University of Windsor. I am looking for men and women to participate in a study on stressful same-sex relationships. You can participate if: • You’ve ever been in a same-sex relationship • You’re 18 years or older • You’ve lived in Canada for the last year To thank you for participating in the study, you’ll have the opportunity to enter your name in a draw for $300.00. To find out more about the study and how to participate, please go to http://www.uwindsor.ca/ssr and enter this user ID (samesex) and this password (sam3s3x) Questions or concerns? Prefer to fill out a paper copy of the survey? Please don’t hesitate to contact me. If you know any women or men who might be interested in participating (and who fit the criteria outlined above) please send them the link to the study or my phone number or email.

Melissa St. Pierre Department of Psychology University of Windsor 519-253-3000 ext. 2256 [email protected]

26 WINTER 2008 HERIZONS being on a waiting list for months. three, that they weren’t legally permitted to have a known My second fertility doctor, reportedly one of the best in donor’s sperm washed and inseminated in me. Was it, as one city, was extensively renovating his multimillion-dollar specialist claimed, because if I contracted an STI the clinic Toronto clinic while we dug ourselves deeper into debt, would be liable? Or, as another claimed, because they worried stepped through plaster dust and suffered summers in the our known donor might be gay, and gay men are not allowed attic waiting room without air conditioning. My thousand to donate sperm? The third specialist told me bluntly that it dollars a month for two inseminations wouldn’t buy the was because I was a lesbian and he wasn’t comfortable. We leather chair I sat on while I waited. This specialist pointed out that heterosexual patients could also contract recommended fertility drugs to us on my first visit because of STIs and that I should have an equal right to the donor of my my age, he said, and because I was a lesbian, not because any choice. Those conversations left my partner and I frustrated, tests showed me to be infertile. “Fertility drugs will save confused and angry, but apparently powerless, since doctors’ time,” he told us. He looked me up and down. “My guess is hands were tied because of legislation. For anyone to be you’ll respond best to injectables.” willing to wash and inseminate me with this better, fresher His plan was the usual—to have me inject gonadotropins sperm of a known donor, they’d have to be convinced I was in and carpet-bomb my uterus with multiple eggs each cycle, a sexual relationship with that donor. In other words, I’d have thereby increasing the likelihood of conception with our to lie. I’ve known of lesbian couples who’ve done this, at great frozen sperm. I wondered whether his reputation and his cost to their personal relationships, their anxiety levels and stats (and, perhaps, research funding) were dependent upon their senses of self. high success rates. Would I lower those success rates if I took Interestingly, The Assisted Human Reproduction Act and too long to conceive? If I took a natural amount of time to Health Canada are clear that no distinction is to be made conceive? So I said no to fertility drugs. For two more long between semen from a known donor (including men who are years I said no. not a patient’s sexual partner) and Definitions of infertility have semen from anonymous donors. shifted dramatically in the past Further, according to Dr. Leah decade, arguably since drugs have “What does yes really mean Steele and Dr. H Strotmann, in been more accessible. Whereas their May 2006 article for once a woman would be referred in a system where saying Canadian Family Physician, to a specialist after two years of no feels impossible?” doctors shouldn’t use fresh semen unsuccessfully trying with her in their offices, and “any physician male partner, now many doctors planning therapeutic donor refer after one year, and insemination is legally obliged to increasingly after only six months of consecutive attempts. use semen that’s been cryo preserved for six months.” What Why? Have women’s bodies changed? Or, perhaps our eggs we initially thought was denial of service to us because of are a new cash crop? paternalistic legal barriers was, in fact, something more subtle Refusing drugs was not easy. I secretly wondered if I and insidious. Our doctors weren’t willing to bend the rules shouldn’t give in, if I wasn’t denying myself because of for us, but they’d routinely do so for their heterosexual ideological principles, and overinflating the potential clients, and hide their bias behind a misleading veil of unknown risks. It was harder to say no when most of my legality. Meanwhile, we continued to purchase frozen sperm friends, many of them lesbian, had said yes without similar each month, at a cost of $500 per sample, plus $150 to the reservations. My partner was becoming anxious about our specialist and a $50 delivery charge to the cryobank. mounting debt. It was also a monthly struggle with the Watching friends conceive through the same clinics and doctor, who, at each insemination, while he sat with his face with the same doctors was difficult, but knowing that some between my legs and deposited sperm into my uterus, would had an edge on us because they were straight was infuriating. remind me of how low my chances of conceiving were We learned that by not doing IVF (in vitro fertilization) we without drugs. He’d remind me of how relatively ineffective were moving through a second-rate treatment model. Had I frozen sperm was, compared with fresh, despite the fact that wanted to, IVF was not something we could have afforded. we had no access to fresh—he said he would not treat us The costs are staggering, ranging from between $6,000 to with a known donor. Once, he told me that my becoming $10,000 per cycle. But the odds are better. With IVF, a pregnant a second time would be the equivalent of winning woman receives gonadotropin injections to stimulate her the lottery. follicles to produce multiple eggs, which are then surgically We tried to find a doctor who would allow us to do IUIs retrieved from her body, fertilized in a laboratory and re- with a known donor’s sperm, but we were plainly told, by implanted in that same woman—or in another woman. Our

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28 WINTER 2008 HERIZONS friends used their relatives’ cashed-in RRSPs to do IVF with making it dangerous for me to do physical activity (like riding frozen sperm and, afterwards, told us the attention they my bicycle), lest they rupture. Each week, after a pregnancy received as IVF patients was better than when just doing test would come back negative and my hormones would drop intrauterine inseminations; they’d felt like a priority. We never from artificially high to normal again, acute depression would felt like anyone’s priority. In fact, we felt like a nuisance.Those set in. I skipped months of cycles after each round, waiting friends conceived on their second IVF attempt, after years of for my ovaries to return to normal size. On Clomid, I had a doing exactly what we were still stuck doing. steady migraine, weight gain and anxiety. All of this is One of the many mornings when I was at the clinic to cycle routine. And the treatments are unsuccessful just as often as monitor (psycho monitor I call it), I met a patient who was they are successful. Even with technology, the doctor is, at also a GP. We broke the unwritten code of silence in the best, guessing what dose of drug might produce the desired waiting room and exchanged details about our treatments. By number of follicles in a given woman. this point, I’d grown desperate and had, against my own Women who take fertility drugs feel like we’re making judgment, agreed to three cycles of fertility drugs. My decisions largely in the dark, leaping at fate, hoping to land partner’s insurance plan offered partial coverage for a limited softly, babe in arms. We feel uniquely unsuccessful when the number of attempts. The GP-patient told me that in her drugs don’t bring the desired result, and overexposed as we private practice, because of anecdotal research, she advises share personal information with myriad professionals who use women not to take gonadotropin injections or Clomid, even terms like “poor egg quality,” “incompetent uterus” and the for the recommended period of less than six months, but that present-day scarlet letters, “advanced maternal age.” We make she had been taking Clomid for eight months and was martyrs of ourselves, but no one notices because the very terrified of what she was doing to her body. Most of all, she cultural definition of motherhood is tangled up in martyrdom. was fearful of what she was willing to do. Like me, she’d After all, fertility has always been a life-and-death entered the process with a bottom line that was continually matter—women have been dying for their children for shifting, so she no longer trusted herself to be able to stop. centuries, or been expected to do so. In some parts of the Would she end up with ovarian cancer in 10 years? Would it world, women still die in childbirth or because of related all be worth it if she complications. But in wealthy conceived? nations, like ours, where Clomiphene, a.k.a. Clomid “Sometimes we forget that our “choice” can be purchased on and Serophene, is a relatively VISA or paid for in cash, the inexpensive drug (about $60 bodies, that we, are there at all.” notion of dying to be mom per month) taken from day isn’t something doctors or four or five of your cycle patients are willing to through to near ovulation. It’s meant to promote regular acknowledge. ovulation. Injectable gonadotropins are synthetic or We can’t, because admitting that we are, in effect, guinea (originally) distilled from menopausal women’s urine, and pigs in a field with less than scientific diagnostics and they push your body to mature multiple eggs. They cost us, treatments, and maybe putting our lives in danger, might on average, $1,700 per month. Both classes of drugs have mean stopping. Doctors can’t admit to undocumented risks common side effects compromising the likelihood of without calling their purpose into question. conception: thinning of cervical fluids in the case of Clomid After another year and thousands of dollars more debt, I and ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome in the case of walked away from the second doctor, too. I came to see that injectables. the stress and treatment were anathema to my well-being. It Why are there no long-term studies? Who benefits from not became clear one day, as my partner and I waited almost half tracking such information? Would being fully informed stop an hour for the doctor to perform the intrauterine women from taking fertility drugs? Probably not. But it would insemination. Our sperm was thawed and we began to guide our decision-making, as more of us might decide against panic—after 20 minutes of being exposed to air, frozen drug treatments altogether, or disentangle from them earlier. sperm begins to die. My partner found the doctor and asked Knowing the actual risks to long-term health would, at the very him to please hurry. He waved her off. Again, five minutes least, make our consent to treatment legitimate. What does yes later, my partner went to fetch him. This time he came with really mean in a system where saying no feels impossible? the nurse, but was obviously angry. He ignored my greeting There are known short-term side effects of the drugs (read and briskly told me to lie down. I was already undressed, my the packaging). On injectables, I experienced headaches, skin feet in the stirrups. As he threaded the catheter through my rashes, racing heart, chest pain, numbness in my toes, anxiety cervix, an unpleasant, if not painful experience, he raised his and ovaries hyperstimulated to many times their natural size, voice and reprimanded us: “You people think you know best.

HERIZONS WINTER 2008 29 If I tell you the sperm is fine, it’s fine. This’ll never work if agreed to gonadotropin injections. “Whatever happens to you don’t trust me. You ask too many questions. Next month you,” one mother told me, “don’t do it.” Their twins had been I’ll prepare cue cards and hold them up so I don’t have to born premature and one baby needed several emergency keep repeating myself!” surgeries because part of his intestine was sitting outside his I should’ve kicked him in the face, but of course I was body. He’d have lingering health problems as an adult. The desperate to get the sperm into me as quickly as possible. couple was drained, emotionally and financially, and had When it was done, I stared at the beige ceiling I’d stared at spent their first year as new parents separate, each caring for for so long and knew I couldn’t harm myself in this way any one baby, both worried for their gravely ill newborn. longer. Perhaps it was my lack of belief in the drugs and “But it worked out,” I said. “I mean those are the chances biomedical model, but I would never succeed at a clinic. all parents take, right?” Leaving was scary, too, for it meant being willing to risk the “Maybe,” said the other mother. “We love the boys….” She unknown, believing more in my intuition about my body spoke with the honesty of a stranger and the raw wisdom that being healthy than in “expert” advice. Possibly, it meant never only comes from surviving a trauma. “But we wouldn’t do it becoming pregnant. again if we knew.” I smiled politely, envying them their I sought out an experienced traditional Chinese doctor children, despite their arduous journey. I dismissed it as an who performed acupuncture on me several times a month unusual case, exceptional, and made their situation rare. But and reminded me at each hour-and-a-half-long visit that stress on prospective parents’ relationships, massive debt, there was nothing fundamentally wrong with me, that I was pregnancy and delivery complications, high rates of multiple still young enough, healthy enough and deserving enough to births, lack of social support for same-sex parents trying to become somebody’s mother. Each time I left her office, I felt have a family, lack of support in general for all people within more at home in my own skin, like myself again. More than the fertility machine—these are the norm. three years of paying doctors to tell me I was defective, show A free-choice analysis of the present-day fertility model is me statistics on rates of pregnancy for my age group and push short-sighted and stops at easy, non-threatening questions drugs as the only hope for success produced no pregnancy. about over-medication and equal access. It doesn’t extend to Three months within a traditional Chinese model, and I was an institutional critique of the industry, which would look at pregnant for the second time. how profit-driven motives might be guiding or defining North American boomers who saw the advantages of the (in)fertility. There have been other feminist critiques of the pill were weaned on the nebulous concept of freedom of new reproductive and genetic technologies before now, but reproductive choice, and that limited perspective has filtered what’s new today is that lesbians and single women of all down to us, their children. You’d think that having greater sexual orientations—those who need access to safe sperm, reproductive options (assuming you can pay) would be easy. women who are not by any objective measure infertile—are But, of course, it’s not. using these technologies in great numbers. As a result, more Having choice means bearing the burden of responsibility women in Canada are being referred to fertility clinics and for our yeses and our nos and that’s a heavy burden to carry undergoing drug treatments when they’ve failed to conceive when the outcome is so profound. In fact, it requires fast enough. We ought to be challenging how the fertility superhuman strength to say no to drugs, or exploratory machine participates in—or prevents—the creation of non- surgery, or even daily ultrasounds, without feeling you’re traditional families, and we must demand an honest potentially closing off your option of having children, examination of the relationship between pharmaceuticals and without doubting yourself and being judged as treatment- fertility doctors. We might even want to talk about the social resistant. So what if there are side effects? Our second doctor construction of infertility itself. What frightens me most isn’t told me that if I wanted to be a mother badly enough, I’d take the actual drug treatments, though they may indeed prove a second mortgage on our home and increase my odds by dangerous, but the culture of uncritical thinking and denial in doing IVF. I was a new homeowner who barely scraped into which we willingly submit to them. the market. (We ultimately sold the house.) What about Yet, women are not passive, ignorant, dupes. We’re simply women who don’t own homes or can’t even pay their rent? pressed to keep trying under our doctor’s hand by our own deep What about people who can’t imagine doing what we did: desires, pushed on by those who want us to be happy, or by a maxing out credit cards and overdraft? What about the more medically driven society that believes in taking drugs the way logical option of having both my partner and I try, thereby other people, in less secular times, believed in God. We’re just doubling our monthly egg pool and odds, without drugs? plain frightened at the prospect of never being anyone’s mother. I met a young lesbian couple on Pride Day one year, Above all, we become disembodied through the process of pushing a double stroller. They’d tried to conceive without being poked and prodded, and treated under the assumption technology, when, perhaps out of frustration, or because of that we’re defective. We stop believing in our bodies, and the financial stress of paying for anonymous sperm, they’d eventually stop listening to them and begin following

30 WINTER 2008 HERIZONS directions. Sometimes we forget that our bodies, that we, are to be respected, not only corrected. Instead of statistics and there at all. After a time, we see with blinkers, registering only percentages, she offered stories of success. She also told me the minority of women for whom the drugs work, holding openly that I might never become, or stay, pregnant. them up as beacons of hope. We search out those in clinics and Despite all that’s happened, I still find myself alone by the on television with whom we might identify, and all the while blue-note light of the Alberta moon listening to k.d. lang sing we’re tempted, painfully tempted, by that candy dangling before “Helpless” while I write this and miscarry, for a second time. us—a baby, a healthy baby, our baby. My thyroid, once more shocked into overdrive by pregnancy, It is possible to have too many choices. failed to respond to aggressive treatment. Again, doctors tell I know the denial, minimization and myopia that are me it probably had nothing to do with the miscarriage, but this required when on a mission to conceive. My partner and I time I don’t believe them. I think of the incredible debt I’ve know the repeated disappointment, anguish over what life accumulated paying for something I once swallowed for free, might look like if pregnancy never happens, and how these the books I might’ve written all these years, the trips my fears cause you to begin to welcome the drugs despite risks, partner and I might’ve taken had every penny not been going to welcome anything that brings a baby, so hey—even twins towards buying sperm and paying for inseminations. I think of begin to sound great. After all, two babies are better than other undiscovered dreams, secondary for so long, that never none. We patients grow into this mindset because we must had a chance to materialize. And I think it’s time to stop. Yes, contort, intellectually and emotionally, to fit a model of there comes a final, terrible point of clarity for any woman treatment that’s inflexible, pathologically negative and refuses trying in vain to have a child, where the choice that matters to see us in holistic terms. Should we hear only the stories of most becomes the choice between the life before us now and those who succeed? Are they not perhaps the most biased, the the life we so desperately imagine creating. least likely to question their Again, I wonder what sins treatments? Don’t they just I’ve committed to draw such need to get on with the “We stop believing in our bodies, bad luck my way? I see my business of parenting? future laid out before me, I don’t wish to demonize and eventually stop and that future may be too individual women who opt listening to them, and begin quiet, free of obligation. for fertility drugs, or argue Perhaps there’ll be no new against the existence of following directions.” love. I’m alone tonight but actual infertility, but I want I’m only one of many to remind us all that, in our childless mothers watching cradles rock empty, seemingly brave new world, the interpretation of infertility and the need banished for no reason from the club that is motherhood. for fertility treatments is always political. We must think This is all I know: Reproductive technology offers queers critically. Are the drugs dangerous? Are there alternatives, options we couldn’t have dreamed decades ago, but we’re not such as acupuncture, that could be explored first? Are queers the intended or desired recipients. And, there is no meant to in a uniquely vulnerable position within the system, and if so, be. Babies are random gifts from gods, as well as measured how is that being played out? But most significantly, is the reproductive science, bestowed upon the undeserving just as model for treatment itself generating or exacerbating the very often (though it seems to me now, more often) as the problem it purports to rectify? Can infertility or subfertility deserving. Trying to become pregnant for a long time is like be an iatrogenic disorder? In other words, can childlessness swimming in molasses, a dark curse that grows more result from the inherent stress and negativity of Western powerful with each negative pregnancy test, each infertility treatments? appointment, invasive procedure or injection. So while a tiny I conceived the first time when I’d not yet become beam of light fades from me tonight, a clawing, crystalline embroiled in the medicalization of my own fertility, when I sense of frustration also fades. The struggling and trying and was making the decisions, had no debt or stress, and before I hoping and waiting feels as though it’s finally coming to an came to believe my body was too old and defective to bear a end. Even the world beyond my keyboard seems to be child. I conceived the second time only when I disentangled slipping away. In some senses it’s a relief. Yet, tomorrow I’ll from the medical model, took back control of my body and pick up the phone and call my partner, who’s at home in the process, and was therefore able to trust both. Finding an Toronto, naive and still hopeful, and I’ll read her this story I encouraging, supportive, traditional Chinese doctor who don’t want to tell. My story. Our story. And I’ll ask: engaged with my questions and fears made a difference. She If red is the colour of love, what colour is loss? didn’t dismiss me as irrational or uneducated, because the ! A year after this article was written, my partner and I are thrilled to be expecting a model she works from teaches that there is a connection baby in December. Ignoring the advice of three fertility doctors, my partner conceived between the mind and body, and that the body is something without using fertility drugs.

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32 WINTER 2008 HERIZONS Look Both

WaysBY JENNIFER O’CONNOR Jennifer Baumgardner says bisexual women often exemplify feminist ideals. Photo: Ali Price

hen Jennifer Baumgardner moved to New York looks at what the growing—though still marginalized— in 1993 to start as an unpaid intern at Ms. number of out bi women means for the culture and argues W magazine, she had a to-do list. She wanted to, that just as feminism helped create a society in which more among other things, see Letterman and audition for Cats. women can explore their sexuality, bisexuals are often Letterman has yet to happen, but she did make the tryout, exemplifying feminist ideals in their relationships. and something she didn’t plan for happened: Baumgardner, “To understand women who look both ways requires hearing who until then had identified as straight, met her first their stories,” she writes, “not just noting the sex of their current girlfriend. Later, Baumgardner wrote openly about her partner. And when you listen closely, it’s apparent these women romantic relationship with Amy Ray, one half of the musical have learned something crucial in these relationships. For duo Indigo Girls. myself, I can say that having had relationships with both men Baumgardner co-authored Manifesta: Young Women, and women has given me information on how to be more Feminism, and the Future (2000) and Grassroots: A Field Guide liberated with men, and less sexist with women.” for Feminist Activism (2005) with Amy Richards. The writer’s Baumgardner has written for numerous magazines and latest book is Look Both Ways: Bisexual Politics, which tells the has worked for the Planned Parenthood Federation of story of her life as a bi woman, analyzes pop culture’s America. Baumgardner made her filmmaking debut with I depiction of women who identify as such, and presents the Had an Abortion and is getting her second project, I Was ways in which feminism and bisexuality intersect. In it, she Raped, underway.

HERIZONS WINTER 2008 33 34 WINTER 2008 HERIZONS “If you’re bisexual and you’re a woman, they assume you’re straight; if you’re bisexual and you’re a man, they assume you’re gay.”

HERIZONS: In researching Look Both Ways, what stood out being identified and still [there’s a high rate of ] rape. most for you? I think the thing that hasn’t changed is men, for sure. But Jennifer Baumgardner: I make a lot of comments about how women—in this kind of internal way, in the sense of much easier it is nowadays because—I say just kind of entitlement and trusting your gut—have. I don’t think we passively—these two movements have primed the pump to do can make a lot of broad-stroke comments anymore about things and not have it be as big of a deal. Feminism and gay what it is like to live as a lesbian, heterosexual or in a radical rights have changed the United States a lot. But I still hear relationship. I think bisexuals and transgendered people, too, really sad stories of these super-confident young women who have been leaders in that idea of complexity. In terms of will tell their mom “I’ve fallen in love with a woman,” and the sexuality, throughout the course a woman’s life, her sexuality mom will say [something about] jumping on the gay and what she wants changes a lot. There’s obviously some bandwagon or “Does this mean you’re a lesbian?”The girl won’t interplay between biology and socialization, but [researchers] have any space to just be in love with that person and have that don’t know exactly what interplay. relationship without immediately defining it and … defending What do you think is the biggest misunderstanding about herself to her mom, and helping—not just her mom, but bisexuality? helping the world—understand about homophobia. Those Jennifer Baumgardner: That it’s a lie. That there’s just sorts of more minor betrayals really stuck with me the most absolutely no way that you could have authentic feelings of because I related to them the most. My family did nothing love and passion for people of all genders. The way it goes is: wrong, but there were still little things that hurt me. if you’re bisexual and you’re a woman, they assume you’re You talk about how the feminist movement and the gay rights straight; if you’re bisexual and you’re a man, they assume movement have created this space where bisexuality can be more you’re gay. It’s just so apparent the sexism there: men are the open. How is bisexuality helping the feminist movement? love object and sex is with men. Jennifer Baumgardner: I think there is some sort of It’s a common fantasy. In Nancy Friday’s Women on Top, the laboratory of bisexuality, where you’re not just opting out of biggest section is about women with women. the negotiations with men that we often ascribe to sexism or Jennifer Baumgardner: Women’s bodies are very sexualized, patriarchy, but you’re creating your own world where there I think that’s part of it. Everybody’s fantasizing about aren’t those roles (or those roles are at least less rigid). You’re women. It’s also just there. Probably a lot of us have the not opting out, you’re engaging, but you have this wealth of propensity to at least be turned on by a woman, [if] not knowledge from having experienced something different. necessarily to have a relationship. In terms of the lesbian feminist, more immersed in women’s way of life, it encourages women to do the things What was your main impetus for doing this book? that we sometimes have a hard time doing, which is being Jennifer Baumgardner: From the minute I started having more aggressive on behalf of ourselves, not make due with feelings for another woman, I felt confused enough about less and all that sort of stuff. In some ways, a bisexual person where I fit in. [It was something] I was very turned on by, but is very attuned to that because they spend a lot of time in I didn’t see a way of describing it that felt like it really mainstream circumstances and, in some ways, relate to that described me. I really didn’t, and have never felt like I’m a and have that sense of entitlement. They’re internal in a lot of lesbian. It feels like it’s something specific and I’m not it. And ways, but I think that’s where we are as a feminist movement. yet I didn’t feel straight, either. So I think my own attempt to The laws have been changed and yet we still have major wage understand the places my life was leading me was the main discrimination. Rape is illegal, but it’s still incredibly impetus. That was way back in ’92, ’93, and I kind of always prevalent. When you’re on a college campus it’s like, seriously, knew I’d write about it. ! 30 years of Take Back the Night and 20 years after date rape Jennifer O’Connor works at Eco Justice (formerly the Sierra Legal Defence Fund).

HERIZONS WINTER 2008 35 New poetry from Your Scrivener Press

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36 WINTER 2008 HERIZONS body politic BY MARIKO TAMAKI The Goodbye Girl Goodbyes, like foreign pornography, are only awkward and The best advice is to avoid one kind of body contact by upsetting when we don’t understand them and, therefore, are suggesting another. If you don’t want a hug from someone, be taken by surprise by their nature. When we take the time to the first to offer a handshake. If hands are scary to you, offer a learn the language of a goodbye, we are more likely to come wave. A less advisable tactic involves putting distance between out of them unscathed. you and the person you don’t want to touch. It is important to The most fruitful approach to understanding how to say note, however, that it is difficult to control whether or not you goodbye in person involves a dissection of the two key will appear to be running off or simply running away. elements involved: What You Say 1. What you do A larger and more complicated element of saying goodbye 2. What you say involves what we say. The language we use can play a vital What You Do role in whether the transaction runs smoothly. There are roughly three levels of body contact involved in A common tactic in saying goodbye involves an offer of saying goodbye: future communication. As in, “So, I’ll see you Tuesday.” a. No Body Contact: See wave, peace sign, salute; Typically, this is a perfectly valid offer to make at the end b. Limited Body Contact: See handshake, high-five, Euro of the evening, but only if the person in question wants to cheek-kiss, straight girl A-hug, one-arm hug; see you again. If the person in question isn’t planning on c. Intimate Body Contact: See embrace, full body-to-body having any future contact with you, then a phrase like “See hug (any combination thereof ). you next week” could be construed as a threat or concrete Typically, the degree to which your body will come into evidence of stalking. contact with someone else’s varies according to your Another option is to end the evening with a description of familiarity with the person involved, as well as your level of what has already transpired, with a positive twist and an comfort with being physical. Obviously, the level of body expression of your appreciation. As in, “Well, that was a intimacy will also be affected by context: cultural, lovely movie and dinner.” The only potential downside to this professional and sexual. kind of statement involves the feelings of guilt you may It is a given, for example, that one would never kiss one’s harbour if this statement isn’t true. If, say, the evening was employer goodbye (see level 1), especially if that employer not, in fact, lovely, but disappointing. were to wear a tie, or loafers. On the other hand, it is also a There is always the option of just saying that. “Well, that given that one will almost always kiss a homosexual goodbye was an upsetting evening.” (see level 3), especially a homosexual wearing loafers. If, Or you could opt out and just say, “Well, that was however, the homosexual in question is your employer, it is interesting.” often wise to downgrade to possibly a two-handed, low-slow But statements like these are not conducive to a goodbye pump handshake or a Montrealer’s peck on one cheek. transaction, if only because they seem to inspire contradictory It is exquisitely more complicated when one is in Montreal, remarks like “You’re impossible to please,” or “God, Mariko, where the No Body Contact level is obliterated and replaced it’s like you want to hurt my feelings.” by the level-two peck on the cheek. At this point, level three The most fail-safe approach is to forgo any details and moves to level two and level three becomes the extensive instead offer some form of best wishes. “Let’s not say goodbye” (on peut pas dire au revoir), which, Certainly, “Take care” or “Get home safely” are generalized typically, evolves into the early morning “Oh hello, did I sleep fail-safes that can be a means of avoiding the awful truth. here?” (est-ce que j’ai dormi ici hier?) There are those, of course, who will say that this There is, of course, also leeway for those squeamish folk philosophy, and the effort that goes with it, bends to social whose comfort level is outside what is generally understood pressures of politeness. For me, though, this masquerade is to be the standard of touchingness. The important thing to only an extension of my theory that everything you keep to remember, in these cases, is to set these boundaries in yourself makes you smarter than the people around you. advance, so as not to leave an unexpecting party hanging in I have to go now. ! half an A-hug. ©Mariko Tamaki, Fake ID, Women’s Press. HERIZONS WINTER 2008 37 arts literature

Versive A PROFILE OF RESISTANCE Sub BY SHEILA NOPPER

racy Myers is no stranger to the subversive scenes of coastal British Columbia. There, she is loved and T respected for her poetic empathy with the downtrodden and the voiceless survivors of personal and systemic abuse, as well as for her tantalizing musical recipes that slice through the hypocrisies within our dis-eased society. Myers’ sizzling lyrics and drum kit/dumbek rhythms are complimented by the seamless grooves of Myron Makepeace on bass and guitar and Brett Hearn on congas, bongos, udu, cajon and percussion. Together they are Tongue & Groove, and their long-anticipated independent debut CD, Shedding, offers some rejuvenating potions for rising up. Myers grew up dancing to Afro-American jazz rhythms. As an adult, she was inspired by reggae music and she taught herself how to play the drums “in a cold garage, with gloves on, listening to Bob Marley over and over again.” Myers says she started to write poetry mostly out of pain. “The words

Photo: Debra Buvier just came tumbling out,” she recalls. 38 WINTER 2008 HERIZONS Myers’ sizzling lyrics and drum kit/dumbek rhythms are featured on the independent debut CD, Shedding. Photo: Debra Buvier

Her formal musical training included two years in the jazz land/True hypocrisy/In all the politicians’ commands…/ program at Malaspina College, followed by intensive drum How can we make this land glorious and free/O Canada/I’ll instruction sessions in Cuba, Brazil and Ghana. “It was a life- burn your flag for thee.” Later in the song, she confronts flag- changing experience for me, to try to understand music from an waving patriotism: “From where exactly do you draw this African perspective,” she explains. “There’s no counting and no Canadian pride/is it from the history texts still written from bars—African music is circular— the winning side?” Though it and that is way different from the isn’t likely to get airplay on CBC European approach. It was a very or get her a gig performing at humbling experience for me, on so “Mr. Freud and all your Canada Day celebrations, she many levels.” penis-packed brothers lately refuses to compromise the Humbling describes Myers in integrity of her message. other ways, too. “To stand up on a your theories are being On Shedding’s closing track, stage with a microphone is an uncovered and news is “We’re Not Done,” she addresses incredible responsibility.” Because various forms of violence against of this belief, Myers regularly travelling fast from sister to women: “ What does it mean that challenges herself—and others— sister that our bodies are not even though the media may say to acknowledge their privilege. “If ‘Baby, you’ve come a long way,’ you’ve got the skin, or the genitals, made in the image of your the statistics on rape and violence or the class,” she contends, “it father.”—Tracy Myers, against us climb higher and raises the responsibility level to “Blood on Toilet Paper” higher every day?” She then actually speak out about the responds: “It means we need to damage being done.” hang on to hope, don’t feel Perhaps that explains Myers’ defeated. Find reasons to laugh, strong reaction to survivors who aren’t able to speak out, as seek the sacred. Replenish/don’t get depleted... cause our evidenced in “The Silence,” in which she asks: “How can we work’s not done yet.” fight and roar and dance in bliss/with unwanted cocks Myers, 46, didn’t begin creating music until she was 30. “If shoved in every orifice?” that can be inspiring for some woman, that’s exciting for me. Another notable track is “Haldol Shuffle,” an exposé of What inspires me is other people speaking from their hearts. pharmaceutical and medical system abuse cleverly infused When we’re authentic with each other about what’s with Myers’ infectious humour. happened, then there’s connection—and that’s one way for By her own account, “Speak Resistance” is her most our spirits to transform. I hold on to that kind of hope.” ! controversial piece. It opens with her scathing revision of To order the CD or find out more about Tracy Myers and Tongue & Groove, go to Canada’s national anthem: “O Canada/our home on native www.tongueandgroovemusic.ca.

HERIZONS WINTER 2008 39 arts culture MUSIC

CAROLYN MARK NOTHING IS FREE Mint Records REVIEW BY CINDY FILIPENKO Nothing is Free reinforces the indisputable fact that Carolyn Mark is a simply superb songwriter. Period. The standout here is “Pictures at 5,” the witty heartbreaker that features the refrain that became the title of her fourth CD, one that could proudly stand alongside the best of Mary Chapin Carpenter and Lucinda Williams: “She was long, tall and blonde and drinking white wine/parked in the spot that used to me mine/But I gotta confess, I was strangely impressed/I thought ‘Mmm, lace panties’ when I looked up her dress.” A new-country departure from what is essentially a solid collection of alt-country weepers, this song could easily be a hit. Like label-mate and side-project pal Neko Case, Mark takes traditional country compositions and gives them a contemporary patina. She has an engaging vocal style—her smoky alto is a throwback to the likes of Kitty Wells, Patsy Cline and Brenda Lee. The heavy string arrangements and clean production offer a timeless authenticity to songs like “The 1 That Got Away (with it)”—a hurtin’ song about traversing the grey area between being an exciting new mistress and a boring old wife. Watch out for the tears in your beer when you put on Nothing is Free. And you’ll want to put it on often—it’s a beauty.

HAYLEY SALES SUNSEED Universal REVIEW BY CINDY FILIPENKO Like any right-thinking 20-year-old hipster, On Nothing is Free, Carolyn Mark praises the value of lace undergarments.

40 WINTER 2008 HERIZONS arts culture MUSIC

Hayley Sales counts among the musicians she as one-third of the original Wailin’ Jennys. She albums grow on a listener with repeated plays; admires Jack Johnson, Ben Harper and Dave has now ventured out on her own with The this one presents and stays curiously neutral. Matthews. The difference between Sales and Light Fantastic. The production, entrusted to the capable her contemporaries is that she is competition On songs like “Give it Up” and “No hands of Michael Roth, is flawless. As a key for any of aforementioned singer-songwriters. Strength,” Luft comes across like a grown-up creative with Sony, Roth was responsible for Sales’ first major-label release, Sunseed, is rebel girl. On “Give it Up” she admonishes a building the Canadian branch of the label that a triumph. With a feel-good message, faithless lover, singing “I’m too old for games includes Our Lady Peace, Chantal Kreviazuk philosophy-light lyrics and fancy fret work, the honey/But you know the old ones are the best/ and Philosopher Kings. Obviously, he sees a first single, “What You Want,” is Jack Johnson If you ever find your way out of prep school similar potential in Dala. But what is Roth meets Norah Jones. Sales also sounds you can call me….” These two guitar-focused seeing that isn’t coming across in the group’s suspiciously like Jones on “Wish You Were songs tackle what it means to be a woman— albums? Here,” as well as on Sunseed’s other more and the refusal to suffer the same bullshit you Sheila Carabine and Amanda Walther, who obviously adult-contemporary offerings. did as a girl. Here, it seems, Luft fits the model together form the core of Dala, are talented However, unlike Jones, Sales employs a of the dynamic yet sensitive girl with a guitar, vocalists, and together they are capable of phrasing that pays homage to ’40s jazz—and, along the lines of Shawn Colvin. creating achingly beautiful harmonies. Their surprisingly, it works. In fact, this album is so However, the idea of a viable country 2005 debut, Angels and Thieves, illustrated this well produced that, while it may offer nods to career is also within the range of possibilities ability, particularly on that album’s handful of the familiar, it never veers into cloying or for Luft. The twangy weeper “Down to the well-chosen covers that included The Cure’s derivative territory. River” and the travellin’ song “There’s the “Love Song” and Blur’s “Out of Time.” With a guitar style reminiscent of Johnson, Train,” with its pitch-perfect strings, are Who Do You Think You Are is comprised an attitude that echoes the cool of Harper, and deceptive in their simplicity—like the best entirely of the women’s original compositions. Matthews’ sense of disenfranchisement, Sales country music. Unfortunately, the mellow melodies quickly is a talent to reckon with. The Vancouver But the real standouts here are the album’s prove monotonous. And the lyrics, which are Island resident lives on an organic blueberry least commercial pieces. With its nod to fairly strong, particularly on “Perfect Photo” farm that also houses the other family philosophers Albert Schweitzer and Friedrich and the title track, get lost in a sea of easy- business, a recording studio relocated from Nietzsche, the use of Eastern instruments and listening mediocrity. her birthplace of Washington, D.C. The studio’s Luft’s hypnotic arrangement, the nearly six- It’s one thing to create a signature sound; clients included Miles Davis, Sweet Honey in and-a-half-minute, spiritually evocative opus it’s quite another to bore your audience. the Rock and The Grateful Dead.) “The Light” is quite simply stunning. Someone needs to let Dala know that it’s okay With a solid musical pedigree, groovy The Light Fantastic is the fulfillment of a to be singers without necessarily also being connections (Wavy Gravy still records at the talent hinted at on the Wailin’ Jennys’ second songwriters. blueberry farm) and right-on politics, Sales album, 40 Days. could be the post-millennial It Girl. A debut to note. DALA EMILY HAINES AND WHO DO YOU THINK YOU ARE THE SOFT SKELETON CARA LUFT Universal WHAT IS FREE TO A GOOD HOME? Last Gang THE LIGHT FANTASTIC REVIEW BY CINDY FILIPENKO Blue Case Tunes Trying to connect with Dala’s Who Do You REVIEW BY ANNA LAZOWSKI REVIEW BY CINDY FILIPENKO Think You Are is a vexing experience. There’s I don’t know about you, but I’m a huge sucker While Cara Luft may not be a household name, a lot to like here, but not quite enough to really for trumpets in pop music. So, when Jimmy her sound will be familiar to roots audiences warrant a wholehearted endorsement. Some Shaw’s horn kicked off What Is Free to a Good

HERIZONS WINTER 2008 41 arts culture MUSIC

Home? I was thrilled. The gorgeous opening of for that catchy little tune, “1234” can be found Chances are very good you’ve heard at least “Rowboat” sets a great tone for this six-song on her third and latest disc, The Reminder. one KT Tunstall song many, many times. Her EP—a companion piece to the full-length Following the smashing success of 2004’s massive hit, “Suddenly I See,” was album Knives Don’t Have Your Back. Let It Die, Feist decided to record in a city prominently featured in the The Devil Wears This disc is made up of tracks that didn’t that’s become a bit of a hot spot for Canuck Prada. It also turned up in television shows make the cut for that record, along with remixes musicians over the last few years. She packed and might just be a contender for U.S. of “Mostly Waving” and “Sprig,” a musical up her instruments, microphones and presidential hopeful Hilary Clinton’s arrangement of a poem written by singer Emily collaborators and set up camp in a 200-year- campaign tune. Haines’ late father, Paul. If that song happens to old manor house just outside of Paris, France. So, how do you match that success on intrigue you, a book of Haines’ writings, Secret “So Sorry,” the album’s opening track, album number two? Scottish singer Tunstall Carnival Workers, has been published as a seems to capture what a two-week recording tries to grab the listener right off the top, literary companion to this musical companion. session would have been like in that with a high-energy track called “Little While Emily Haines is best known as the environment. It’s one of those songs that Favours,” but the first half of Drastic frontwoman of Toronto’s indie rocking new makes you lean into the speakers a little to Fantastic feels a bit like a new relationship. wavers Metric, she leaves her ballsy, make sure you don’t miss something. It has Everyone’s on their best behaviour, showing danceable side behind when she gets behind Feist’s trademark melodic breathiness and will off the most polished surface they can. But the mic with The Soft Skeleton. It’s interesting have her fans breathing a sigh of relief. once you get a few dates in, say about the to hear how she uses her voice on both Feist has always been a bit tricky to fifth track, the pretences fall away and all projects, because, crooning with The Soft categorize, combining elements of folk, pop the different emotions and opinions come to Skeleton, she almost seems like a different and a dash of electronica into the mix. And the surface. And we all know that’s where singer altogether. Alhough there’s a world- though this record has a soft, introspective things get interesting. weary kind of lonesomeness to these songs, opening, she mixes things up with the very Tunstall takes us deeper into her appealing there’s also a sense of humour that almost next song, a toe-tapper called “I Feel It All.” style with a sweep of really good songs. She belies their jazz-tinged musical style. There’s “Sealion,” her take on a song made can pair rockier tracks like “I Don’t Want You While this is only a 20-minute disc, there’s a famous by Nina Simone, and the much more Now” alongside the mellower “Saving My quiet, consistent beauty to it that might have somber and emotive sounds of “The Water.” Face” and execute them both well. What’s been lost had these songs been a part of a One of the interesting things about a Feist really interesting is how the record’s mood larger package. The final track, “Mostly record is that the more you listen, the more entirely changes by the end. “Someday Waving,” is the perfect capper—its ethereal that variety starts to become apparent. With Soon” and “Paper Aeroplane” finish things quality makes it seem like the perfect help from her collaborators and co-writers, off, and are both equally beautiful, soft and soundtrack to your dreams. and in her own quiet, consistent way, she can moody. Drastic Fantastic carries enough do happy and sad, dance numbers and dirges, strong songs to attract even more critical silly and serious, love lost and love found. FEIST acclaim for Tunstall. So whether you’re in the mood for sequins THE REMINDER Thanks to a pair of rainbow-patterned or pyjamas, you’re sure to find something Arts & Crafts/EMI suspenders on her debut album cover, Tunstall suitable on The Reminder. REVIEW BY ANNA LAZOWSKI attracted a large lesbian following. Drastic Fantastic’s cover shot of her in a powerful, If you’ve been watching television lately, you’ve KT TUNSTALL probably seen Leslie Feist—or, at least a tiny, guitar-goddess pose probably won’t alienate blue, sequin-clad version of her swaying back DRASTIC FANTASTIC that audience, either—especially since the and forth on the video screen in an iPod Relentless/Virgin shot is nicely paired with a sequined guitar and white go-go boots. commercial. And in case you’ve been looking REVIEW BY ANNA LAZOWSKI ! 42 WINTER 2008 HERIZONS arts culture WINTER READING

THE BREAKDOWN SO FAR M. A. C. FARRANT Talonbooks REVIEW BY KERRY RYAN Even with your eyes open and the book firmly in your hands, you might think you’re dreaming as you read The Breakdown So Far. The collection of ultra-short stories by M.A.C Farrant is a quirky hodgepodge with a distinctly other-worldly quality. Farrant herself references this dreaminess in the story “There was a Forklift.” One bird plays bingo; another, dressed in leather, reads poetry. The story, a nine-sentence series of images, ends: “Perhaps, in dreaming, something new….” This seems to be Farrant’s thesis for the collection, and it makes for Hamburg. Deported at 14, she emerged at 20, the hope that it would take its rightful place in playful prose. having survived the death of her family and the canon of Holocaust literature. Last year it Just like dreams, the snippet stories are the most extreme forms of privation and was named as one of the 10 top fiction books funny (go ahead, try not to smile at the title brutality at the hands of her Nazi captors. Tell for young adults by the New England “Jesus Loves Me But He Can’t Stand You”); Me Another Morning is Berger’s Children’s Bookselling Advisory Council. Their mysterious (why did the budgie commit autobiographical novel about this experience. commendable faith in this small masterpiece suicide?); murky (a bus station becomes a Despite our familiarity with Holocaust has been justified. slaughterhouse; “dancing misfits” suddenly stories of cattle trucks, starvation and smoking Claire Robson’s edited collection Outside parade past a dollar store); and just plain zany chimneys, her story is never predictable. Rules: Stories about Marginalized Youth was (a couple become convinced their vacuum Rather than feeling numbed and defeated after published by Persea Books in 2007. cleaner is a vampire). Dark humour threads I’d read it, I was left amazed and inspired by them all together. the resilience and beauty of the human spirit. THE SKIN BENEATH The collection is saved from total goofiness Berger pulls off this remarkable feat in part NAIRNE HOLTZ by hints at social criticism and the occasional because of the vigour of her sparse yet oddly Insomniac Press simple, down-to-earth story: a woman picks lyrical prose. She rises effortlessly to the REVIEW BY KERRY RYAN up her ancient car from the impound lot; a impossible task of describing the unspeakable. Given that my reading of the mystery genre couple is hounded by a man who wants to Here, for instance, she writes about the ended back in the Encyclopedia Brown days, replace their roof; a writing group meets in a moment when guards divided the girls in the garage where a “silver Toyota Corolla was I took a deep breath before launching into camp into two groups and marched them suspended overhead like a mechanic’s idea of The Skin Beneath, which bills itself as through two different doors—one to death, a cloud.” lesbian mystery. I needn’t have worried— the other to continued life: “The column starts Farrant’s writing is warm and witty, which there were no over-the-top twists, clichés or to move. Already, I see the first ones entering helps make some of the more obscure stories predictable resolutions to be found in Nairne a door. Which door is it? They walk slowly and accessible. Even the handful of baffling pieces Holtz’s first novel. The plot is multi-layered in order. The pile of clothes grows beside the don’t drag the collection down. While almost and well-paced, the writing is smart with a mud-coloured door. I walk so close to Eva that 75 stories make up the volume, few are longer literary sensibility and the characters are I can see, on her left side, the skin rising to the than a page; some are a single paragraph. vivid and full. pulse of her heart. Our feet make the sound of Farrant’s format dictates that she be concise, The plot of this zippy novel begins to spin brooms.” and she manages to make these stories feel the moment Sam O’Connor realizes there is a One can be forgiven for imagining that very whole and rounded, despite their mystery to be solved—when she receives an these stories might be unbearable to read. In a brevity—no small task. anonymous postcard suggesting her sister way this is true—it’s heartbreaking to see As with dream interpretation, the stories Chloe’s death was murder rather than an how Tania, the book’s protagonist, is deprived that make up The Breakdown So Far can be overdose. Sam’s search for answers takes her of joy during her formative years. What is appreciated at face value or dissected for out of her stagnant life in Toronto, where she inspiring, however, is the strength of these deeper meaning. Unlike dreams, though, these is a perpetual student unable to commit to wacky and wonderful images will stay with young women in relationship. Time after time, finishing a degree, and has a string of lovers you for days. Tania and her two camp friends stay alive by but resists building a meaningful relationship. sticking together, watching out for each other, While unravelling Chloe’s life in Montreal, TELL ME ANOTHER MORNING sharing advice and planning ahead. (Keep the Sam’s becomes more tangled. She falls for lice out of your hair, but scratch if a guard Romy, a stripper who was Chloe’s roommate, ZDENA BERGER looks at you. Don’t shuffle.) Against a and their relationship intensifies Sam’s quest. Paris Press backdrop of horror, Berger highlights qualities Not that the plot lacks intensity. Graphic sex REVIEW BY CLAIRE ROBSON that have allowed women throughout history scenes combined with gritty urban Born in Prague in 1925, Zdena Berger spent to survive injustice. landscapes—like a Detroit tattoo parlour, the war years as a prisoner in Auschwitz, First published over 40 years ago, Paris grimy kitchens of Montreal restaurants and a Bergen-Belsen and a labour camp in Press republished Tell Me Another Morning in dodgy New York City apartment—set the

HERIZONS WINTER 2008 43 presents . . . New album by former Wailin' Jennys founder Cara Luft The Light Fantastic

"...a powerful combination of imagination, rhythm and social commentary." - Toronto Star "...one of the finest contemporary folk albums of 2007." - Fish Records (UK) Sample songs online www.blackhenmusic.com www.caraluft.com

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44 WINTER 2008 HERIZONS arts culture WINTER READING

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FINISHING SCHOOL HELEN FOGWILL PORTER Pottersfield Press REVIEW BY LILLIAN BOUZANE This is a novel about voice—the St. John’s- accented, salt-flavoured voice that you hear every day on the street. And it is captured by Helen Fogwill Porter in her second novel Finishing School. The protagonist, Eileen Novak, aged 49, goes to night school at the urging of her M.A.-candidate daughter. As a part of the language arts course, Eileen has to keep a journal. She is told not to worry about stage for some engaging reading. The cast of must find out whether she is fit to stand trial, grammar, syntax or style, but to write characters includes paranoid conspiracy hires Flore, also a woman of colour, to help whatever comes into her head. Eileen takes theorists, redneck gun collectors, biker gangs him understand Emma. to this genre as if it were invented for her, and religious cults. It’s page-turning stuff. But Flore does more than that. Learning and Finishing School is the result. (Eileen But that bombastic drama is kept in check from Emma, she embraces the black woman’s was a minor character in Porter’s first novel by Sam and by the process of self-discovery destiny. In her imagination, Flore travels with January, February, June or July.) that begins to replace her detective work. She Emma on the big ships that brought slaves In the year Eileen keeps this journal, she gradually peels away the layers that have from Africa to the countries of white people, digs into her past and brings up all her old grown around her sister, her death and their she learns from her that black women can loves and hurts. After marrying an American GI own family cover-ups—and this journey only be “true black women” when they have and following him to Iowa, she discovers that becomes a worthwhile story in its own right. learned to stand tall while hanging on to their she is totally unsuited to the life of a farmer’s Holtz uses some lovely literary images. dreams. “Too many women,” declares Emma, wife. And her pinched, Bible-spouting mother- Skins, masks and tattooing—real and “don’t know that they have a soul. When their in-law is impossible to live with. Her husband, figurative—are interwoven with the concepts body is thought of as road dust to be spit on…. whom she loves, won’t leave. So she does. She of swapped, hidden and altered identities. When our eyes cannot hold back our tears, takes her three young daughters and returns to Holtz’s imagery and use of language help well then, our soul … is carried off in our Newfoundland, where she gets a job as a balance this rich, vibrant book, and may just tears, it is washed away like sediment in a hairdresser, and raises her children alone. convert those averse to mysteries. storm … and we walk away like zombies….” The novel is short, just 192 pages. And it’s Emma stands tall. She has done well in the funny. “When I hears someone like Darlene Snelgrove putting on an American accent … I THE BOOK OF EMMA school, has learned French, won scholarships, worked at the university of feels like given her a kick in the backside.” MARIE-CÉLIE AGNANT Bordeaux on her Ph.D. thesis and continued it By the end of this retrospective of her life, Insomniac Press later in Montreal. A thesis on slavery which Eileen has learned some lessons. She comes REVIEW BY MARGEURITE ANDERSEN none of the professors can understand, to the realization that her job as a hairdresser When Flore, an interpreter, meets a which will be trampled on, used as toilet has brought a certain dignity and stability to psychiatric patient accused of murdering her paper, as Emma suspects. It is a book of her not uninteresting life. daughter, the woman, Emma, stands with her knowledge that no one shall want to read. Lillian Bouzane’s novel, In the Hands of the back to the window of her room and has “the Emma has killed her daughter to spare her Living God, (Turnstone Press), was listed as one look of a stateless wanderer.” I love this the humiliations of prejudice. When the doctor of the Globe and Mail’s100 Best Books of 2001. metaphor, which brings together words used declares her unfit to stand trial, she feels for others, the wandering Jew and the degraded. Like Virgina Woolf, Emma will finally THE FIRST MAN IN MY LIFE: stateless or displaced person. How many walk into the river. She does so not to forget DAUGHTERS WRITE ABOUT people in this world are emigrants, what happened to her, but to find the big ships THEIR FATHERS immigrants, migrants? In 2005, four years after on which to make the return trip to Africa. the Éditions du remue-ménage published the With The Book of Emma, Marie-Célie EDITED BY SANDRA MARTIN French version of Agnant’s book, 190,633,564 Agnant has written a powerful work, filled with Penguin Canada people had moved from one country to despair, passion and rage, and with love for REVIEW BY NOREEN SHANAHAN another, according to the UN, and 94,988,611 the race of those whom colonizers attempted The first man in my life wore green scrubs and of them were women. To Marie-Célie Agnant, to destroy. The novel’s translator, Zilpha Ellis, a told my mother to push. But still, even taken to me, to so many us us, these figures are senior scholar and African studies specialist less literally, this book isn’t one I’d give to my breathtaking. at York University, has translated the book in dad on Father’s Day because he’d probably Emma speaks excellent French, but refuses the hope that we will learn from it to fling it back at me. to use it. She expresses herself only in her understand “some still unresolved In her forward, Margaret Atwood describes Haitian mother tongue. The psychiatrist, who consequences of slavery” and to “better this anthology as an attempt for women to

HERIZONS WINTER 2008 45 arts culture WINTER READING deal with the “father-shaped space” that la Kramer versus Kramer, but told with more other women had to say on the subject in exists in their lives, whether that father was depth and complexity. “His shoes; that’s what I these 26 “True-life Tales of Lace, Laughter, anonymous, absent, brutal, tender or as dull as remember about my dad coming back to get Tears and Tulle” announced by the subtitle of a maternity ward waiting room. These 22 us,” is how Jane Finlay-Young begins her story My Wedding Dress, an anthology edited by narratives, written by writers ranging in age about rescue and the transformation of a Susan Whelehan and Ann Laurel Carter. So I from their 20s to their 90s, courageously tell father’s absence to presence. Is it refreshing found myself spending a week reading about poignant details about daughters’ lives. Editor or annoying to receive these portraits of the heterosexual and lesbian love, about and contributor Sandra Martin says these dad’s heroism at the expense of mom’s weddings, children, bliss and non-bliss. stories allowed the writers to explore their neglect? It could be annoying, but I trust the Let me say it right away: 20 of the tales fathers’ lives at the same time as shaping their integrity of these writers. have a happy or positive ending; six don’t. own narratives. “But what many of us didn’t As reviewer Dawne McFarlane said: “Each These figures do not quite fit divorce statistics. realize was how naked we would feel about story is loving in its own way, and driven by a But, endorsed by June Callwood (married in a stepping outside the sanctity of the family deep desire to understand and connect. In the grey flannel suit) and by Heather Mallick bond and speaking openly about emotions and quest for empathy, portals are created; we see (married in a purple suit), with a foreword by the authors slipping through them into incidents that troubled or bewitched us.” Stevie Cameron (married in cream-coloured compassion.” Camilla Gibb’s “A Character Walks Off the silk and lace),and a contribution by Michele Page” tells about her father, whom she hadn’t Landsberg (married in a short dress of green seen in 13 years, showing up at one of her MY WEDDING DRESS and pink silk), what could be wrong with My readings. “The one person most implicated EDITED BY SUSAN WHELEHAN AND Wedding Dress? and demonized and fictionalized in my work,” ANN LAUREL CARTER In fact, nothing is wrong with it. Twenty- she learns, “has read every single word.” Penguin Canada six talented, experienced or emerging They sit down for coffee the next day and the REVIEW BY MARGUERITE ANDERSEN writers of diverse backgrounds have madness continues. I married three times. I had three wedding contributed their stories, and were obviously Madness and addiction lurk behind the dresses—two of them were white, one I pleased to have the opportunity to speak scenes in many stories, often cast in the role cannot even remember. I don’t know what about their feelings concerning marriage. of mother, with father coming to the rescue à happened to them. I was curious to know what They have done so with tenderness, humour

Book of the Month care, justice, equality and environmental range) meat and eat it too. Along the way, it stability. It’s just that matters of paying the rebrands environmentalism as something rent—not to mention the daunting quality of closer to cellphones and cities than granola problems like climate change, war, hunger and grange living; something sleek and sexy, and poverty—can be overwhelming. So it’s as opposed to earnest and earthy. tempting to leave the business of changing Though this framing argument doesn’t the world to politicians and social-action always convince, the hundreds of projects professionals. Worldchanging highlights throughout its Ironically, frustration with creating positive encyclopedic 600 pages are authentically social and environmental change—a slow inspiring. From the Israeli-Palestinian School process, and a damn uncertain one—is likely for Peace, which teaches kids from warring part of what drives North Americans to factions to share experiences, to Lifestraw, a consume so heavily, thereby creating massive tool used in refugee camps to filter e. coli ecological and social footprints. Rather than and other nasties, there are hundreds of taking political action, we swaddle ourselves points to hearten even the most cynical WORLDCHANGING: with new sets of pillows against the extreme post- (or never-been) Greenpeacer. A weather storm. (I confess: I, myself, have plethora of print and web follow-up A USER’S GUIDE FOR THE tested this highly ineffective social-and- resources are listed. 21ST CENTURY bedding-change strategy.) So, if you need hope that a better future is EDITED BY ALEX STEFFEN It’s interesting, then, that Worldchanging possible (and aren’t too averse to consumer- Abrams combines activist and consumerist friendly approaches being touted first, if only approaches to convert North Americans to as ideological soft-sell) Worldchanging REVIEW BY LEAH SANDALS the cause of environmentalism and social could be good to have within arm’s reach of There are a lot of people who want to change. Rather than focus on old-school your TV, computer or other nasty-headline- change the world. And there are plenty more asceticism, Worldchanging (named after the encountering locale. You might have to move who have given up on ever changing it. Sure, popular blog upon which it is based) tells some pillows out of the way, but it’ll be most of us want the same things: health readers that yes, you can have your (free- worth it.

46 WINTER 2008 HERIZONS arts culture WINTER READING and also sagacity; their texts read well. It is interesting to note that most of these women recall how much they and their mothers shared the experience of hoping for love and happiness. Obviously, all were independent and assertive, able to choose men with whom they could live contentedly, at least for a period of time. This explains why the majority of the essays are positive. The editors and contributors to the book do not for one moment belittle feminism, but why did wedding dresses—and with them, the idea of wedding—need to be the subject of a book? Heather Mallick states that the essayists of this collection “have done a Martin Luther and nailed their white, beaded, silk-draped souls to the church door.” Michele Landsberg, who says she was “talked into a listen to her. And, if people at times feel classmates’ names and sentenced to death for wedding” by Stephen Lewis, the first helpless, all they need to do is have faith in refusing to do so. But she was spared egalitarian man she ever met, admits that she Alice Walker’s simple words: “The most because one of the Iranian Revolutionary still recoils “inwardly when otherwise sensible common way people give up their power is Guards, Ali, fell in love with the lithe, young women plan elaborate ‘white by thinking they don’t have any.” weddings.’” She can’t imagine why they care. blindfolded, veiled young woman. If she The 101 chapters in this book explain the I suppose many women like clothes, and converted to Islam and married him, her family causes of war and violence and propose most of us are somewhat sentimental. And let and her boyfriend Andre would remain free. solutions for individuals, women, children me ask: Are there women who do not like This is no Taming of the Shrew, however. and youth, schools and educators, activists, celebrations? My Wedding Dress is a Here, we witness a young woman’s intolerable religious organizations, the media, special- celebration of each contributor’s ideas on agony and the gut-wrenching techniques used expertise groups, business and labour, cities, commitment in love. to break down and remake her personality— nations and international as well as non- the consequences of unbridled power governmental organizations. There are ENOUGH BLOODSHED: unleashed on innocent citizens. several chapters devoted to the special role Although the gruesome images of veiled 101 SOLUTIONS TO VIOLENCE, women have played historically in peace- women terrified of exposing a single wisp of TERROR AND WAR building throughout the world. All of them their hair and walking with their heads down MARY-WYNNE ASHFORD WITH contain case studies of successful peace echo scenes form Margaret Atwood’s The GUY DAUNCEY efforts, references and resource materials, Handmaid’s Tale, the reader is aware that as well as inspiring quotes. New Society Books this folly is real and exists in the 21st The last chapter exhorts readers to join century. REVIEW BY MAYA KHANKHOJE the “Second Superpower”—which is us, the The historical backdrop of the Iranian Enough Bloodshed, as the title implies, is a people. In the immortalized words of Islamic fundamentalist revolution provides heart-rending cry against war as well as a Margaret Mead: “Never doubt that a small readers with an inkling of the terror that step-by-step handbook for building a culture group of thoughtful, committed citizens can of peace. At first glance, the authors’ 101 young people who opposed the regime change the world: Indeed, it’s the only thing endured. The mass hysteria that absorbed solutions to violence, terror and war sound too that ever has.” good to be true. However, after reading this and absolved Iranians from resisting the struggle is dramatically charted. The brutality book, any reasonable reader with an open PRISONER OF TEHRAN mind and an open heart will not only be is juxtaposed with ordinary scenes of early convinced that peace is feasible, but will be MARINA NEMAT childhood, when boys, beaches and dances eager to get down to work. Penguin Books were foremost on her mind. However, A lot of work will certainly be required, REVIEW BY IRENE D’SOUZA childhood innocence did not foreshadow or because peace-building is an arduous, albeit Prisoner of Tehran is the compelling memoir of prepare her for the gruesome consequences richly rewarding process. Mary-Wynne a 16-year-old girl detained at Iran’s notorious of speaking her mind and believing in Ashford, teacher-turned-doctor-turned- Evin prison in 1982, the heyday of the Ayatollah freedom. peace broker, knows this better than most. Khomeini’s regime. This quintessentially Although the author’s writing is sometimes She has worked side-by-side with the surreal modern-day journey into Dante’s melodramatic, Prisoner of Tehran exposes the noblest and the humblest and has learned Inferno is the harrowing story of a young bitter truths of a civilization in decline and the what we all need to learn: that wars are woman penalized for being young, intelligent, psychopathology of fundamentalist ideology. manufactured by powerful vested interests Christian and female. The bitter revelation is that the agony and and that people all over the world truly crave Marina Nemat challenged her school suffering has not ended. One example is Zahra peace. That is why Ashford decided to share authority for preaching fundamentalism in a Kazemi the Canadian photographer who died her efforts and insights most generously with secular school. As a result she was arrested under mysterious circumstances in Evin prison her readers and with anyone else willing to on false charges, tortured to reveal in 2003.

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13 WOMEN: current experiences and go on to demand of roiling waters of her own black female PARABLES FROM PRISON all readers a commitment to undertake the subjectivity and that of her chosen art form. In urgent and immediate action needed to end a fascinating discussion, Nelson shapes the EDITED BY KARLENE FAITH WITH women’s imprisonment. significance of Lewis’s story with passionate ANNE NEAR Kim Pate is executive director of the Elizabeth scholarship that both academics and general REVIEW BY RENEE ACOBY AND KIM PATE Fry Society of Canada. Renee Acoby is an readers can enjoy. Karlene Faith’s latest book spans the Aboriginal mother currently serving a federal Cy-Thea Sand works at the McGill Centre for experiences of 13 women from prisons across sentence. Research and Teaching on Women. the continent over several decades. For any who still cling to a notion that the new prisons THE COLOR OF STONE: EVERYTHING CONCEIVABLE: for women in Canada are “club feds,” these stories provide incontrovertible evidence of SCULPTING THE BLACK FEMALE HOW ASSISTED REPRODUCTION the profound and indelible impact of prison SUBJECT IN NINETEENTH- IS CHANGING MEN, WOMEN AND upon the spirits and psyches of these women, CENTURY AMERICA THE WORLD and the manners in which the impact ripples CHARMAINE A. NELSON LIZA MUNDY through the women, their families and their University of Minnesota Press Knopf communities forever after. The public is led to believe that correctional REVIEW BY CY-THEA SAND REVIEW BY ABBY LIPPMAN facilities aim to rehabilitate the miscreants Each workday, I walk past La Tendresse, a Put a hot topic into a good writer’s hands and deposited in them. As these stories chronicle white Carrara marble image of a woman you have a very readable book. And women’s different degrees of politicization, bowing to kiss her child’s head. Perhaps Everything Conceivable is, if nothing else, a education and vocational training, as well as Charmaine Nelson notices Paul Lancz’s good read. personal, familial and life experiences, the testament to motherly love, too—she is a Does it do a good job of examining, and not reader comes to the clear realization that professor in art history and communication just telling stories about what another recent women in prison need to have a direct hand in studies at McGill University in Montreal, just book on this hot topic called the baby identifying their own needs, desired services up the hill from Peel and Sherbrooke, where business? and resources to facilitate their re-entry into the sculpture rests. Yes and no. the community. They also need support in their Reading The Color of Stone, however, has Organized mainly around individual adults in efforts to reveal the oppression and drastically altered how I view the Montreal different configurations using assisted theoretical and practical impossibilities of icon; it is now juxtaposed to a reference reproduction—lesbian couples, gay couples, failed prison and criminal-justice theories and Nelson makes to a white slave owner, a single women, the medically infertile—Lisa experiments. woman whipping a nine-month-old black baby Mundy uses her substantial journalistic skills Six of the 13 women whose stories make up to death as the child’s mother watches to discuss some of the issues particular to the book had children before or while they helplessly. In The Color of Stone, Nelson making babies. However, she seems to bring were incarcerated, a statistic echoed by the explains how the material reality of black these stories to storybook happy endings, 1990 Canadian Task Force on Federally bodies brutalized by slavery is connected to even when things seem to be going horribly Sentenced Women. Before being criminalized the aesthetics of 19th-century neo-classical wrong. For example, in her chapter on and imprisoned, they struggled to support their sculpture and how white marble’s high surrogate pregnancy, the adults tend to come families on minimum-wage jobs or welfare; currency emerges. Within a feminist and out okay. Only when Mundy’s lens shifts to the they may have sold drugs, forged cheques or postcolonial framework, Nelson unravels a actual babies who may be born—the end prostituted themselves to ensure their children historical and moral imperative predicated on product for which all the treatments, had the basic needs for survival. In fact, many chromophobia, or fear of colour. surgeries, screening tests and legal contracts women describe the separation from their Nelson’s concern is the social construction are but means—do we get a sense that children as the most horrific punishment of all. of race in 19th-century neo-classical maybe there are some serious problems with The main theme here is that, regardless of sculptural practices and its connection to all that’s on offer (to those with money to pay how positive their parenting before and even power and social positioning. She pushes the for services). This is particularly true in her during their imprisonment, the separation racial and class limits of feminist art history by discussion of the multiple births associated occasioned by the imprisonment causes demonstrating how and why Cleopatra, with the use of assisted reproduction. More irreparable damage to mothers and their popular in the abolitionist movement, morphs often than parents are led to expect, triplets children. from the black Egyptian queen Nelson learned and quadruplets are born with health It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure about as a child into a predominantly white problems when their parents did not opt for out what the system, inside and out, fails to representation. Nelson shows how white the number of fetuses implanted to be acknowledge and what marginalized/ marble possesses a symbolic value as well as selectively reduced (to avoid the birth of more criminalized women already know: that they an economic one, and how it gradually than two). are set up to be criminalized by the lack of becomes conflated with purity and beauty For many, the best (i.e., most politicized) part resources and programs, by the oppression through excluding black and (white) classed of the book will be the ending chapters, where they face when they are undereducated and bodies. Mundy explores how women’s eggs seem to poor and, especially if they are also racialized. Nelson traces the accomplishments of have become “the mistress of the universe” We would both love to see sequels written Edmonia Lewis, a black native American, and how issues of choice, commodified via by these women (as well as by others female sculptor who navigates, with Hagar assisted reproduction, have “created dilemmas currently in prison) that reflect upon their (1875) and Death of Cleopatra (1876), the Continued on page 53

50 WINTER 2008 HERIZONS arts culture WINTER READING

SHE’S SUCH A GEEK: WOMEN WRITE ABOUT SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY AND OTHER NERDY STUFF EDITED BY ANNALEE NEWITZ AND CHARLIE ANDERS Seal Press

WOMEN, GENDER AND TECHNOLOGY EDITED BY M.F. FOX, D. G. JOHNSON AND S. V. ROSSER University of Illinois Press

CINDERELLA OR CYBERELLA? masculine and culturally macho nature of and eye strain. These types of occupations particular sci-tech fields, including are often gendered female, and they are EMPOWERING WOMEN IN THE engineering, physics and computer science, fundamental to the smooth operation of KNOWLEDGE SOCIETY. remains particularly puzzling in light of the global electronics industries. They require EDITED BY NANCY HAFKIN AND fact that the majority of students graduating women’s intimate acquaintance with SOPHIA HUYER from university are now female. In Canada, machines. In other words, women are Kumarian Press women now make up over 60 percent of “working with technology.” What is at issue, health, agricultural and biological sciences however, is how they are doing so, and why REVIEWS BY KRISTA SCOTT-DIXON graduates. In addition, 43 percent of all this contribution is largely invisible. It’s frosh week in Toronto. Sitting outside to workers in professional, scientific and It’s tempting to think that technology, on catch the last of summer’s rays, I hear the technical occupations and 82 percent of its own, can bring change. After all, most of sound of raucous singing and cheering. I health care workers are women. us in Canada with access to the Internet turn around to see a horde of purple-painted Despite many biologically based have found our world expanded and undergrads dive into the fountain at Nathan explanations to the contrary, women can enriched by this tool. And technological Phillips Square. They are wearing yellow obviously hack the math and science. So advances such as sanitation, vaccines and hard hats and overalls, and thus immediately where are the girl geeks? And why is contraception have resulted in massive recognizable as first-year engineering technological culture still a boys’ club? social advances. However, as Hafkin and students. Instinctively, I count the women. These are two questions addressed by three Huyer argue, technology by itself neither There are 10 in a crowd of about fifty. Not new books in the field of gender and helps nor hinders women. Rather, bad. Usually it’s hard to find even one or two. technology. technologies are incorporated into existing Now soaked, the students launch into the One possible reason for the apparent relationships of power and inequality, and it Lady Godiva’s Hymn, a perennial favourite of absence of women is the way in which their is these relationships that often determine many engineering schools, and one that I technological work is typically measured. As how women will experience the well remember learning from engineers at the contributors to Nancy Hafkin and Sophia technologies. As the authors write, quoting McMaster University in the early 1990s. The Huyer’s edited collection Cinderella or technology theorist Swasti Mitter: “It is the longer version, generally sung to the tune of Cyberella? point out, despite the visibility same age-old rationale: women’s inferior The Battle Hymn of the Republic, contains given to Cyberellas—active participants in status in society gives them unequal access verses such as: the design, implementation and use of to all resources,” including technologies. A maiden and an engineer were information technologies—many women are Information and communications sitting in a park, Cinderellas in the “basement of the technologies (ICTs) offer immense potential The engineer was busy doing knowledge society,” toiling as low-paid, low- for improving women’s social and political research after dark, status workers performing tasks such as opportunities worldwide. Hafkin and Huyer His scientific method was a assembling and disposing of electronics provide many examples and case studies marvel to observe, components. throughout the book, such as ICT-enabled While his right hand wrote the As captured in Edward Burtynsky’s iconic, teaching and learning across Africa, ICT- figures, his left hand traced the large-scale photos of female factory based microenterprise in southern India and curves. workers, data entry clerks and scrap pickers ICT-organized women’s activism in Latin Ah, plus ça change.... in China, such jobs are tedious and often America. Other technologies offer similar The problem of women’s absence from dangerous. Workers labour in close benefits. For instance, Huyer reports, women scientific and technical studies, and from proximity to heavy metals, solvents and other in Bangladesh who improved their vegetable fields such as engineering, has preoccupied chemicals emitted when components are crop using new agricultural technologies feminists for decades. The persistent constructed or destroyed. Assemblers and reported more confidence and autonomy in numerically male-dominated, ideologically keyboarders suffer repetitive-motion injuries Continued on page 53

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52 WINTER 2008 HERIZONS Continuted from page 51

dealing with their husbands and food women of colour—are still struggling to Their techie tales of school, sex and dating, traders, more mobility and freedom, less attain senior positions. Women’s numbers in childhood, family and jobs, are by turns violence and increased political knowledge hard-technology fields such as engineering poignant, lusty, thought-provoking, hilarious, and involvement, all of which were start small and get smaller as female students and inspiring, and any grrrl geek will find specifically linked to the technology. “leak” from the “pipeline” from herself nodding in recognition. However, these benefits cannot be undergraduate studies through academic and In these narratives, social and sexual realized unless the technologies are professional careers. Professional and social inequalities are negotiated in different ways implemented in ways that take social interactions are critical in these fields, and by each geek. One female scientist insists on inequalities and local contexts into account. yet women are often subtly or explicitly doing her fieldwork in the dresses that make To date, despite decades of technology excluded. her feel most comfortable, despite her co- transfer programs in poorer countries, Will this be the fate of the 10 purple workers’ discomfort with the notion of a women’s poverty has increased relative to women in hard hats, I wonder? Discouraged geek being feminine. Another has to men’s, and men have benefited more than by the obstacles described in Women, integrate her Indian parents’ desire for a women from whatever technologies are Gender and Technology, will they fade into traditional daughter with her own career made available. invisibility, quit or forge bravely ahead, like choices. A third woman, for whom a laptop This crucial point is taken up in a different the women in a third recent anthology, She’s was a ticket to freedom, says: “I wrote this way in the anthology Women, Gender and Such a Geek? essay for my children, so they’ll know their Technology. As the editors note, gender and While the first two collections focus on mother’s story of being a woman gimp geek technology are “profoundly intertwined.” broad regional and global trends, She’s Such of colour.” What emerges from these stories Chapter authors examine how gendered and a Geek narrows the lens to explore women’s is a portrait of women’s engagement with racialized social relations shape not only technological experiences and identities at technology as complex, diverse, thrilling, women’s experiences of technologies as an individual level. When asked: Where are challenging and, most importantly, wide-ranging as reproductive technologies all the girl geeks? the editors and authors everywhere. and multimedia, but also the implementation respond: We’re everywhere, and our More than anything, this book is a of those technologies and feminist numbers are growing. “celebration and a call to arms.” In this, its engagements with them. The book provides The problem of women and technology, authors echo Hafkin and Huyer’s call to build extensive U.S. data on subjects such as they suggest, isn’t women’s participation, but on existing successes, distribute the benefits enrolment in educational programs such as rather the acknowledgement and visibility of of technology more evenly and help to computer science and engineering, IT their presence and contributions. The book cultivate a new generation of Cyberellas. As employment and women’s experiences with is full of nerdy characters: math whizzes, one female programmer writes in She’s Such technologies in their work and personal lives. professors in circuit-board corsets, gamer A Geek, “I, for one, welcome our girlie The picture painted is sobering. Despite grrrls, gimp geeks, wonks, actors by overlords.” Good luck, purple geek grrls! significant advances, women—especially day/astronomers by night and Nerdonnas. !

Continuted from page 50 that are so much harder for women’s groups to THE SLEEPING BUDDHA: fields and the morality of the people has grapple with than abortion.” THE STORY OF AFGHANISTAN changed, she tells Ghafour, casting a dark The author takes some stands that may be shadow on future generations. Nevertheless, problematic for many Canadian feminists who THROUGH THE EYES OF Assifi and others are picking up the pieces. have pushed for regulation of the baby ONE FAMILY Abdullah, another returning Afghan, gives business and for prohibitions on certain HAMIDA GHAFOUR people raw materials and trains and pays practices of which Mundy she seems to McArthur & Company them to build. If they own it, they will fix it, he approve (for example, paying for eggs, sperm tells Ghafour. And Qand Agha, a former or surrogates, and the creation of embryos for REVIEW BY JANET NICOL resistance fighter whose uncle had recruited research only). However, in raising the issues, Hamida Ghafour awakens her own sense of him in the early 1990s, now risks his life Mundy reminds us yet again that there are no buried kinship in The Sleeping Buddha and ridding Afghanistan of Soviet mines. simple answers. gives readers a more true picture of Ghafour saves her opinions for the Mundy is writing primarily for a U.S. Afghanistan. Ghafour’s family fled the Soviet epilogue. She observes meagre outcomes in audience, for whom the fertility industry is invasion in 1981, eventually emigrating to the reconstruction efforts, given the millions pretty much a free-market enterprise. Toronto. Then, in 2003, Ghafour received a spent. Let Afghans control and support their However, Canadians also need to confront the golden opportunity to return to her birth culture, she advises. Ghafour believes NATO is multiple dilemmas arising as science country as a journalist, reporting on the responsible for too many deaths of Afghan continues to push ever more options into an reconstruction effort. civilians, and has destroyed a necessary trust. expanding and elastic category of “choice.” The result is an engaging and moving But she also argues that NATO has not sent We have an Assisted Human Reproduction account of personal family history and enough soldiers to make a real difference to Agency mandated to control the industry, but contemporary events. Ghafour traces four security. we still need to ensure that choice doesn’t generations of her family, connecting their Afghans are now “beggars in their own lead to further regressions from social justice lives to the greater story of ancient land,” Ghafour sadly observes, leaving her to and equity, or keep us from examining the Afghanistan and deepening our understanding feel “a delayed grief for the death of someone social structures and societal conditions that of a complex and diverse history. Her lively I had never known.” generate and fuel the baby business. portraits of remarkable people she meets, But amid her tears is hope. “Afghanistan Abby Lippman is an epidemiologist at McGill such as Fauzia Assifi, offer some hope. would have to be healed by ordinary people, University and chairperson of the Canadian Assifi is a returning Afghan who is helping Afghan or not,” Ghafour writes, “doing a million small deeds simply because they wanted to.” Women’s Health Network. to rebuild. Land mines are scattered in the ! HERIZONS WINTER 2008 53 arts culture FILM

Truly, life and people are more complex and multi-textured than the typical Hollywood film will allow. And sometimes an independent film is what is required to take on the more challenging questions in ways that don’t necessarily give us the pat horse crap we’ve heard a million times. So, thank god for films like Room, which don’t pander to those people hungering to be tucked safely in their beds. This is a film for people for whom the nightmare continues after they wake up. In Room, Julia is her family’s sole source of income, working the floor of Bingo Paradise and delivering telephone books. Julia struggles to raise her two daughters and support her husband while fighting off violent migraines and alarming visions. The visions, the burbling of water, the buzzing of electricity, transmogrify into The Room, an open-concept warehouse loft. (And what could be a bigger testament to one’s success in the insanity of this market-driven culture?). Julia’s visions of The Room intensify until she collapses in the supermarket, then crashes her car. This leads Julia to steal bingo money from her boss and hightail it to George Bush Intercontinental Airport, where the electronic departure signs psychically lead her to Manhattan in search of her mysterious and malevolent loft. Room is a film that takes risks. Julia (Cyndi Williams) gives a great performance rooted in kitchen-sink American realism. The minor characters are equally strong—from her sobby friend Suzy to Big Tex, Julia’s amour, who reminds her of a rodeo clown, to a coke- snorting, wisecracking real estate agent. The film jumps from Julia’s peregrination through the streets of Manhattan, to haunting psychics and bizarre bit players, to the electronic effluvia of billboards, television terrorism and hydroelectric power lines and meters—all culminating in a kind of post-9/11 nightmare. Julia sees cues in all of this—the palpable and the electronic—leading her to find the truth behind her visions and, we are to ROOM landscape of Western civilization gone even assume, an end to her angst. more psychotic than a Hollywood film about There are no happy solutions here. Room WRITTEN AND DIRECTED BY KYLE HENRY doesn’t spoon-feed the viewer and doesn’t Alliance Atlantis Western civilization gone psychotic. Unlike other films that have recently come out about offer solutions to the nightmare—either the REVIEW BY MAUREEN MEDVED the female post-40 quest for meaning within one in Julia’s head or the one she watches on television. By searching for the monster, Julia Kyle Henry’s Room is a psychological horror the context of social insanity (such as the eventually merges with her mysterious film told from the perspective of a post-40 obvious and insulting Year of the Dog), Room is landscape, which, as the film alludes, is like all Texas mother who disintegrates under the more enigmatic and is unwilling to fix the monsters we pursue and was never completely pressure of everyday life in the nightmare that problem for the viewer by finding a tangible separate from her in the first place. is George Bush’s America. solution that would see everyone—main ! Interposed with news reports from Iraq and character and viewers alike—living happily Maureen Medved’s novel The Tracey Fragments, now a film of the same name, won Best Feature Film at the terrorist warnings, Room explores the ever after in a world of sentimental Atlantic Film Festival. It was released in Canada in psychological struggle of being human in a shlockiness. October 2007.

54 WINTER 2008 HERIZONS cole’s notes BY SUSAN G. COLE

Jabs and Spears

We’ve reached the age when the culture of celebrity ridicule The last time an artist arrived in such bad shape at an has replaced the culture of fascination with celebrity, and awards show rehearsal, her spot was canned immediately.The women are paying the price. 2000 Academy Awards extravaganza was supposed to feature True, the tabloids have always been trumpeting the latest Whitney Houston, but when she came to rehearsal shaky, weight gain (Kirstie Ally comes to mind) or the latest evidence unprepared and combative, producer Lili Zanuck cancelled of cellulite visible in a picture taken with some space invader’s her appearance the day of the show, explaining, “We didn’t telephoto lens (Cameron Diaz, for example, as if she’s got a real want to work for six months for this to be a show about how problem). But this kind of attack has now reached mainstream fucked-up Whitney Houston was.” culture in a way that’s become totally toxic. The MVA producers took the opposite tack. It’s as if they Currently, we see Lindsay Lohan and Paris Hilton high on wanted the MVA awards to be about how fucked-up Britney the list of e-talk subject matter. But right now, Britney Spears Spears was, and not about what these self-congratulatory is at the epicentre of our culture of ridicule. She’s been mocked exercises are supposed to be about—namely, recognizing the for her choice of husband, then mocked because she carries best in the business. some post-pregnancy weight, then Now the courts have stepped in mocked again for going to There’s no question that she and Spears has lost custody of her McDonald’s, then finally served up children, thereby making sure that on a platter to audiences for the has talent, so why isn’t her the pillorying continues. MVA awards in September. descent, like Downey’s, Yes, Spears is in trouble. But I’m For those of you who missed the still trying to figure out what has event, Spears opened the show something to bemoan? happened to compassion in our with a performance of her then culture of ridicule. It’s gone new single “Gimme More.” Moving in what appeared to be AWOL. Every time I see evidence of her impaired state, I slow motion, especially compared to her kick-ass backup want to cry out, “Somebody help her.” When the actor dancers, she roamed the stage in a complete daze during an Robert Downey Jr.’s substance-abuse problems were at an all- excruciating three-minute number that felt more like an hour. time high, we’d see the occasional photo of him looking the The viciousness of the post-performance attack was worse for wear in the tabs, but none of the mockery. The unprecedented—even the moronic reaction to Janet going opinion was that his was a talent gone wasted, and that Jackson’s infamous wardrobe malfunction at the 2004 Super that was something to be mourned, not mocked. Bowl doesn’t compare. Awards-show reviewers vilified her, What is it about Spears that makes her such a popular target? late-night talk show hosts made hay out of it and YouTube There’s no question that she has talent, so why isn’t her descent, got hundreds of thousands of hits. like Downey’s, something to bemoan? Why don’t people But the viciousness really began when the MVA producers remember that she was a child star and, as such, the most made the decision to let Spears go onstage in the first place. vulnerable to excess—and therefore someone who should be She arrived at rehearsal two-and-a-half hours late and very helped out, not laughed at. Is it about class? She does give off drunk, clutching a frozen margarita. It was obvious that no the whiff of trailer-park trash that snobs love to dismiss. But I good could come of it from an artistic standpoint. think it’s all about misogyny writ larger than life itself. ! HERIZONS WINTER 2008 55 on the edge BY LYN COCKBURN

The Skinny on Skinny

Here’s the skinny out of Montreal. The organizers of this which is directed towards young women. Featuring naked fall’s Montreal Fashion Week announced they wanted to ban and emaciated actress Isabelle Caro, 27, who weighs just over girls under 16 from the show. And overly thin models from 68 pounds, the billboards aroused a storm of protest. (You the runway. can find the picture and an accompanying article at Bon. Except, as one manager said nonchalantly: “The http://style.popcrunch.com/italian-designer-nolita-no- young girls will just go on to the next show.” For example, anorexia-ad/.) in September, model Maddison Gabriel—at the ripe old Photographer Oliviero Toscani took the photo as part of age of 13—became the face of the Gold Coast Fashion his campaign against anorexia. And Cara herself said, “I’ve Week in Australia. hidden myself and covered myself for too long.” Except that almost exactly a year ago, the organizers of the On the other hand, some Italian health experts are Milan and Madrid Fashion Weeks said almost exactly the outraged and voiced fears that teenage girls might be same thing. And nothing changed. Instead, the runways and encouraged to “compete for extreme thinness.” Nolita funded fashion magazines continue to highlight models who appear the posters, it said, “to use the naked body to show everyone anorexic. Their arms look like twigs, their legs are concave the reality of this illness.” and their small breasts are 90 percent implant. A Milan city council official called the Toscani poster For all of the born-again concern about the health of its “pornographic,” obviously unaware that anyone who gets models, the fashion industry still promotes skinny. Thin is turned on by this kind of sad picture is into necrophilia. still in and gaunt is still good. In the last year alone, four In this ongoing debate over how thin is too thin, nobody young models died of anorexia. seems to notice that somehow the blame has been placed on Kelly Cutrone, owner of People’s Revolution, a company the skinny shoulders of the victim. She’s either too plump or that produces fashion shows worldwide, offers proof that it’s too thin and, if the latter, there are cries to ban her. According the skinny model who gets to work. to some, she has to be no larger than a size 4; according to “If we get a girl who is bigger than a 4, she is not going to fit the clothes. Clothes look better on thin people. The fabric other she ought to be regularly examined by a doctor. hangs better,” she says, happily unaware, or perhaps uncaring And in Milan, the epicentre of Italian fashion, models about the message she is sending to teenage girls. must now carry medical certificates to prove they are healthy. The messages from the fashion industry, the media, Better the fashion industry itself should take responsibility. Hollywood and society in general are enough to brainwash Better it should make an official announcement that skinny young girls into thinking they’ve got to lose weight—that is out, gaunt is gone. there is some ideal weight out there just waiting for them to In Madrid, at least one person recognizes that it’s time to under-eat their way to. And then, of course, they will be get tough with the fashion industry. happy. And maybe even become models. “If they don’t go along with [the new rules] the next step is How many times do we pick up a magazine or supermarket to seek legislation, just like with tobacco,” said Carmen tab that screams, “Is Paris Hilton too thin?” This is balanced, of Gonzales of Spain’s Anorexia and Bulimia Association. course, by the snotty comments about Britney Spears’ abdomen But this column didn’t start in Madrid; it began in during her ill-fated appearance at the Music Video Awards. Montreal, and that’s where it’s going to end. In other words, there is indeed some magical weight for Yves Jean Lacasse, a Montreal designer, said recently: “The women, and it appears to be one ounce on the correct side majority of designers in Montreal or Toronto take natural of anorexia. bodies. When I say natural, I mean sizes 6, 7, 8, not 2, 3, 4.” Nothing highlights this controversy better than the Give that man a lettuce leaf. Every four hours. For six billboards that were posted all across Italy to raise awareness months. ! about anorexia and to promote the fashion label Nolita, Lyn Cockburn is a Vancouver writer and columnist.

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