ISSN 2371-1264 University of Manitoba Feminist and Queer Review Volume 2 Issue 1 1 Mission Statement We are a Feminist and Queer Collective working to counter misconceptions surrounding Women’s and Gender Studies through the publication of an annual Feminist and Queer review. We are increasing awareness and knowledge of Feminist and Queer issues through the voices, opinions, and experiences of University of Manitoba undergraduate students from all faculties. We firmly believe in multiplicity of meaning and we therefore reject the idea of singular definitions. For this reason, we are often left with more questions than answers. But, through our publication we strive to empower ourselves and other undergraduate students with the tools necessary to address the important questions. This publication will be a catalyst for change. 2 University of Manitoba Feminist and Queer Review Volume 2 Issue 1 University of Manitoba Feminist and Queer Review Volume 2 Issue 1 3 We would like to thank the following donors for their generous support: Editors’ note & Margaret Laurence Endowment Fund This publication is the Feminist and Queer faculty is multifaceted and, thus, allows for the & Women’s and Gender Studies Program Collective’s seventh annual FAQ review. Working interdisciplinary and personal development of in a non-hierarchal manner, the members of the its students. We, as the collective, want to shed We would like to thank the following individuals and groups for their consideration, collective seek to provide undergraduate students light on the value of our Women’s and Gender commitment, and generosity in the support of this publication: with an opportunity to contribute to, engage with, studies degrees and the courses we take within and participate in feminist and queer discourse. the department. & Ryan Story / Graphic Designer of Issue The FAQ review stands to actively challenge and We hope that this publication not only showcases & Haley Koehn / Cover Designer of Issue complicate traditional notions of “academia”; feminist and queer voices, but also inspires future & Shawn Farrell / logo designer allowing undergraduate students to value and and furthered engagement with feminist and & Alberta Johnson / photographer draw from personal experiences, passions, and queer issues and theories. & Dr. Liz Millward knowledge in order to articulate feminist and queer topics, interests, and issues. We thank-you, our readers, for taking interest Dr. Shawna Ferris & in feminist and queer issues, and for supporting & Kyla Shead In the same vein, the FAQ collective seeks to dispel this dissemination and expansion of social and myths surrounding who and what constitutes a political consciousness. We would also like to sincerely thank those who have submitted their work to this year’s publication. feminist and, by association, the individuals who engage in Women’s and Gender studies. The Women’s and Gender Studies department and Editorial Board Morgan Abbott Taylor Byrnes Sylvie Côté Faith Gushulak Brenlee Johnstone Edmund Machona Kayleigh Robertson Chloe Vickar 4 University of Manitoba Feminist and Queer Review Volume 2 Issue 1 University of Manitoba Feminist and Queer Review Volume 2 Issue 1 5 Table of Contents 06 09 11 12 16 19 Gender Reveal Parties Underneath my Mask my house of cards Selfie Theory Through Analysis of Domesticity A Picture Paints a is all aces a Feminist Lens Thousand Words Emma McLachlan Elizabeth McMehan Emily Gerbrandt Brenlee Johnstone Ashley Simms Laura 21 22 25 28 30 34 First Time The Remains Lady Mary Wortley From A Black Woman's So One Isn't Good White Lie Montagu Reflecting on Perspective Enough For You? James Turowski K. D. Zmavc Female Agency Edmund Latifat Shittu Christina Trachenko Sylvie Côté 35 40 41 44 51 54 Canada’s Temporary For You Nicki Minaj and the Self-Care Trashing Tropes and Tapping into Feminism Foreign Program Policy Fetishization of the Subverting Sexism: Abigail Lidster Black Female Body FAQ Collective Gender Roles in Chloe Vickar Francess Amara Marvel’s Agent Carter Elsa Kaka Shannon C. Disclaimer: Bloodworth The opinions expressed in this publication do not necessarily reflect the views of the FAQ collective. 56 58 60 63 64 69 Sex Work, October 6, 1990 Hyperautomobility: Incognito Understanding Self Portrait Representation What is it and How Feminism: Why and Violence Loricia Pacholko- Does it Affect us? Oyindamola O. Alaka Beyoncé’s Brand of Hannah Tyler Matheson Feminism is Important Ashley Pankiw Faith Gushulak Nicole Wilson 70 72 74 76 78 Abetting Rape Culture: A Critical Reflection on Deconstructing the Prime Time Crime Weeds The Dominant Rape Challenges and Barriers Strong Black Woman Discourse & Omitting in the Canadian Morgan Abbott Abigail Lidster Consent in Sex-Ed Workforce Trinda L. Penniston Curriculums Taylor Byrnes Candice Guild 6 University of Manitoba Feminist and Queer Review Volume 2 Issue 1 University of Manitoba Feminist and Queer Review Volume 2 Issue 1 7 infant’s legs. At this party, guests are subjected to is atrocious). This is where gender binaries come in. hours of guessing and voting to figure out what the What are gender binaries? They are a type of gender baby’s gender might be. There are also games played system in which it is believed that sex and gender can Gender Reveal where guests wear either a pink bow or a mustache only be classified into two distinct categories. Gender to represent which gender they are guessing. Games Reveal Parties assume that whatever sex the baby is like these push gender identities into narrow boxes, will coincide with their gender. Yes, male and female Parties: suggesting that there are only two genders and only sex organs perpetuate the human species, but the idea two ways that these genders can be represented. Once that there is only room for “feminine” and “masculine” the gender is revealed there is a shower of either pink roles is the product of history and not based on any or blue balloons, and from then on an unborn baby’s solid facts. Furthermore, Simone de Beauvoir, a well- Aiding in the future is shaped. Social organizations such as Gender known philosopher, political activist, and feminist Reveal Parties are one way in which Canadian culture writer, insists in her article “Biological Data”, that the has taken a step backwards in the journey towards a idea that males have to behave one way, and females Perpetuation more accepting outlook. I believe that Gender Reveal behave another was invented, and not written into Parties are aiding in the perpetuation of gender our biological genes (2009). Hopefully using an Earth binaries, heteronormativity, and society’s expectations dwelling feminist’s ideas helps me to encourage those of Gender of gender. Unborn babies should not be put into reading this that there is still room for positive change! a category before they have even had a chance to If they can see through the historically constructed take their first breath, and parents should not be ideas of gender then maybe others can too. celebrating their child’s gender based on such Binaries and closed-minded ideals. In addition to Simone de Beauvoir’s blatant rejection of gender binaries, there is also the fact that not all Secondly, the fact that Gender Reveal Parties only infants on Earth are born with the “expected” sex Heteronormativity revolve around the celebration of only two genders, organs, and these individuals are usually put under the man and woman, is proof that they aid in the label “intersex”, or “abnormal”. “Intersex is a general perpetuation of gender binaries. It is a well-known fact, term used for a variety of conditions in which a person especially on planet Equality, that these are not the is born with a reproductive or sexual anatomy that only two genders that make up society, but on Earth doesn't seem to fit the typical definitions of female or Emma McLachlan they are the genders that are seen as “predictable” and male” (Intersex Society of North America, 2006). If “manageable”. The exclusion of gender as fluid rather Gender Reveal Parties do not celebrate ALL genders than binary removes any agency that an individual then they should not be celebrating at all because might feel that they have over their identity. The gender is far too complex to fit into a two-sex system. expectation that an individual is going to identify as For example, Anne Fausto-Sterling (another Earth either a man or woman has been invented by many dwelling feminist), who is a leading expert in biology societies on Earth. The fact that Gender Reveal and gender development, suggested in 1993 that instead Imagine you are from another planet, the ideal planet what a Gender Reveal Party is, why they are aiding Parties celebrate the birth of either a “boy” or “girl” is of having this “two-sex” system there should be a where there is no such thing as sexism, racism, class in the perpetuation of gender binaries, and why they ridiculous, because gender identities are not the result “five-sex” system instead (2008). This article generated inequality or any other “ism” you can think of. Let’s are yet another ridiculous Earthly ritual that should of birth; they are simply the result of culture! much controversy amongst the people of Earth, some call this planet Equality. Every year, the citizens of be abolished. thought that it was ridiculous to have “five sexes” planet Equality visit Earth to remind themselves Moving forward, it is important to make the and others taking her idea and running with it. Since why they live the way that they do. Each year there’s First of all, you may ask: “What is a Gender Reveal distinction between gender and sex (I have broken this 1993, this “five-sex” system has evolved and become so something new, whether it is County Clerks refusing to Party?” As a result of my research I have discovered down in a language that I’m hoping you Earth dwellers diverse that the boundaries between masculinity and marry same-sex couples, College frat boys objectifying that a Gender Reveal Party, most commonly found understand).