ChainsChains andand ResistanceResistance Fighting violence against woman tenants

June 2016 y The Women’s Centre for Education and Action (Centre d’éducation et d’action des femmes) has been work- ing in Montréal’s Centre-Sud neighborhood for nearly 45 years. Our center reflects the diversity of our society: it is frequented by women of all ages and all walks of life. Every day, our walls witness solidarity, awareness, justice, advocacy, participatory art, mutual support, and the exchange of knowledge and skills. Our actions and the positions we take aim to transform and improve women’s everyday lives.

Members of the Graphic Actors Magazine Committee • Tatianna Alvarado • Huguette David • Keysha Destiny-Alvarado • Francine Labbé • Ginette Beaulieu • Isabelle Lapointe • David Blanchard • Julie Leblanc • Marguerite Gariépy • Johanne Montreuil • Fernando Jara • Katia Lemieux • Patrick Lamoureux • Lyne Lortie • Anabelle Leblanc • Linda Pilon • Carolane Leblanc • Lise Rozon • Myralie Lefort-Sauvage • Pascale Thérien • Marco Lemieux • Hilda Viveiros • Amina Limam Medina Photography and digital • Éric Malouin design • Johanne Montreuil • Pascale Detandt • Maria Monzon Concept • Marco A. Monzon • Pascale Detandt • Adriana Pina • Julie Leblanc • Cédric Raymond Writing • Michael Richard • Ariane Duplessis • Anne-Marie Spénard • Campagne Traçons- • Pascale Thérien les-limites de Action ontarienne contre la violence faite aux femmes • Pascale Detandt • Julie Leblanc • Katia Lemieux Proofreading • Audrey Simard • Huguette Cossette • Mathieu Francoeur • Marie-Ève Desroches Warm thanks to all those whose financial support made this project possible Printing Fondation Béati • Association facultaire Syndicat des professeurEs de l’UQAM • • Katasoho étudiante des sciences humaines de l’UQAM Le Conseil central du Montréal métropolitain katasoho.com • Syndicat des chargéEs de cours de l’uni- CSN • Syndicat des employéEs de l’Univer- French-to-English Trans- versité de Montréal • Syndicat québécois sité de Montréal • Syndicat des travailleuses lation des employéEs de service section locale 298 et travailleurs de l’Hôpital du Sacré-cœur de • Emma Kasper • Syndicat des employéEs de l’UQAM • Montréal • FRAPRU • Syndicat des travailleu- • Linea Petrela Paiement Syndicat du personnel enseignant du Collège ses et des travailleurs du CSSS Jeanne-Mance. Ahuntsic • Syndicat des chargéEs de cours de • The Pierre Elliott Trudeau Foundation • l’UQAM • yy The silence ends here

Over the course of the amazing adventure that led us to create this The survivors we met were between ages of 17 and 68. Although graphic magazine, we met some 100 women who had survived any woman who is a tenant or a can be at risk of sexual sexual assault perpetrated by their landlord, superintendent, neigh- violence by her landlord, superintendent, or roommate, some bour, or roommate. Each woman carried a heavy secret. Before women are more vulnerable than others: women living alone, meeting us, many of them had never spoken about their trauma. The single mothers, immigrants without stable status, women of colour, silence had lasted a long time: weeks, months, even years of shame women experiencing poverty, disabled women, Indigenous women, and guilt. Our meetings with these women transformed us and gave and the elderly. us a new understanding of what we are fighting for. Yet everyone has the right to live free of intimidation, threats, But how many more hundreds or thousands of tenants and room- violence, abuse, rape, and fear. All women -- whether tenants, or mates still live in darkness and silence? The stories we heard are , or something else entirely -- have the right to be safe not anecdotes or isolated incidents. They are testimony to the perva- in their own . siveness of a deeply sexist ideology. This graphic magazine is dedicated to all survivors: the ones we Our society is fundamentally unequal and unwell. It is a place know and the ones who are still struggling in silence. This magazine where untamed capitalism traps women and children in inhuman is also dedicated to Anne Kanelle, one of the first women to speak living conditions. It is a pathological, patriarchal system that chains out about the abuse she experienced at the hands of her roommate. women to their aggressors behind the walls of their own . Anne Kanelle is one of the founding members of our committee. The silence has lasted long enough! In December 2014, Citizenship and Immigration Canada deported Anne from the country. Anne’s story, her determination, her hunger The pattern of sexual assault experienced by female tenants and for justice, and her willingness to fight, live within every one of us. roommates is a structural and social phenomenon. It is rooted in power dynamics and an abusive social order that perpetuates May Anne’s story and the other stories in this magazine touch you violence. The silence needs to end. as they have touched us.

It is time for change. It is time to take survivors at their word, to stop trivializing sexual harassment, sexual assault, violence, rape. Yours in feminism, It is time for the perpetrators to bear the burden of shame and guilt Julie L. that survivors have shouldered for so long.

Who are the survivors ? Starting next autumn, we will circulate a group declaration and a petition demanding Women who have experienced sexual assault in their homes live in better protection for woman tenants. We will also organize dem- your neighbourhood. You’ve seen them at the park, on the bus, in onstrations. Join us and help protect women from sexual violence. the grocery store. They could be your girlfriend, your neighbour, your mother, your daughter… they could be you.

yy CCrossingrossing BorderS...BorderS...

Let me tell you my story. My name is Rigorta. I have two children. A few years ago, I fled Argentina and my violent husband. My brother and sister live in Montréal. They offered to sponsor me. I knew that Quebec would be a welcoming place. I wanted a better future for my daughters and I felt sure that I would find that here, even though it wasn’t easy to adapt to the cold or to learn French. It’s great to see again...

¡Hace frio!

Finally, my sister will be safe!

yy What? I don’t understand! Give me a chance...

I started looking for a job. I encountered a lot of discri- would have supper with my daughters and me. My mination because of my accent. I finally found work as neighbour gave me 40 dollars a week to pay for her a cleaning lady in a hotel downtown. children’s food. A few weeks later, I rented my own and was When I moved in, my relationship with the superinten- very proud of myself. Because I didn’t have a lot of dent of my building was cordial. He took care of every- money, my two daughters and I lived in a 3½. thing -- the repairs and the rent. I made friends with another mother in my building and we started helping each other. Because she worked nights, I would fetch her children at school and they

Hey there, kids.

Nice ass!

y Supper’s ready!

When the superintendent realized that I was taking care of my neigh- bour’s kids, he started becoming aggressive and blackmailing me. One night, he came knocking at my door. I didn’t know why he was knocking and I didn’t answer. He yelled and yelled… My daughters were scared. It reminded us of dark times. We locked ourselves in the bathroom. That’s where we used to hide when my husband got violent.

Don’t forget, you’re illegal here!

yy At last one day, he cornered me when I was coming The first time was in an alleyway. I’d rather not talk home. He told me that if I didn’t do what he said, he about it. It was violence, pure and simple. Things that would report me to Immigration. He falsely accused me make you want to die. My body hurt and I felt ashamed. of working under the table. He must have thought that I was scared of never being able to get out. I thought my neighbour was paying me to take care of her kids. about the promises of a better future I’d made to my I felt vulnerable and ashamed. He hurt me and raped me. daughters. Such a heavy silence… I didn’t say yes and I didn’t say no. I kept quiet. I was If you’re in a situation like this, don’t keep quiet. terrified. I felt trapped.

Women and housing: your rights ascertain the condition of the , to carry out work in the dwelling or to have it visited by a prospective acquirer.” The Civil Code of Quebec contains specific laws to guarantee • You may invoke this article of the law if your superinten- the right of female tenants to safety in their homes. dent, building manager, or landlord is using their copy of 1902 - “Neither the lessor nor any other person may harass your key to enter your home without your consent. a lessee in such a manner as to limit his right to peacea- 1974.1 - “A lessee may resiliate the current lease if, because ble enjoyment of the premises or to induce him to leave the of the violent behaviour of a spouse or former spouse or dwelling.” • You may invoke this article of the law if you because of a sexual aggression, even by a third person, the are experiencing sexual harassment by your neighbour, safety of the lessee or of a living with the lessee is superintendent, building manager, or landlord. threatened.” • You may invoke this article of the law if you have been sexually assaulted or raped by your neighbour, 1931 - “The lessor is bound, except in case of emergency, to superintendent, building manager, or landlord. give the lessee a prior notice of 24 hours of his intention to

For help defending your rights, contact the housing committee of your area. For the contact information of the hous- ing committee of your area, call FRAPRU: 514-522-1010, Alliance of Housing Committees and Tenants’ Associa- tions of Quebec (Regroupement des Comités Logements et Association des Locataires du Québec) 514•521•7114 yy Speaking out at the Movement Against Rape and Incest

The Movement Against Rape and Incest (Mouvement contre at work. People can be sexually harassed at home, in school, in le viol et l’inceste) is a Montréal-based support centre that has gathering places, in institutions, and elsewhere. been fighting sexual assault for 40 years. We offer direct assis- tance to women and raise awareness and conduct prevention In practice, sexual harassment «can range from leering, patting, around sexual assault among youth and adults. We also colla- touching, verbal comments, jokes, the display of pornographic borate with other groups that fight . material as well as any form of sexual violence» (3). On its website, the Ontario Human Rights Commission has posted a “If I refuse his sexual advances, the janitor in my building won’t list of examples of sexual and gender-based harassment. These do repairs in my apartment. “ include invading someone’s personal space, making coarse or vulgar jokes about sexual subjects, insisting on dates or sexual “My husband is constantly demanding that I have sex with him favours, and making unnecessary physical contact, including and he threatens to withdraw his sponsorship of my immigra- unwanted touching. tion if I refuse.” Sexual harassment can be sexist, racist, ableist, and/or homo- “Even since the attack, rumors about my ‘sex life’ have been phobic. It can target immigrant women, refugee women, women going around at school and on Facebook.” without status, Indigenous women, lesbians, women with a physical or mental disability, and/or women from a sexual “Sometimes, when I go out with my partner, people insult me or minority. And it can affect each group differently. make snide remarks because I ‘look like a guy’.”

These are only a few examples of everyday violence against What about consent? women. This violence is often sexual and based on gender Despite popular belief, sexual harassment is not just a joke or or gender stereotypes. It is experienced by girls and women a clumsy way to pay a compliment. A compliment enhances alike. We call it “everyday violence” because it is still self-esteem. Harassment, in contrast, compromises our right to socially accepted or tolerated and is a form of sexual harass- ment that many women suffer again and again. security, dignity, freedom, and a peaceful life. Sexual harass- What is sexual harassment? ment refers to unwanted acts or comments that are imposed on us without our consent: that is, without clear, free, informed, and enthusiastic agreement for the acts in question. Remember What is sexual harassment? that our consent (our agreement) cannot be presumed or assu- Often overlooked and misunderstood, sexual harassment can med: it must be requested. This means that a person cannot do be subtle because we are used to it and because it is often something just because they think that we have agreed to what downplayed. Sexual harassment is more than isolated attitudes, they are doing: they need to check that we have actually agreed. words, and gestures: rather, it is a point on the continuum of This is as true between partners or spouses as it is between sexual violence. It is part of the social fabric of sexual assault strangers. It is also wrong to teach that we should satisfy other against women that characterizes patriarchal society. It happens people at all costs. Let’s be wary of the messages that society every day. sends us and remember that we have the right to reject inappro- priate actions. We have the right to say “no.” Like other forms of assault of a sexual nature, sexual harass- ment is an act of domination, humiliation, abuse of power, and violence. To assault someone sexually is to subject them We believe you! against their will to attitudes, words, and gestures with One of these most common fears among survivors of sexual sexual overtones through intimidation, threats, blackmail, assault is that they won’t be believed. This fear is understanda- or verbal, physical, or psychological abuse. Sexual harass- ble because so many people deny or minimize sexual assault. ment consists of «vexatious comment or conduct that is known To counter this reality, committed women have been fighting in or ought to be known to be unwelcome” (1). In most cases, such Quebec since the 1970s to raise awareness about sexual assault comments or conduct are repeated, but «in some cases, one while helping women who have been sexually abused. incident could be serious enough to be sexual harassment” (2). Although nowadays people pay most attention to sexual haras- sment in the workplace, sexual harassment does not only occur yy The Movement Against Rape and Incest offers direct assistance Other organizations in Montréal and Quebec City help survivors to teenagers and women through one-on-one meetings, support and fight sexual assault as well. These organizations can be reached groups, coffee meetings, and emergency calls. We also accompany through the Quebec Coalition of Sexual Assault Centers (http:// women who wish to file a complaint for sexual assault. Over the www.rqcalacs.qc.ca/index-en.php). past 12 years, we have developed expertise helping women seeking asylum and assisting refugees who survived sexual violence. We Ariane Duplessis support their claims and we work with them on the impacts of the Mouvement contre le viol et l’inceste assault.

1. Ontario Human Rights Commission (2016). Policy on preventing sexual and gender-based harassment. http://www.ohrc.on.ca/en/policy-preventing-sexual-and-gender-based-harassment-0 2. Ibid 3. Group for Assistance and Information About Workplace Sexual Harassment in the Province of Quebec Inc. (Groupe d’aide et d’information sur lee harcèlement sexual au travail de la province de Québec inc.) (2015) http://www.gaihst.qc.ca/#!harcelementsexuel/cfvg

“The man who raped me in the alley was wearing a mask. At the end of the assault, he took the mask off... it was the superintendent of my building. “ Amelia, 21 years old “When you write about us, you call us ‘survivors.’ You’re right, we are the survivors of a war of hatred and of sex. “ Nathalie yy MyMy apartement,apartement, aa livingliving hellhell

My name is Nathalie. I work as a cashier at Dollarama. I’m paid minimum wage. I don’t have a regular schedule and I don’t always work 35 hours a week. I live from hand to mouth. I’ve been living in my apartment for 7 years. When I moved in, I paid $550 for a 3½. Now I pay $700. I didn’t know that I could contest a rent increase. What’s more, my apartment is in terrible condition. It is poorly insulated. It is mouldy and there are bugs and rats. I’m writing this today to tell you that I have been the victim of harassment, intimidation, sexual assault, and rape by my landlord. This is my story...

You’ll like it here, little lady!

He scares me.

When I first visited my apartment, I had a bad feeling. I didn’t like how the landlord was acting, I didn’t like the familiar way he spoke to me. I signed the lease because I was afraid of not finding another place. y We’ll watch it together I can’t accept one day... this

Condoms?! This must be a mistake

I hate this!

Not again!

For several months, on the first day of the month, I found I finally went to the police. They didn’t take me seriously. “gifts” at my door: underwear, massage oil, handcuffs... Instead, they said, “You lucky lady, you have an Every object was related to sex. I began to feel afraid. I admirer!” I felt misunderstood, abandoned and terrified. didn’t feel safe, I feel spied on. I had to do something. yy I KNOW YOU’RE THERE!

Who can help me? What am I going to do?

First harassment, then assault, then rape.

That evening – after months of harassment, of sexist comments, of lewd looks and inappropriate gestures – he raped me.

yy Nowadays, I pay the rent with postdated cheques. I do I’m afraid that he’ll be back. I’m afraid during the day everything I can not to ask the landlord to do repairs. and I’m afraid at night. My apartment feels like hell on The night of the rape, he entered my apartment with his earth. And it looks to me like once you’re in hell, you copy of my key. That’s when he told me that the gifts at don’t get to leave. my door were from him. If your landlord or superintendent enters your I want my daughter apartment without your permission, call the housing to have a bright future. ... committee in your neighborhood. The committee will I have to tell help you defend your rights. someone.

yy Resources, help, referrals...

Most regions of Quebec have designated centres that serve the victims of sexual assault 24 hours a day,7 days a week. Their services are designed for victims whose health requires an assessment or a medical exam. To find the designated centre for your area, visitwww.SexualAssaults.gov.qc.ca.

Écoute, soutien et référence : Provincial help line 24/7: Montréal Sexual Assault Centre: 514•933•9007 To find the designated centre for your area, visit or 1•888•933•9007 www.SexualAssaults.gov.qc.ca. Montréal Home for Deaf Women (La Maison des femmes sourdes de Mon- If you are the victim of sexual assault or rape by tréal): 514•255•6376 TTY your landlord, superintendent, or neighbour, you are eligible for services and compensation from Compensation for the Victims of Crime (Indemni- sation des victimes d’actes criminels – IVAC). For information, support, and accompaniment, contact the sexual assault centre of your neighbourhood or region : Quebec Coalition of Sexual Assault Centers: Montréal Assault Prevention Centre (self- 514•529•5252 defense courses): 514•284•1212

Compensation for the Victims of Crime (Indemnisation des victimes d’actes criminels– IVAC): 514•906• 3019

Crime Victims Assistance Centre: 514•277•9860

SOS Conjugal Violence (SOS violence conjugale): 514•873•9010 or 1•800•363•9010

yy GoingGoing beyondbeyond thethe chains...chains...

My name is Ginette Beaulieu. I am 64 years old. I would like to tell you my story. I left home at the age of 17. I’ve never had an easy life. I’ve known ups and downs. Just before I turned 30, in the late 1980s, after a few diffi- cult years, I came back to live with my mother and my sister. It gave me some respite. After a year, I wanted my own apartment. I found one in Montréal. I left Trois-Pistoles confident and sure that a good life was waiting for me. My landlords were two brothers. They lived downstairs from me. I only met one of them, the one I signed the lease with. Nothing prepa- red me for what was to come.

Going beyond the chains...

My own place at last! Ah, I love this recipe! I’ll invite friends over

yy It wasn’t long before the landlord I signed the lease with started harassing me. Every Saturday evening, he would drink and come to my apartment to proposition me sexually. He grew more insistent every week.

I can’t handle this

Ginette, be nice to me and we’ll figure something out for the rent.

I can’t take this anymore, leave me alone!

yy After a few months of hell, I my friend Yves what was happening. I told him that my landlord was sexually harassing me. He offered to help. He said he’d act as a witness. Together we worked out a plan.

Yves, help me get out of here.

The next morning I went down to see the landlords with Yves. I told my story to the brother of the landlord who had been stalking me. He was scandalized at the way his brother had acted and we agreed to tear up my lease.

Come on, I know you want it!

Not proud of you one bit, brother!

yy After this terrible experience, I’ll be safe with I decided I would never again my two friends! keep quiet and that from then on, I would defend my rights. In the months that followed, I became involved in Centre-Sud Social Committee and the Commit- tee of Unemployed People for Central Montréal. It was during this time that I began to be active at the Ville-Marie Housing Committee. These days, I chair the Board of Directors. I also founded the coop of the building where I live now.

I urge women not to isolate themselves at home. Get involved in groups in your area, don’t keep quiet. We are stronger together!

We should add our website...

yy In Canada, every third woman is the victim of sexual How can I help a friend? assault. Few women speak of their experience. If someone you know tells you that she has been assaulted, your support will be important to her.

Écoute, soutien et référence : Expert help is available: Support her with empathy and respect. Quebec Coalition of Sexual Assault Listen to her without asking for all the details.. Centers : 514•529•5252 Believe her and validate her feelings. Montreal Sexual Assault Centre :

514•933•9007 Tell her that what happened is not her fault, or 1•888•933•9007 the perpetrator alone is responsible.

Tell her that she is strong and courageous, and that she is not alone.

Do not judge or blame her for what happened, and don’t criticize her for not having spoken of it sooner.

Respect her choices. Remember that everyone reacts to sexual assault and that each person has her own way of surviving. differently Don’t tell her what to do.

Tell her that you’ll be there for her she decides. , whatever Encourage her to seek help. Sexual violence concerns everyone.

Let’s end it by speaking out. For more information, visit www .draw-the-line.ca

You are not alone : we are here for you! Women’s Education and Action Centre: 514•524•3901

yy Unchained and Unbroken

We would like to thank the Béati Foundation, without which this graphic magazine would not have been published. Thank you for believing in us, for allowing us to shed light on a form of violence against women that is still taboo today! y