Made in Canada WOMEN’S NEWS & FEMINIST VIEWS • FALL 2006 • Vol. 20 No. 2 • Canada/US $5.95 TOO CLOSE FOR COMFORT MAUDE BARLOW ON THE DANGERS OF U.S.-CANADA INTEGRATION REACH FOR THE STARS AN INTERVIEW WITH HIP HOP MUSICIAN KINNIE STARR CROSS PURPOSES A SHORT HISTORY No. 07944 istration OF CROSS-DRESSING WOMEN 08866 Reg PAP ; Return Undeliverable Addresses to: PO Box 128, Winnipeg, MB Winnipeg, to: PO R3C 2G1 Canada Addresses Box 128, Return Undeliverable Publications Mail Agreement No. 400 Mail Agreement Publications table of contents FALL 2006 / VOLUME 20 NO. 2 TOO CLOSE FOR COMFORT 20 In her provocative book, Too Close for Comfort: Canada’s Future within Fortress North America, Council of Canadians chairperson Maude Barlow documents how Canada is slowly being brought into lockstep with U.S. foreign, defence and trade policies though a series of behind-closed-door international agree- ments. by Penni Mitchell CROSS PURPOSES 24 Through the ages, women have cross- dressed for a variety of reasons. This penchant for men’s clothing has been interpreted in many ways: as disguise, a challenge to traditional gender roles, sex- ual liberation and/or a literal and symbolic call to arms. by Krista Scott-Dixon DANCING THROUGH DEPRESSION 28 Creative activity, be it art therapy, journaling Maude Barlow documents how Canada is losing control over the protection or a community dance class, has psychological of natural resources and local industries. See page 20. benefits and can help restore natural rhythms. WOMEN’S NEWS by Mary Glasgow Brown Sekhar Charts Path to Feminist Renewal ARTS & CULTURE 6-14 by Laura Winopol; The Courage of Conviction by Sarah Nadeem Bokhari; Hands Off Our MUSIC REVIEWS Ovaries by Penni Mitchell; Reading, Writing and 32 Anything by Kinnie Starr; Firecracker by The Revolution by Rachel Thompson; Campaign Updates Wailin’ Jennys; Stone + Sand + Sea + Sky by Penny Lang; Impeach my Bush by Peaches; Springtime Can Kill You by Jolie Holland; Piece by Piece by Kathy FEMINIST VIEWS Melua; Above the Madding Crowd by Lee Lindsay; Eye REACH FOR THE STARS Kinnie to the Telescope by KT Tunstall 16 Starr’s new CD, Anything, easily blends hip hop, rock and pop to create a sound that is at once SUMMER READING familiar and unique. Her debut on the critically 35 He Drown She in the Sea by Shani Mootoo; acclaimed Canadian label MapleMusic stands to Brahma’s Dream by Shree Ghatage; Smoke by bring her music and her politics to a larger Elizabeth Ruth; Gotta Find Me an Angel by Brenda audience. by Cindy Filipenko Brooks; Berth by Carol Bruneau 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 Editorial Committee: Ghislaine Alleyne, Gio Guzzi, Penni Mitchell Advertising Sales: 204) 774-6225 ISSUES & IDEAS Penni Mitchell ( Design: inkubator.ca 37 Beyond Recall by Mary Meigs; Doing IT: Women Web Mistress: Rachel Thompson/BlueMuse Working in Information Technology by Krista Scott- Retail Inquiries: Disticor (905) 619-6565 Dixon; Battle Cries: Justice for Kids with Special Needs Proofreader: Phil Koch by Miriam Edelson; Que(e)rying Evangelism: Growing a Cover Photo: Courtesy MapleMusic Community from the Outside In by Cheri DiNovo; Feminist Politics, Activism and Vision eds. L. Ricciutelli, HERIZONS is published four times per year by HERIZONS A. Miles and M. H. McFadden; Growing Up Degrassi, Inc. in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. One-year subscription price: $25.96 (includes GST) ($25.96) in Canada. ed. Michele Byers; In Plain Sight: Reflections on Life in Two-year subscriptions are $39.16+$2.76 GST ($41.92) in Downtown Eastside Vancouver eds. Leslie Robertson Canada. Subscriptions to US addresses are $31.96 Canadian and Dara Culhane; The Hanging of Angelique by Afua funds or $25.96 in US funds. International subscriptions Cooper; Red Light: Superheroes, Saints and Sluts are $33.96. Cheques or money orders are payable to: HERIZONS, PO Box 128, Winnipeg, Manitoba, by Anna Camilleri. CANADA R3C 2G1. Ph (204) 774-6225. 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Return Undeliverable Addresses to: PO Box 128, Winnipeg, 48 Board with Sexism MB, Canada R3C 2G1, Email: [email protected] HERIZONS FALL 2006 1 letters LANDSBERG LAUDED gender discrimination in any form” but are “committed to Finally, a great article about respecting the different cultures we serve by not imposing our Michele Landsberg, whose worth in values and beliefs anywhere we operate.”That’s what I was afraid this world is immeasurable. they’d say. Without Landsberg’s voice, we all Being from the States myself, two words come to mind: “Jim lose. And “with no consistently Crow.”Religion and tradition have been used to justify slavery and feminist voice ... [and] the decline racial segregation in the U.S., so I’m not just singling out Saudi of whip-smart, unapologetic femi- customs.At the time the article was written, Dunkin’ Donuts was nist opinions,”the loss is greater. the only company that refused to engage in such practices. Every woman who ever cared I agree with Lyn Cockburn, who said: “Every religion follows about any woman at all must be sor- some practices that are best put in the garbage can.”Amen to that. rowful. To read this article was to I’m really getting tired of boycotting Starbucks. Thank you feel shamed.What can women think when,in 2006,the country’s for your time and all of your good work.I enjoy your magazine most-respected newspaper is void of feminist opinions? very much. In times like these, our country—in fact, every country across Kara Johnston the globe—needs women journalists like Michele Landsberg. Ajax, Ontario Without similar voices, the world becomes ever more danger- ous for everyone. Marjorie Kildare Dundas, Ontario CUSTOM SHMUSTOM The article by Lyn Cockburn about polygamy in Bountiful, B.C., in Herizons’Spring issue reminded me of something I read in an article from the national NOW Times titled, “U.S. Companies Support Gender Segregation in Saudi Arabia.”You may already be aware of this, but here it is anyway: The article stated that Starbucks coffee houses as well as McDonald’s and Pizza Hut located in Saudi Arabia practise gen- der apartheid. There are separate entrances for women and men as well as separate seating areas.It stated that “the men’s sections are typically lavish, comfortable and up to Western standards, whereas the women’s or ‘families’ sections are often rundown, neglected and, in the case of Starbucks, have no seats.”To top it off, a U.S. official stated that “these firms will bar entrance to Western women who show up without their husbands.” I have written to Starbucks before about this issue, but never got a response until March, after I wrote asking if these practices were still in place. I received a letter from their public relations department stating that: “In accordance with local customs and traditions, Starbucks stores in Saudi Arabia have individual entrances for men and women....” The representative went on to write: “We do not agree with 2 FALL 2006 HERIZONS HELP HERIZONS REACH OUT TO WOMEN... 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