Don’t be Afraid of Feminism

 The Importance of Women and Gender Studies Courses at X

With women’s week having just ended here in Antigonish – and with all the different events and keynote talks that are going on this month – I was thinking a lot about how much my perspective on life and other women has changed since choosing to major in Women and Gender Studies.

I think, not to be completely biased, that the most influential courses a student can take in their undergraduate degree would have to be women and gender studies classes.

Yes, this is my major, so I obviously have a lot of wonderful things to say about this department, the professors, the courses and material that we learn in class. But there are so many other reasons as to why these courses are so fundamental in a young person’s learning.

Before you get tired of me rambling and decide to skip this article to read something else, please read a little bit of it; maybe it’ll even convince you to take a class in this area.

Before I even started taking courses in the WMGS department, I thought I had a relatively good understanding of feminism, issues of systematic oppression around the world and anything that was related to the equality/inequality of how humans are treated. Turns out I knew pretty much nothing.

In my first intro class with Dr. Lisa Pasolli, I got a bit of a taste of everything. The big thing that I learned from that class was intersectionality, which is something that everybody should be interested in.

Intersectionality is a concept used to analyze how all women throughout the world, whether they be Indigenous, Black, Hispanic, Asian, Middle Eastern, trans, bi or a lesbian, are impacted by systems of oppression and how they differ from one another.

This concept opened my eyes to how differently women and men are treated as well as ways to tackle these systems of oppression and help our sisters, mothers, daughters, aunts, cousins and any woman that you can think of.

Now that I’m in my third year, a class that I’ve been taking – Critical Race and Sexuality in Canada with Dr. Rachel Hurst – in my opinion should maybe be mandatory for every student to take.

In the past three months of being in that class, I have learned more than I have in some in my year long courses (no shade). In this class we analyze Canada, we learn about the different systems of power within Canada and how it has had an impact on our own people: namely, indigenous peoples and black people. There are issues going on in Canada that frankly I was not aware of, and it is likely that many other students are not either.

Simply a few examples: the Japanese internment camps that happened in Canada during WWII, or the reality of how black people are treated like criminals in Canada, black men being carded in the streets of Toronto.

Most Canadians have a blanket over their eyes thinking that this country is a country of freedom, a land where no wrong can happen. That is so far from the truth. Yes, we do live in a country that when compared to other countries is doing a bit better, but when you look closely, we’ve still got a long way to go before we can claim to be the ‘best’ country in the world when it comes to equality and how we treat others.

If you’ve been avoiding taking a WMGS class because of how you see feminism portrayed in the media and you think that women are these men hating monsters, that’s not what it is. There are a lot of great advocates for feminism that are doing a great job, but there are also quite a few folks that are skewing the word feminism and making it only for them (white feminism) or using the word feminism without actually understanding it and standing up for feminist issues.

If you’re not interested in feminism because you think blah blah blah it’s only for women, a) you’re wrong, feminism is for everybody, and b) you should be taking more interest into women’s rights because, well… you’re a human, are you not?

Maybe you’ve been wanting to take a WMGS class, but you cannot find anything to fit your schedule or your program; that’s fair, it can be very limiting. This is why each program should have classes dedicated to pairing your degree with women and gender studies related course. I’m aware that that is another issue altogether, but it’s something worth looking into and fighting for.

Feminism is for everybody: it’s beautiful, it’s growing, and forever changing. The future of society relies on feminism.

So, don’t be scared. You know what, maybe be scared! Be nervous to not know about something, but then take that fear and push yourself a little further to educate yourself. You’re not only educating yourself, but you’ll then also be helping those around you who might not know as much, and you can take the time to educate them as well. Education is bliss!

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Dr. Ann Sherman's Legacy Living On

Helping the Underrepresented Soar in School

March 2, 2018 was a day to remember former StFX faculty member Dr. Ann Sherman, as a new 1$ million scholarship was installed in her name.

Dr. Sherman died on August 2, 2017 but has left her mark on StFX. She was the former director of the school of education at StFX, in which she was admired for her hard work and dedication to the university.

The scholarship has been put in place for African Nova Scotian students, as well as Aboriginal Canadian students in the Faculty of Education field. 

The ceremony took place in the Coady International Institute’s Dennis Hall, where the Bragg family donated $500,000 to start the fund. Dr. Ann Sherman was a niece to John and Judy Bragg.

It was then later announced that alumnus Jeannie Deveau from the graduating class of 1944 had generously agreed to match this donation of $500,000.

With the new scholarship being put into place, it will allow the university to become more accessible for the students of African and Aboriginal descents. These students are often times underrepresented at university due to their history and struggles with oppression, and are not always given the opportunity to attend university.

These bursaries are opening the door to new opportunities for these students, who would otherwise not have the means to afford the rising tuitions in Nova Scotia. 

Dr. Sherman was a strong advocate for the underrepresented and was always willing to fight for the people in these communities. She was a lifelong educator, and her passion in life could be seen through her work in the classroom.

She was a very resilient woman with a mindset that was not going to allow anyone to stop her in her fight to allow everybody the chance to be in a classroom. She strongly believed that no matter what someone’s background, race, or religion, everybody should have the same rights to learn.

The current StFX Dean of Education, Dr. Jeff Orr, who was a dear friend of Sherman's said, “She had a passion for many things in education. The top of her list was support for First Nations and African Nova Scotian students.”

StFX President Dr. Kent MacDonald was also at the ceremony and, in speaking with The Casket, he said:  “It represents what is so different and great about StFX.; you don’t just idly pass through this place. In fact, if you’re not interested in actively joining a community, like StFX, you probably don’t come here. I think her being here, at StFX, and the impact we heard she had on her students, on peers, on family members to be part of this university community, I think reflects a lot on what is good about StFX.”

Sherman was the embodiment of what it means to be a Xaverian. At StFX everyone must stand up for each other, and most importantly stand up for those who are the minority and may not always have their voices heard.  

Even though Dr. Sherman is not with us anymore, her love for education and helping the underrepresented is going to live on through this scholarship that will help more Nova Scotians attend university and pursue their academic dreams.

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Making Better Opportunities for Women in the Work Force

 Breaking the barriers for women

The Liberal Party of Canada has started pushing the envelope of gender equality in the workforce and equal pay in 2018, and their other focus has been narrowing the gender pay gap.

Within their focus of gender equality in the work force, the Liberals have extended the budget for parental leave.

Bill Morneau, the Minster of Finance, made a comment in Parliament that while it’s excellent to see all the women that have been entering the workforce and adding to the Canadian economy, there are still barriers that block women from success in the workforce.

Just last month, the Liberal Party extended the budget for parental leave from 35 weeks to 40 weeks to help with those barriers that women face. 

The hope is that with the extended leave, the second parent involved with raising the child will enable the mother to get back into the workforce sooner and have the other parent look after the child with the extra 5-week extended period.

In an interview with CBC, a parent by the name of Yulanda Julien stated that the extended parental leave “would have helped our entire family.”

Julien continued to say that this extended pay would have allowed him to stay in the house longer to help raise his child, adding that fathers also play a vital role in a child's upbringing.

However, even with the great news and plans that the Liberal Party have for women in the workforce, there seems to be a missed opportunity to make an even bigger change. 

The Liberal Party did extend the parental leave, but the Employment Insurance (EI) benefits were not raised, which can cause issues for parents that are taking the time off for this leave.

Right now, the EI benefits are 55 cents to each dollar of the eligible earnings for the parents that choose the 12-month parental leave. But, for the couples that will go with the new 18-month leave, they will only be getting 33% of eligible earnings.

While the Liberal Party is making the workforce more accessible for women in terms of parental leave, they are also now trying to make the gender pay gap smaller.

Bill Morneau said that they have been working tirelessly to bridge the 12 cent hourly pay gap that still exists between men and women that work full time.

It’s a very exciting time for women in Canada. Finally their pleas for gender equality are being listened to. The new implements that are being put in place might seem small, but they are the step forward that women have been looking for. 

There is still a long way to go for women in the work sector in Canada, but the Liberal Party is making it clear that they want to work with the women of this country in order to fully fulfill gender equity. 

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This is for you, Tina and Colten

The REDress Project as platform to discuss Canada’s often ignored epidemic

When you walk around campus, whether it being inside the buildings or outside, you can see red dresses on hangers, with a new addition this year of also seeing red ties around campus. So, what are these dresses and red ties for you might ask?

The red dresses are for the REDress Project which is an art installation in remembrance of  the missing and murdered Indigenous women in Canada; a national epidemic.

This year, the Aboriginal society made a change to the project and they added ties for the missing and murdered Indigenous men as well.

This art project hopes to raise awareness for all the missing and murdered Indigenous women and men. This isn’t new. Aboriginal women and men in Canada and America have been disappearing at alarming rates for years, and while Canada did put forward a National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls (MMIWG), not a whole lot has changed; nothing for that matter.

1,017 women and girls who identify as indigenous were murdered between the years of 1980 and 2012, according to Stats Canada. Mind you, those are just the cases that we know about through official reporting. These numbers don’t necessarily reflect each individual who has been missing or murdered.

Indigenous women are 4.5 times more likely to be murdered than all other women in Canada. For indigenous women, the highway of tears is their nightmare. It’s Highway 16 from Prince George and Prince Rupert BC, where countless murders of Indigenous peoples have been committed.

This highway connects many towns, which all hold vital resources not found in each community. Often times, due to lack of transportation, women end up going on foot.

For an indigenous woman, to be on this strip of highway often means to be adding their name to the list of missing and murdered.

For indigenous men, many know the truth about ‘starlight tours’, where police in Saskatoon drive indigenous men out of the city limits under the guise of taking them home at night. They are then left to find their way home which, during the below zero temperatures in the winter, often leads to their death. These starlight tours happen far too often for mainly indigenous men, and it's costing them their lives at the hands of Canadian police.

If you’ve been keeping up to date with the news lately, you might have heard the names Tina Fontaine and Colten Boushie being repeated. These are the latest indigenous victims who's murderers were found not guilty in recent trials, leaving the families with no justice and no closure.

Tina Fontaine lived on the Sagkeeng First Nation. Tina was only 15 when she was murdered on August 10, 2014.  Raymond Joseph Cormier was charged with her murder, taken to trial where he plead not guilty and, on February 22, 2018 he was released of all charges.

Colten Boushie is a First Nations man who lived on the Cree Red Pheasant First Nation. Colten was only 22 when he was murdered on August 9, 2016. Gerald Stanley was charged with his murder, it went to trail and, on February 9, 2018, Stanley’s charges were acquitted.

Those two stories sound awfully alike, don’t they? That’s what most trials for murdered indigenous people sound like; their murderers being set free, leaving their cases to go cold. 

I wonder what the outcome would have been if Tina and Colten were white?

Tina and Colten were only children when they were killed, they were failed by society, the justice system, the police system, any system you can think of, and they were CHILDREN.

They had years ahead of them, experiences they’ll never know, hugs they’ll never receive, dreams they’ll never achieve.

So, when you’re walking around campus and see these dresses and ties, take some time to stop and think about Tina and Colten. Think about all the other indigenous peoples that have had this same reality, and for those who might succumb to this horrifying reality someday. For each dress or tie that you see on campus take the time to go home and research an indigenous person who has been killed, learn their story, learn about them, who they were.

I’m sorry, Tina and Colten. I’m sorry that you were given such a sour taste of this world. I’m sorry that your lives were disregarded as not being just as important as anyone else’s. I’m sorry that Canada is STILL having a hard time figuring out what to do with this epidemic. I’m sorry that the justice system didn’t fight harder for you; Creator knows how hard your loved ones wailed and fought for you.

Tina, I’m sorry that your father had the same reality as yours and I can only hope that you are among the stars together.

Mrs. Boushie, I’m sorry that the first thing the officer said to you after telling you about your son’s death was, “ma’am have you been drinking tonight?”.

Tina and Colten, these dresses and ties are for you.

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The Underground LGBTQ+ Activists that are Paving a New Road

Pride month is underway at StFX and it has been a very successful and exciting time. During Pride month at StFX there are many high-profile names of LGBTQ+ advocates that come up.

Along with the advocates that you may see in the media all the time, there are underground activists that are helping pave the way for new generations in the LGBTQ+ community; advocates that sometimes go unmentioned.

A man named Xulhaz Mannan is certainly an LGBTQ+ activist that has changed the lives of many. Mannan is the force behind “Roopbaan,” Bangladesh’s first and only LGBTQ+ themed magazine.

Mannan was openly gay and a big supporter of the LGBTQ+ community while he worked in the human rights sector in Bangladeshi. Mannan used to organize the annual ‘Rainbow Rally’ which started in 2014. 

For the first time ever, Bangladesh displayed a human rainbow during the Bengali New Years celebrations. And since it wasn’t perceived as having any connection to LGBTQ+ the organizers were given the green light.

Participants were asked to dress in a different colour of the rainbow and they paraded throughout the city. It gave members of the LGBTQ+ community the ability to be able to flaunt who they are without being harmed or feeling threatened in any way. In doing so, Mannan gave hope to those that feared about being their true self.

 Since homosexual relationships are illegal in Bangladesh, many people who are within the LGBTQ+ community are forced into exile. Mannan gave people in the LGBTQ+ community hope, and the power of being able to be open with their own sexuality.

Tragically, Mannan was murdered in his apartment along with another LGBTQ+ activist, Mahbub Rabbi. The death of Mannan was heartbreaking and sent a clear message to the LGBTQ+ community in Bangladeshi: that their sexuality is not tolerated among certain people, causing them to live in fear. Yet, Mannan showed courage and hope, and he died being his true self.

Mannan’s strength and force of hope should be an inspiration for all.

Two other individuals that are big supporters and activists within the LGBTQ+ community are Ivan Coyote and Rae Spoon.

I was introduced to these two individuals in my Sex and Gender class last semester by the amazing prof, Dr. Lisa Pasolli.

Ivan Coyote is a Canadian spoken word performer writer and LGBTQ+ advocate. Coyote has written countless novels, short stories, and spoken at TED Talks about their experience in the LGBTQ+ community.

Coyote in non-binary and prefers to go by the pronouns of ‘they’. Most of Coyote’s work is focused on issues with gender, identity and social justice.

Coyote also co-wrote a novel with Canadian singer/song writer, Rae Spoon. Their novel is entitled, “Gender Failure”. As a side note, Rae is an amazing musician and I highly recommend checking out their music.

For a decade, Rae Spoon identified as a transgender man, but in 2012 during an interview Rae came out saying that they now preferred to be called by the pronoun, ‘they’.

Both Ivan and Rae have acknowledged that they have struggled with fitting into the gender binaries that are put in place within society.

The two of them together are an inspiration for all; they talk about issues of what it was like growing up outside of the normal gender boundaries and the criticisms that they both faced. They have also challenged the transgender community when they both decided to not take hormones for treatment, offering discussion on the many layers of their experience. 

Their work has challenged the ideas of what makes a ‘man’, and what happens when you find yourself not falling into the particular gender binaries; thus, sparking the discussion of what constitutes of being a ‘man’.

Their advocacy of the LGBTQ+ community has sparked many discussions, and has given hope to those that feel the same way.

Another one of my favourite female LGBTQ+ advocates is Sara Ahmed. I was also introduced to her by StFX professor, Dr. Nancy Forestell. Ahmed is a British-Australian scholar who has worked in the fields of feminist theory, queer theory, critical race theory and postcolonialism.

The work and research that Ahmed has done has provided countless new information for the LGBTQ+ community and she was awareded the 2017 Kessler Award for the impact her research has left on the queer community. 

Women like Sara Ahmed are doing some of the most important research in the 21st century. Her work is giving courage and hope to others to follow in her footsteps to continue the research in this field of study.

One of Ahmed’s works, “Unhappy Queers”, explores queer politics of unhappiness. She addresses issues that often lack the appropriate attention such as the overuse of heterosexual happiness in the way relationships are portrayed.

The piece is well worth the read and sheds light on how society perceives happiness, or unhappiness in association to non-heterosexual relationships.

An LGBTQ+ advocate that is closer to home here in Antigonish is Andrew Murray whom I had the pleasure of meeting Pride Month vigil.

Murray is the first openly gay councillor in Nova Scotia who’s engagement in the community has extended to Theatre Antigonish, the Neptune Theatre and various other companies around the world as a set designer.

At the vigil, it was very inspiring to hear Andrew talk about his life growing up in the 70s and 80s as a gay man. What I found to be the most inspiring part about Andrew was his enthusiasm and his beautiful positive attitude.

Andrew certainly faced more than his fair share of struggles growing up yet he always stayed positive, and kept going on in life, continuously trying to be the best version of himself.

To me, Andrew is a ray of light. What I learned from him the most was, no matter what happens in life, always be proud of who you are, if that’s gay, bisexual, transgender, two-spirit, lesbian, or however you identify, be your true self.

In my opinion, Andrew is probably one of the most influential people in Antigonish; his advocacy for the LGBTQ+ community is so important in a small town like this. If you ever see him setting up the window displays on Main Street, I’d highly recommend stopping to say hello.

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