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Monthly Archives: December 2009

Political Mavens, Jacqueline Biollo

23 Wednesday Dec 2009

Posted by mryland in female politicians, women in politics

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Political Mavens

Political Maven!

Jacqueline Biollo is our second Political Maven! She is a Councillor for the town of Beaumont, Alberta. As an elected official, she wishes to educate and inform herself and her constituents about the issues, advocating for action, and ensuring transparency and accountability, sound judgment, integrity, conviction and passion to inspire. She is also the Executive Director for A Songbird’s Solo and boasts a variety of accomplishments, including founding an initiative called ArtStart, which was developed to give children in the inner city the opportunity to be exposed to the arts as well as the opportunity to develop their talents by establishing a multi-disciplinary arts education program. She took some time with us to talk about women in politics.


Q: How and why did you get involved in politics?

A: Always having been involved and engaged with matters of the community at large, and in some cases, for specific initiatives, it seemed a complimentary role that I might be approached and asked to run in an upcoming political election.  Having a young family, a solid career and other interests and hobbies, I took some time to weigh the pros and cons of an endeavour such as politics, whilst aligning myself with more community groups and becoming more self-educated on local issues and municipal governance.

Q: Why do you think women should get involved in politics?

A: Women should get involved with politics because they want to, because they have self confidence, a strong dedication to research and a belief in the democratic system.  Although many (both men and women) get involved with politics perhaps initially because of a particular cause/issue, I applaud individuals who are able to actively engage themselves in all agenda items and remain open to options and alternatives within the appropriate legislative proceedings.

Q: What issue do you see as particularly important for women?

A: Issues of importance to women should be no different than they are for a man – although I acknowledge that we may come at it from a different angle, or pose different questions, raise concerns, or champion something more intensely because of our natural tendency to seek collaborative solutions, put human attributes into perspective where applicable, and typically work towards a win-win solution rather than a one-upmanship or self-motivated one.

Q: Have you ever experienced any discrimination as a woman in politics? If so, describe your experiences and how you handled them.

A: Discrimination is also self-destructive (if you let it get the better of you) but that doesn’t mean it should be tolerated… so although there have been some obvious (or underlying) challenges in my political career, I have met each as a stand-alone situation, and if/when required, sought the support and advice of others within my network of colleagues, friends and family to pull me through.  My slogan has been to focus on the People ~ Possibility ~ and Potential of things (including myself), so I look at hurdles as simply something I need to overcome, work to educate myself better on, and ensure a similar situation doesn’t lend itself to happening again.

Q: What issues are you passionate about?

A: I’m passionate about encouraging and empowering others, about positive thinking, and about “thinking outside the box.”  I’m a risk taker, one with compassion and understanding… and although many might say my slogan SHOULD be “go big or go home.” What’s life if you’re not having a bit of fun in it as well?

Q:  If you could change one thing about politics, what would it be?

A: That we get back to the knowledge and understanding (and appreciation for) the democratic system; that politicians are people too – and that although we do make mistakes, we have the best interest of the electorate at hand, have tried to educate ourselves to the best of our abilities with the resources available, and progress at times can be steady and slow.

Q: What is your Dream for Women?

A: My Dream for Women is that they will find confidence in themselves (even when they think no one else does) and that they too champion something they are passionate about. Seek to leave your own legacy.

Q: Do you consider yourself a feminist? Why or why not?

A: Although not a feminist, I do applaud women who have been able to find their niche within the seemingly untraditional roles or professions. Further, I applaud ongoing efforts to allow any select group (visible minorities, persons with disabilities, women, etc.) to obtain additional (educational) resources which might allow them to be (more) successful and/or open new door of opportunity for them… in my opinion a ‘battle’ of the sexes does not seem productive now or with sustainability for the future.

Q: What advice do you have for young women?

A: My advice for young women is to believe in yourself, chart your path, take and acknowledge small opportunities and ‘wins’ to advance you further, give of yourself freely, volunteer, and seek out individuals to whom you respect and ask them to mentor you.

Feminists Who Totally Rock, Part 2

17 Thursday Dec 2009

Posted by eyakashiro in women's issues

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Feminists Who Totally Rock

Arlene and Amanda

Arlene Haché, C.M.
Yellowknife, Northwest Territories
Member of the Order of Canada

Arlene Haché is the Executive Director of the Yellowknife Women’s Centre for Northern Families. She is well known for her women’s rights activism, especially with First Nations’s women and has spearheaded numerous programs that address issues such as drug and alcohol abuse, education, unemployment and child rearing. A tireless champion of social justice and human rights, she has also fought to raise awareness of the needs of the poor and disenfranchised. As well, she has lent her leadership skills to local, territorial and national associations, including the Society Against Family Abuse and the Canadian Mental Health Association. Very recently (November 5th, 2009) she received the Order of Canada for her activism!

1. What was it that inspired you to become a feminist?

I am a feminist in my view, but I wasn’t inspired by the concept of being or becoming a feminist.  I just am.  Inspiration for my work sprang from the myriad of women I encountered throughout my life that engaged in the fight for survival from a gendered war that attacked them from what should have been safe zones – their homes and communities.  First Nation, Métis and Inuit women, who each approach the world from their own cultural perspective, are particularly inspirational for their courage, strength, humour, patience and generosity.

2. What kind of work do you do?

I am the Executive Director of the Centre for Northern Families, a resource centre that supports women and their families living in the North.  The Centre has an emergency shelter for women and offers a broad range of programs that support families.  Programs include:  a drop-in medical clinic, a prenatal nutrition program for pregnant women and new moms, a Family Support Program that provides intensive support to families that are multi-stressed, a licensed daycare, youth-led programs etc.

3. What feminist issue is particularly important to you?

There are two issues of particular importance to me: The penchant for society in general to “mother blame”, and in particular how mother blaming, combined with racism plays out with respect to the continued state apprehension of First Nation, Metis and Inuit children from their communities and nations.  Currently, 9% more First Nation, Inuit and Metis children are in care in Canada than there was during the residential school era – [just one example of] assimilation at work and a direct strike at the heart of  First Nations, Inuit and Metis women.

The second issue is related to the demand of the “sisterhood” and of the public in general for women, and more particularly marginalized women, [asking them] to ignore their circumstances to achieve the “feminist” cause.  “Feminists” who perpetuate the status quo ask marginalized women to recast their lived experiences through the lens of the mainstream and hide racism and classism in “cooperatives” and “collaborations” that are not equality producing because they secure resources and power within the dominant society, usually meaning “settler groups”.

4. What would you like the future of feminism to look like?

Feminism would seek to hear women’s voices, not silence them.  It would be respectful of and work to support diversity by engaging women in ways they recognize and feel most comfortable.  It would build connections around common goals rather than insisting on commonly used methods and ways of working. The future of feminism lies in our capacity to be courageously self-reflective.


5. How can people get involved with your work or in touch with you?

The Centre is most desperately in need of funds to continue its work.  We are also in need of people with specialized training in community development, research and legal work.  People can contact me at: The Centre for Northern Families, Box 2303, Yellowknife, NT, X1A 2P7; (867)873-2566 phone; arleneh10@hotmail.com.  Email is the quickest, most reliable way to reach me.

6. What is your Dream for Women?

I dream that each woman recognizes her divine right to determine her own destiny, that she searches for wisdom, discovers her innate strength, shares her insights and fulfills her mission.

7. What are the aspects of the feminist movement that you are most proud of or most ashamed of?

I am most proud of the multitudes of women in my own community and around the world who have not only supported me where I [have been], but asked me to go somewhere else with them.  I am most ashamed of the feminist movement that didn’t recognize me and decided to leave me where I was at, but took credit for carrying me forward.

8. Which unknown or young feminist would you like the world to know about?

I would like the world to know about my daughter Mira Hall.  She is an amazing young activist woman with an incredible capacity for analysis and clarity in communication.  She has a sharp, dark sense of humour and I admire her tremendously.

PS: Check out our interview with the wonderful Mira Hall here!

Dreams for Women Calendar Media!

16 Wednesday Dec 2009

Posted by Amanda in women's issues

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    We have been getting a whole lot of media attention for our Dreams for Women calendar and we hope to get a lot more. Check out our links after the jump! If you are a member of the media and would like an interview (or to interview some of our athletes), please e-mail antigonemagazine@hotmail.com. Continue reading →

Stores Selling Calendars!

16 Wednesday Dec 2009

Posted by Amanda in women's issues

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We would like to thank the stores that are selling our calendars in Vancouver, Toronto and Windsor (more will be added soon)! The calendars will be sold for $20 each (NOTE: the reduced price for bulk calendar purchases does not apply on in-store purchases except at Graham’s Paint and Paper Place)

Vancouver:

Changes Clothing Store: 4454 West 10th Avenue

Ladysport: 3545 West 4th Avenue

Bookmark at the Vancouver Public Library: 350 West Georgia Street

Toronto:

Toronto Women’s Bookstore: 73 Harbord Street

Windsor/Tecumseh:

Graham’s Paint and Paper Place (Cash only – they are donating all funds to The Antigone Foundation): 13173 Tecumseh Road East

If you are interested in selling calendars at your store, please e-mail us at antigonemagazine@hotmail.com.

The Feminist Freethinker: The December 6th Edition

07 Monday Dec 2009

Posted by RB in Day of rememberance, Dec 6, feminist freethinker, sexism, Violence against women

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December 6, feminism, Montreal Massacre, Violence against women

Image © Sandy Kowalik, Purple Ribbon Campaign Coordinator
PEI Advisory Council on the Status of Women

On December 6, 1989, at the École Polytechnique in Montreal, Quebec, a man name Marc Lépine entered a classroom with a gun in his hand. He ordered the male and female students to stand at opposite ends of the room. “I am fighting feminism,” Lepine said, “You’re women, you’re going to be engineers. You’re all a bunch of feminists. I hate feminists.” He then shot the women from left to right, killing six and injuring three. He then moved quickly through the rest of the school, looking for more women to shoot. In total, fourteen women were killed, ten more injured, and four men were injured. Finally he turned on the gun on himself and ended his own life. His suicide note accused feminists of ruining his life.

The Montreal Massacre dramatizes the ideological war against feminism. Problematically, most demonizations of feminism rely on a misunderstanding of what feminism actually is. Lépine was motivated by the belief that feminism was oppressive, and that, in culture, it is women who oppress men. This is a gross skewing of the most essential facts of feminism. While feminism encompasses a wide range of ideological positionalities, the uniting definition of feminism is distinctively anti-oppression: feminism is “the advocacy of women’s rights on the grounds of sexual equality” (OED). That’s right: feminism is anchored in the ideal of equality. Feminism seeks to eliminate oppression, not to be the hand that administers it. As for Lépine’s belief that it is women who oppress men in society, just think on the fact that there were fifty men in that engineering class that day, but only nine women, and think of the Montreal Massacre as one of the countless acts of violence targeted disproportionately at women by men. Lepine’s war against feminism was saturated with a dreadful irony: he attacked feminism by re-establishing the patriarchy that was already ripe in the scene.

We at Antigone remember the women who were killed and the men and women who were injured with solemnity, sadness, anger and love. And we ask that when you encounter someone who demonizes feminism, that you invite them to think critically about their beliefs and to learn more about feminism at Feminism 101.

Day 3: Buying Calendars for Disadvantaged Girls!

06 Sunday Dec 2009

Posted by Amanda in women's issues

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To keep informed about the calendars, to share them with your friends, and keep up to date about my 100 Calendar Challenge sign up for our Facebook page: The 5000 Calendars Challenge: 2010 Can and US Athletes Support Women’s Equality!

DAY 3:

After reading a friend’s post about Covenant House (an organization that works with homeless youth in Vancouver) and their need for donations for their Christmas backpacks, I began thinking. How could we ensure that the young women at Covenant House were able to read the inspiring messages about women’s equality that are featured in the Dreams for Women calendar? This also got me thinking about how there are many young women and girls from disadvantaged backgrounds who might really enjoy our calendar and who might not have very many gifts this holiday season.

So, we decided at Antigone to put aside 100 calendars that could be purchased at cost and donated to organizations like Covenant House and other groups that are providing young women and girls with gifts this holiday season. To start us off, I personally purchased 25 calendars for the special price of $5! These calendars will be donated to Covenant House for their backpacks! Not only does this bring me 25 calendars closer to my 100 calendar goal, but I get to know that the calendars are going to young women and girls who don’t have very many other gifts this holiday season.

WHAT YOU CAN DO?

Want to donate some calendars to Covenant House? Know of an organization near you that is giving gifts to disadvantaged youth? Shoot us an e-mail at antigonemagazine@hotmail.com with the quantity you would like to buy and the address of the organization you would like to send them to and we will give you a quote for the shipping costs and send them off to make some girl happy this holiday season! At the special price of $5 each, these calendars are a great opportunity for you to give back to your community and ensure that a girl is inspired by the messages in the calendar! Act now, because there are only 100 calendars set aside at this special price!

BUY YOUR CALENDAR TODAY!
Go to http://www.antigonemagazine.wordpress.com

Thanks for all your help!

Sincerely,

Amanda Reaume
Executive Director
The Antigone Foundation

Amanda’s 100 Calendar Challenge!

03 Thursday Dec 2009

Posted by Amanda in women's issues

≈ 2 Comments

Ready, set… go!

WHAT IS THE 100 CALENDAR CHALLENGE?

I’m taking The 100 Calendar Challenge for The Antigone Foundation! That means that I have 7 DAYS (until next Wednesday) to personally sell 100 CALENDARS to friends, family and Antigone friends! I sold some yesterday and I only have 72 more to sell! I know that I can do it!

HOW YOU CAN HELP?

Buy a calendar from me. Post how many you are buying on the ‘5000 Calendar Project’ Facebook Wall or in the comments of this blog and then go pay for your calendar at http://www.facebook.com/l/264ee;www.antigonemagazine.wordpress.com. They are currently 20% off for one more day – so act fast if you want the discount!

WHY AM I DOING THIS?

For those of you who know me, you know I’m very passionate about The Antigone Foundation and the work that we do! I am particularly passionate about this 2010 Dreams for Women calendar! Not only is it beautiful (thank you athletes and designers!) but it is also an important part of The Antigone Foundation’s plans to help girls and young women take on the world and take up leadership positions in issues relating to politics, business and activism.

We want to inspire young women, to make them think about women’s rights and to provide them with the support and tools that they need to become leaders and make a difference! That’s why this year’s calendar is going to support a Dreams for Women Scholarship for US and Canadian students and a Canadian Dreams for Women Leadership Tour where we will stop in at least 5 cities (we hope to be able to do more!) and provide leadership training to girls and young women!

These are just TWO of the ways that we will be celebrating The Antigone Foundation’s founding!

WANNA TAKE THE 10 CALENDAR, 25 CALENDAR or 50 CALENDAR CHALLENGE?

If you want to support The Antigone Foundation and women’s leadership in Canada consider Taking the Challenge! All you have to do is tell your friends and contacts about your challenge and try to reach your goal! Email antigonemagazine@hotmail.com for information about how to participate. All challenge participants will be thanked on our blog. Anyone who sells at least 25 calendars will get a FREE print of their favourite postcard. Those who sell 50 will get a FREE framed print. Those who sell more will get a framed print and an Antigone t-shirt!

BE SURE TO BUY YOUR CALENDAR TODAY! Click here!

Thanks! You guys totally rock!

Amanda Reaume
Executive Director
The Antigone Foundation

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