Reviews

Toujours RebELLES from the inside

by Sarah Ghabrial | Nov 19, 2008

Writer, student and Miss G___ activist Sarah Ghabrial reports from the floor of October’s Waves of Resistance conference in Quebec. According to the manifesto created during the event, “Our struggle is not over. We will be post-feminists when we have post-patriarchy.” According to Elsa Beaulieu, one of the conference organizers, “Our struggles and our solidarity are local, national, and global.” read more

Regent Park Film Festival, community cinema from distant lands

by Frances Rooney | Nov 5, 2008

For decades, Toronto’s Regent Park has been considered one of the toughest neighborhoods in Canada. In 2003,a student teacher who had recently arrived from India lived just up the street from The Park. She had a pretty clear idea of the realities of her students’ lives. With the support of others, she founded the Regent Park Film Festival. The festival brings the world to Regent Park and puts The Park in the world. This year, it runs from today to Saturday November 8, 2008. read more

exploitation in Canada: human trafficking, exotic dance and temporary visas

by Jenna Owsianik | Oct 8, 2008

The majority of temporary workers are labourers and nannies. Visas for truck drivers, factory workers, cleaners and food services have risen significantly during the past two years. Yet, over the last few years, the plight of exotic dancers has been a focus in the House of Commons. According to Janet Dench, executive director of Canadian Council for Refugees, “Parliamentary time would be better used to address the broader problem of the exploitation of non-citizens in Canada.” read more

stacked: Emergency Librarian, celebrating the history of a radical feminist Canadian periodical

by Frances Rooney | Sep 1, 2008

In 1973, Sherrill Cheda, Phyllis Yaffe and Barbara Clubb thought it was odd that most librarians were women, but most people who ran libraries were men. They decided to publish something that would take women seriously. In Emergency Librarian, lesbians, women with disabilities, and women of colour wrote articles and had their books reviewed. And library workers wrote about how to break the glass ceiling. Snap! read more

a museum of the future?: Canadian Human Rights Museum

by Marianne Cerilli | Jul 18, 2008

It will take strong and steady efforts and real resources for Canada to change current conditions, securing social and economic rights now and in the future. The museum will soon start to choose staff and a board of trustees. This important group of people will determine if it can become a viable way to improve human rights. read more

Beautiful: Margaret Cho, biting comedy stands up on new tour

by May Lui | Apr 16, 2008

Race, gender, sexual orientation and politics. Oh, and dirty words. Lots of dirty words. Margaret Cho breaks down the stereotypes, takes down the phobes, and builds a case for specialty shuttle buses from gay bars at midnight. But does a change in audience mean that some of the material misfires? read more

the education of Miss G__

by Sarah Ghabrial | Feb 20, 2008

Three years ago, a hopeful group of university students from Ontario thought they had an obviously great idea – introduce Women’s and Gender Studies in high school. The province greeted them with enthusiasm. Time passed. Nothing happened with the curriculum. So, for Valentine’s Day there was an organized action called No More Miss Nice G__! Here’s a recap of the cheeky groundswell to get women on course. Of course! read more

feisty, intelligent, must-read Canadian feminist bloggers, an incomplete beginning

by May Lui | Dec 13, 2007

There are so many blogs to choose from, it can be hard to know where to start. Before it launched, section15.ca regular contributor May Lui checked out the scene, and reported on some of the highlights that stood out for her. read more

riding the roller coaster of feminist publishing in Canada

by May Lui | Aug 16, 2007

In the 1970s, feminist publishing inspired and motivated many women across Canada. They wanted to read about their own experiences, their theory, their stories, and their poetry. Through the 1980s and 1990s, women’s presses only got better at delivering on that desire. Publishers have come and gone. Getting books out continues to be a challenge. The rewards? Seeing a movement evolve. Seeing a history recorded. Seeing such vision and voices for the first time in book form. read more

Feminist bookstores in Canada

by May Lui | Jul 23, 2007

There are currently four women’s bookstores in Canada – down from over a dozen down in less than ten years. Staying viable and surviving has never been more challenging – or more important. read more