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Gender Block: missing and murdered aboriginal women calls for a national inquiry

Hillary Di Menna

This past Saturday was the funeral of murdered teen Tina Fontaine, held in her Winnipeg home community of Sagkeeng First Nation. The 15-year-old girl’s body was found wrapped in a plastic bag after being dumped in Red River. Let’s pause for a second here: Her body was dumped in a river. That’s horrifying. So too is […] More »

Gender Block: women, swearing and “dirty words”

Hillary Di Menna

Swearing—using words decided offensive— is ugly and trashy, if you’re female. Online dating advice calls it “trashy” and “nasty.” One really sage poster offered this: “I believe that, among females, sexual promiscuity and a foul tongue may be related … when one prostitutes themselves sexually it seems that, in many cases, they adopt the tongue […] More »

Gender Block: Men, boys, and the word feminism

Hillary Di Menna

If you believe in equality for all genders you’re a feminist, “Simple,” says sociologist and author (Angry White Men, Guyland) Dr. Michael Kimmel. So what is the big deal with people adamantly denying that title, especially since, as Kimmel points out, most people do want this kind of equality? “The conversation we’re having here,” says […] More »

Gender Block: SlutWalk Toronto 2014

Hillary Di Menna

Over 1,000 people walked from Nathan Phillips Square to Queen’s park this past Saturday. Some identified as feminists, some identified as sluts and others called themselves allies. SlutWalk Toronto 2014 was the third for the city since it began in 2011. Now, SlutWalk has become an annual event in 200 cities world over. The first […] More »

Gender Block: The scary rush to pass Canada’s new prostitution bill

Hillary Di Menna

Our federal government is rushing this week to pass a new bill regarding adult sex work, five months ahead of deadline, leaving some sex workers rightfully afraid. The Protection of Communities and Exploited Persons Act (Bill C-36) is inspired by the Nordic Model of sex work laws; pimps and johns will be held criminally accountable […] More »

Gender Block: Silly women just don’t apply

Hillary Di Menna

Good news: apparently all women have to do to get one of those old boys jobs, is apply. On June 13, Justice Minister Peter MacKay reportedly said, at a private Ontario Bar Association meeting, that women and minorities “simply aren’t applying” for positions in federally appointed courts. Simple. Director of the Metro Toronto Chinese and […] More »

Gender Block: Riots not diets

Hillary Di Menna

This past Saturday marked the first day of summer. The sunlight is lasting longer, vacations are planned, and we all feel a little of that last day of school excitement—even if we graduated over a decade ago. It is, sadly, also the time of year when some women not only shy away from the cool […] More »

Gender Block: The Femme Project

Hillary Di Menna

Almost 10 years ago, walking outside, Toni Latour and her then partner, who identifies as butch, would bump into others from the queer community. While people would acknowledge her partner, Latour  often felt like she went unnoticed. After more than one such experience, Latour, a Vancouver-based multidisciplinary artist and professor at both Capilano University and […] More »

Gender Block: Women and politics

Hillary Di Menna

This Thursday Ontario voters are heading to the polls for the province’s 41st General Election. Of the three major parties, two are lead by women. At first glance, this looks like progress—women pushing their way into the old boys club that is politics. A closer look, however, reveals a less promising fact. “More than 87 […] More »

Gender Block: Yes All Women

Hillary Di Menna

Since the Elliot Rodger story broke two weekends ago, many took to Twitter and other social media platforms using #YesAllWomen. With this hash tag, women posted circumstances regarding all kinds of abuse and discrimination. For many, this kind of sharing can be a way for a victim to have their voice heard, a forum for […] More »

Gender Block: Why the “nice guy” stereotype is so dangerous

Hillary Di Menna

Nice guys always finish last. Whenever they treat a woman like a friend, it doesn’t end up in sex! Sometimes, the guy will buy flowers and gifts for the woman, despite the fact she has expressed zero interest romantically, and again—no sex! This woman often becomes re-classified as an ice queen, a bitch, a friend […] More »