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September-October 2014

Drive me crazy

Lisa Whittington-Hill@nerdygirly

Inside media’s troubling gender-biased coverage of celebrity meltdowns Charlie Sheen took thinking outside the bun to a whole new level in July when he drunkenly wandered around a Taco Bell drive thru greeting fellow fast food visitors with “Sorry I am so fucking hammered.” Video of the incident soon made the rounds and the winning […] More »

Gender Block: sexism is a science

Hillary Di Menna

So long ago it was proven that women are evil because, duh, uteruses have horns. This week, I am reading An Introduction to Women’s Studies Gender In A Transnational World by Inderpal Grewal and Caren Kaplan for Dr. Kristine Klement’s Introduction to Gender and Women’s Studies class at York University. We are focusing on how […] More »

Gender Block: pop culture for good

Hillary Di Menna

On September 20, United Nations Women Goodwill Ambassador and actress Emma Watson, addressed the UN (transcript here) at its New York headquarters about gender equality in association with HeForShe movement. The video went viral, some people got mad, others lauded the message, and then there were the ones who missed the point entirely, focusing on […] More »

Gender Block: Take Back the Night

Hillary Di Menna

September is home to Take Back the Night dates throughout Canada. Some cities, such as St. John’s and Fredericton had theirs this past weekend, and this upcoming week Edmonton, Guelph and others, will host rallies, workshops, and marches. “Take back the night in itself i, one moment where us survivors can all get together and […] More »

Oh, The Horror: Rise of the torture film

Hana Shafi

One of the most pervasive and totally gross movie trends of the 2000s is the notorious torture film genre—sometimes dubbed “torture porn” or “gorno” (a combination of gore and porno). I may be horror-movie obsessed, but I make it a rule to not watch torture films. They’re the scourge of the horror genre, representing a […] More »

Gender Block: Body Confidence Canada Awards

Hillary Di Menna

High above Toronto inside the Panorama Lounge, a room packed full of women celebrated body diversity at the second annual Body Confidence Canada Awards (BCCA). Co-founders Jill Andrew and Aisha Fairclough, who also run the lifestyle and fashion blog Fat in the City, say the event is meant to celebrate Canadians who actively fight against stereotypes that attempt […] More »

WTF Monday: The Urban Outfitters Kent State shirt and other offensive fashion items

Hana Shafi

The hipster palace of fashion: Urban Outfitters. I’ll admit, I shop there. Of course, I speed walk immediately to the sale section in search of $7 sweaters—did I mention I’m the queen of bargains?—but even in my sprint to sale racks, I never fail to catch a glimpse of at least one totally offensive clothing […] More »

Oh, The Horror: Demons and women’s sexuality

Hana Shafi

Exorcisms are a distinct, massive subgenre in horror films for good reason. There’s just something about watching a good ol’ demonic possession movie that always hits the spot for horror movie cravings, mine especially. Even though the subgenre tends to recycle the same essential plot, it somehow never fails to frighten. Besides, it’s always interesting […] More »
July-August 2014

Screen saver

Laura TretheweyWebsite@ltrethew

The importance of thinking before you click Online media has monetized humanity’s rubbernecking reflex like never before. “Clickbait,” as defined by Urban Dictionary, is an “eye-catching link on a website which encourages people to read on. It is often paid for by the advertiser or generates income on the number of clicks.” Clickbait is now […] More »
July-August 2014

Pop culture: Every day I’m hustlin’

Alexandra Molotkow@alexmolotkow

Thoughts on the creative value of taking a break “MY LIFE IN MONTREAL WAS SO GOOD,” said the songwriter Sean Nicholas Savage in a recent interview for Bad Day magazine. “We did so many projects. We made tons of albums and we were making movies and just doing tons of shit all the time.” Savage […] 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 »