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The Gender Files

The date rape test debate

Jarrah Hodge
Jul 27th, 2010

The Drink Detective, a portable kit to test for the presence of date rape drugs in beverages, is now available in Canadian pharmacies.

This past week, Canadian pharmacies started stocking the Drink Detective, a portable kit the size of a credit card that women can use to detect the presence of date rape drugs in their drinks. My first thought was that it’s a great thing. When you go out, you lock your doors to prevent someone stealing your belongings. I didn’t see how buying a date rape drug test kit was any different. At least two of my close friends have been date raped and I know that it not happening to me is due to dumb luck, not any real difference in behaviour. But maybe now there would be something I could do other than just watching my drink.  

Enough Stanley, already

Ben Milne
Jul 8th, 2010

Lord Stanley and daughter in a Wikipedia creative commons photograph

I hereby propose that the name of the Stanley Cup be changed to the Xwayxway Cup.  After the honorable members not from Vancouver (that would be James Moore and Stockwell Day) decided that we need as many reminders of Britain’s triumph over France as possible, we should seek other avenues for not honouring rich white guys that weren’t born in Canada.  One can only assume that the residents of the village of Xwayxway, in what is now known as Stanley Park, were born in Canada. 

 

Women scientists experience gaps in pay and appointments

Jarrah Hodge
Jun 25th, 2010

When the federal government appointed 19 men and zero women as Canada Excellence Research Chairs last month, it sparked a debate over gender equality in the sciences, and now the more information that comes out, the more it seems like women are getting the short end of the stick.

This week, a study by the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation in New York showed that women scientists Canada, the US, the UK, Germany, Italy, Spain, Australia, India, and Japan are paid significantly less than men.

On Canada's abortion position abroad, PEI exerts influence. But should it?

Ben Milne
Jun 7th, 2010

 I don’t think people can say enough about the minority Conservative government’s decision to end funding for abortions as part of their platform for maternal health.  There was a small protest recently by people opposed to legal abortions but you just don’t hear much in the way of the vicious pro-baby-anti-mother league that you do in the states.  And yet despite the obvious controversy abortion is in the states you have Hillary Clinton saying that abortion funding needs to be part of a global strategy for improving maternal health.  Unless I’m really mistaking the potential for fringe right-wing parties in the prairies where does Harper think he’s going to lose seats?

 

The only thing I can think of is that recycling and Road to Avonlea loving province of PEI and their 4 Liberal-held seats.  Never before in the history of Canada has PEI held such sway over foreign policy.   Personally I’d rather they were pushing for making abortions illegal in Canada before they moved onto poor women in Africa.  They don’t let local women have abortions on the island so why not fight against all legal abortions in Canada?

Annalea Krebs leads "The Change"

Jarrah Hodge
May 17th, 2010

Annalea Krebs, founder and CEO of TheChange.

Vancouverites have a new way to connect with local socially and environmentally responsible businesses and organizations, thanks to social entrepreneur Annalea Krebs.

This past Saturday, Krebs launched TheChange, a social media platform dedicated to connecting people with organizations leading social and environmental change in a relevant and engaging way.  

Local Trans Film Not to be Missed

Ben Milne
Apr 22nd, 2010

As part of a short series of films documenting the impact the UBC Film program has had on local filmmaking, Gwen Haworth’s She’s a Boy I Knew will be screening on May 7th at 7 P.M. at the Pacific Cinematheque.  Haworth’s film is taking center stage with the Friday night showing, a better night than that given to both Larry Kent and Bruce Sweeney.  This might be both a testament to her filmmaking abilities and her reception at the Vancouver International Film Festival when she won most popular Canadian film at the 2007 edition and extra screenings had to be added. 

 

 She’s a Boy I Knew documents Haworth, her family and friends as she goes through changing her gender from male to female.  Operating within a diverse set of documentary techniques the film offers an engaging look at how a local family deals with something that any loving family wants to support but might also contradict preconceived notions of gender.  

 

Time for Libby Davies to consider jumping ship to become Canada's minister on status of women

Ben Milne
Apr 14th, 2010

Without even getting into any of the current allegations involving Helena Guergis, I can’t think of anyone who has better comported herself in a manner becoming of someone charged to promote equality for women.

 

Her sense of entitlement was more than justified at the Charlottetown airport and the public should know that former beauty queens are not a threat to national security. Besides, if anyone has seen Road to Avonlea you’ll know how much of a “hellhole” that place really is.

 

 

Since Guergis will most likely not be returning to head this department I suggest giving Rona Ambrose a break and looking towards an unlikely candidate. This might involve Libby switching parties but I’m pretty certain the constituents of Vancouver East will support her should she be promised the plum position of Minister of State, Status of Women.

 

 

Disclosure: I have never voted for Libby Davies nor have I ever voted for Helena Guergis nor Rona Ambrose.

 

 

Vancouver women's groups up for Lilith Fair Money

Jarrah Hodge
Apr 3rd, 2010

Photo courtesy of the Lilith Fair Facebook page

I was 13 years old when I first went to Lilith Fair at Thunderbird Stadium in Vancouver. I was a huge fan of its founder, Vancouverite Sarah McLachlan, and I remember feeling so cool to be coming down from the Island to the city to celebrate women in music. Somewhere I think I still have the tour album and an autograph from Lisa Loeb.

So I was interested to see the announcement last fall about the new Lilith Fair tour scheduled for 2010. Yes, eleven years afterthe last tour in 1999, Lilith will roll into the Vancouver area this Canada Day for a show at Pitt Meadows airport with a lineup including McLachlan, Sheryl Crow, Erykah Badu, and local artist Frazey Ford of the Be Good Tanyas.

In All This Son's Command

Ben Milne
Mar 9th, 2010

Stephen Harper, the son who commands...

I’ve been away the past two weeks, working in China, so I only got to hear about the Conservatives’ decision to review the Canadian national anthem after they changed their minds. To think that I was that close to actually experiencing two separate moments of national pride within one week is just too much so it’s all the better that the anthem will remain as is.

 

Other than hockey I’m against arbitrary notions of national pride. I will wake up at 4:45 in the morning to watch us win gold in men’s hockey (and refer to us as “us”) but I’m only really interested in the value of nationalism insofar as it’s used for promoting positive associations with free living (namely doing whatever makes you happy so long as its not at the unnecessary cost of someone or something else).

 

Policing Figure Skaters' Gender

Jarrah Hodge
Feb 21st, 2010

US skater Johnny Weir skating to Lady Gaga's Poker Face at the 2009 Festa on Ice.

The Vancouver 2010 Olympics might be the first one with a PRIDE House dedicated to “evoking change in homophobia in the sports culture” but last week’s men’s figure skating competition at Pacific Coliseum shows there’s still a long way to go.

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