Feminism of the FUTURE!

Forbes Magazine says the future of feminism is flexibility. By Elana Lyn Gross, March 8th 2017.

Elana Lyn Gross from Forbes magazine recently interviewed women entrepreneurs Anna Auerbach and Annie Dean about the creation of their company Werk. Werk is a consulting firm which advertise and advocates for flexible work positions in the top job market place for women. Anna says, More than 30% of the most talented women leave the workforce entirely after having children, but 70% would have kept working if they had flexibility. And yet, there is no job platform today that focuses on flexible, career-building work.” (Gross 2017) Annie adds that when her son was born she was feeling like she was never able to commit the energy to both areas of responsibility in her life, the professional and her family, This left her feeling like a failure at work and a bad mom at home. When Annie and Anna got together they asked the question what the workforce would look like if it was designed by women. This is how Werk was born.

Forbes is calling this idea the future of feminism because it recognizes that there is a whole area of labour which is removed from the economic market which has value but is not being supported. The future of feminism is not just bringing women into the market place and admitting they can do the same jobs men can. The future of feminism is recognizing there is work out there that needs to be recognized and valued as a contributor to the market economy.

My husband Dan and I have two children and we coparent for the majority of household labour however he is unable to stay home with the kids if they are sick or take time off to take them to their appointments. It is up to me to take mat leave, to use my entitlements, and to take time off because my work is unionized and my entitlements are protected. This is not win/win however. I have been employed with the government of Saskatchewan for 6 years and only actually worked for 4. When I got back from my second mat leave a male coworker with less seniority than me was assigned to temporary assignment of higher duties in a position I had been trying to build towards since I started. I am returning to fulltime work and I do worry about my children and their wellbeing when I am apart from them. To compensate we pay a large amount of money each month to secure a loving and responsible care taker.

In our course text Sheila Neysmith, Marge Reitsma-Street, Stephanie Baker Collins, and Elaine Porter coauthored the chapter called Provisioning: Thinking about All Women’s Work, women’s labour is discussed. What we do know is that women are busy. They are busy in the market place and they are busy at home. Women contribute the most to partime, contract, and insecure jobs. Women contribute the most to household and domestic work, caring work, and volunteer and community work. The term Provisioning for this team of women conveys the multiple tasks, time required, and relational dimensions of women’s work in the context of the purpose for which the work is done. This research aims to identify what work women do, what the value of the work is and who benefits. (Neysmith Et al. 2004)

          When we recognize the need for flexible positions of meaningful work for women we recognize that the other labours they do is valuable and we all benefit from them. I think we should take it one more step and have both male and female workplaces be more pro-family and flexible so that Fathers can participate more in caring roles. Research has proven that children benefit from active fathers and my husband is an active father and is there for us anytime he can be. If his work was more flexible he would take time to stay home with the kids and take care of the home, however he says that in construction since it contract to contract you can be easily replaced or left behind. We require both our incomes to maintain our lifestyle and if he is not working even for a while we would not be able to take care of our responsibilities.

          The future of feminism for me is not just recognizing that women are equal to men and therefore should be included in all levels of the economy. The future is recognizing the types of work women participate in most are valuable. They are valuable enough to be compensated. They are valuable enough for men to participate in. It is not enough to simply remove women from the domestic labour to work in the economy because then who will do the important roles of caring? Raising families is important work and if we do not invest in this we risk squandering human capital and potential. The care, raising and nurturing of humans must be balanced with the advancement of the economy. I mean, who will work and who will buy?

Redefining Gender: This is what a Correctional Officer looks like!

A subject on my mind this week is the fact that I am leaving correctional service behind and moving in to The Ministry of Social Services when I become a social worker on the 21st of April, 2017. This move has been 3 years in the making since I began upgrading from my bachelors of Arts in Sociology. In truth the move has been on my mind since I began my career in corrections almost 6 years ago. The reason for this is I have never been treated like I belong. As a female if I work on my core correctional practices which mean I role model to, spend productive time with, and complete programs along with my clients I am called a series of derogatory labels. “Inmate lover”, “She’s fucking him”, “Not good staff”, “This is why women should not work at a correctional centre”, “They will just come back, why even bother?” From the moment I walked through the sally port in May of 2011 I could feel it. The very first shift in the centre I was in a medium security unit working with a pair of men who had worked in the centre for over 30 years. Within 15 minutes of working one of them said to me, “You gotta wonder about the mental capacity of a woman who wants to work in a place like this.” The Saskatoon Correctional Centre work environment made me feel like I was not a corrections worker and no matter the hard work I do, the training I undertake, or the years of experience I will never be a corrections officer.

      When the average person thinks of a corrections officer they think of a large, assertive male capable of taking physical control of another person and respond to aggressive offenders with equal aggression in order to teach them the lesson they came to jail to learn. I am a 5 foot five adorable young women who uses her mouth, charisma, and a mutual respect to achieve the same outcome.  Teaching moments and open conversation with offender lends itself well to my style. I commit to the duty of my profession by using the most recent research on correctional service which confirms that program do work when tailored appropriately the offender and their needs. Restrictive programming (confining and beating of offenders) actually increases the likelihood that an offender will reoffend and return to the correctional centre.  In none of the research does it say that corporal punishment, restrictive control or domination helps to protect our communities by rehabilitating offenders.

      The Canadian Correctional Service conducts and published research about various topics of importance to the profession. In 1993 researcher at the University of British Columbia, M.I. Cadwaladr published the paper, Breaking into Jail: Women Working in a Men's Jail to document the challenges women face working in corrections. Among the challenges are being sexualized by staff, inmates, and supervisors, and being the subject of rumours about their sexual orientation, sexual partners, or promiscuity. (Cadwaladr 1993) This type of fascination with female officer’s sexuality undermines their professionalism and ability to complete their job. In my first year I was linked sexually with several staff, rumoured to be a lesbian because of my short hair and/ or pregnant. My perception of this is because I am an assertive, intelligent, and competent person and it appeared to me that my efforts were undermined at every opportunity. It was this general feeling of unease which caused me to make deliberate steps to move into another ministry which is public and has a greater reputation for professionalism.

      Women are seen as not being able to perform their duties as well as men because we are physically not as big or strong as men.

“Physical prowess and a willingness to enter into physical confrontations are also a way of generating esteem and peer acceptance. When women are kept out of crisis situations, they are denied a crucial means of gaining peer acceptance - female correctional officers reported that in emergency situations some men adopt a protective, chivalrous attitude toward them. The women resented this treatment, feeling that they are seen as a liability and that the male officers place themselves in danger by not concentrating fully on the situation at hand.”(Cadwaladr 1993)The gender bias is ingrained in the culture of the profession. I was constantly denied access to areas in which I could prove my tactics and skills as an officer by supervisors whom had less than one hours contact with me because of hearsay and reports from other male officers who had never worked with me because I was never allowed to work with them. Despite my background in self-defense and tactical communication I was denied time after time the ability to prove my ability to perform the duties for which I was trained.

      I get that anyone reading this could say that I am not strong enough to be a corrections worker, that I am too sensitive, or that I am just not the right material to work in a jail. To that I say: I am a proud women; I am assertive, powerful, compassionate, and intelligent. I will not work in a place which does not respect or utilize my experince and training. Being a women is not an acceptable basis to judge my ability to perform my job professionally and there are skills which women possess which prove successful in a crisis situation and high stress environment. Our ability to empathize, negotiate, and verbalize with offenders are very successful skills in deescalating situations as well as teach offenders during day to day interactions.

M.I. Cadwaladr (1993) "Breaking into Jail: Women Working in a Men's Jail," M.A. thesis, Department of Sociology and Anthropology, The University of British Columbia, 1993. Retrieved on April 5, 2018. http://www.csc-scc.gc.ca/research/forum/e061/e061l-eng.shtml

Come on Sugar let me know ;-)

Hey, check this out:

Sexed Up Sexuality and Disabilities EXPO

When I was researching women, sexuality and disability for my Metablog post I asked my husband, “Is my epilepsy unsexy?” He looked at me confused and said, “No, I don’t even notice it, to tell you the truth.” Well this is mostly true, I do take medication he sees me take everyone morning, though he is not paying any attention really. I do not drive unless I have to and when we are together he always drives. This is not even really noticeable to him because he likes driving, his Dad never let his mom drive and we usually drive his car. I have never had a seizure in front of him that he knows of because you cannot see one of my simple partial seizures, and I take medication to make a grand mal seizure impossible.  I call myself invisibly disabled, all the fun self-care without any of the embarrassing attention or sympathy. People do not treat me disabled even when they know I am because they have never seen me seize. Visible disability appears to be very isolating and I am grateful that I do not have to give up my sexuality because of my epilepsy.

In the readings we reviewed on disability and ableism the discussion also talks about the invisibility of disabled women but in when the disability is a visible one being invisible means existing without acknowledging. Women with disabilities are not seen as sexy because their sexuality is not seen at all. “Construed as dependant, these “eternal children,” women with disabilities are often presumed to be asexual beings, with no desires, no sexual needs nor capabilities.” (Pinto 2008) Women with disabilities are sexual, even if they are not seen as sex by all members of society. Just because they are challenged in their every tasks does not make them any less human with very ordinary and real desires that any other person should have. Can we turn off our sexuality just because someone else does not think we should be sexual?

Paul Pinto talks about gender- based violence in her chapter on Women, Disability, and the Right to Health. Though not physical violence, the exclusion from sexuality and sexual expression can be seen as neglecting a natural part of human health. The attempts of care givers, concerned family members, or the community to intimidate, isolate, confine, or intimidate disabled women into abstaining from sex should be considered a violation of their human rights. (Pinto 2008) She includes examples of forced sterilization, or shaming women with disabilities into not being mothers, as well as denying sexuality to women who others may perceive to be not mentally mature enough. Women with disabilities are more vulnerable because of the gendered segment of this equation. Women often rely on the support and care of others so are more likely than men to be dependent on someone else for their care or income. These persons or institutions which are intimately involved in their lives out of necessity may attempt to force their attitudes on their wards.

Flare magazine recently printed an article on flare.com called, Sex & Dating While Disabled: Three Women Share What It’s Really Like by Katherine Laidlaw which shares the story of 3 women with disabilities and their stories trying to date and be sexual. One of the women is Canadian Olympian Stephanie Dixon, a Paralympic athlete who has won 17 medals and is anything but invisible. She has been on TV, in the news, and competed internationally but despite her fame and confidence as an athlete she talks about how difficult she found it to discover her sexuality. “I wanted to have sex. I just didn’t think anyone would want to have sex with me,” she says. Because she is missing her leg, she also has only half a bum and half a pelvis, and she was worried that her vagina was disfigured—she’d never compared hers to anyone else’s.” (Laidlaw 2017) Women with disabilities have to deal with more than your average insecurities when they wonder how their stark physical, functional, or behavioural differences will be perceived by a potential partner.

There is a social component to dating and mate selection which emphasizes the choosing of an ‘ideal’ date, someone you think is worthy of spending time with. Both Dixon and the second women interviewed for the article Kaleigh Trace, author and sex educator, talk about disclosure and soliciting potential partners. When do you tell a partner something so intimate when you have not decided to become intimate yet? Stephanie wears a prosthetic leg and spoke about worrying about what her partner would think when it would come off. Kaleigh, who was paralyzed from the waist down still feels like a sexual being and wants to express herself sexually and likes to use online dating sites like any other 30 year old. She talks about the time to tell someone she is in a chair. You can take a picture of yourself doing all types of things from the waist up. You or I would not think twice about taking a pic which show off my hips and lips, but hides my butt. I would not think that once I got out on the date any of my other redeeming qualities would not be a hit.

The article paints a very complex picture of an already dynamic situation where even the most average person feels completely vulnerable. Dating is complex at the best of times and when meeting someone new or trying decide how to act on an attraction we all struggle with our insecurities. I was glad to see this article on dating and disability because it at least means these women are not completely invisible and there are at least three brave women ready to stand up and tell their story.

PINTO, Paula. 2008. Women, Disability, and the Right to Health. Toronto, ON. Women’s Press. Chapter taken from Gender and Women’s Studies in Canada edited by Margaret Hobbs and Carla Rice

LAIDLAW, Katherine. Sex & Dating While Disabled: Three Women Share What It’s Really like. Flare Magazine, Rogers Media, Toronto, Ontario. February 14^th, 2017. Reviewed on: March 31^st, 2017.

http://www.flare.com/sex-and-relationships/dating-while-disabled/

Indigenous Knowledge - Aboriginal Midwifery in Canada

https://dawnbramadat.files.wordpress.com/2015/04/the-native-art-4v1j99.jpg

Aboriginal Women Reclaiming the Power

I have a dream…

…of attending a birth in my own community at Nipissing, I will go to a woman’s home where her

extended family is there for support. Perhaps even my own daughter will accompany me to help

with younger children. Perhaps the woman’s mother is there to help prepare food and greet the 

baby in the Nishnawbe language. The father will light a fire outside and offer tobacco. We will

boil cedar for the postpartum bath. …Nishnawbe women are the guardians of their culture,

families and communities. They will want to be a leading force in the future development of

midwifery on their homelands. The professional practice of midwifery reflects their traditional

values. That is the compassionate and respectful care of the newly emerging mother and baby.

This is the very future of our Nations” (Couchie & Nabigon, 1997).

The Aboriginal Health Organisation recalls the tradition of midwifery in their report, Celebrating Birth – Aboriginal Midwifery in Canada, published in 2008.  This unique experience was shared with all community members as traditionally nomadic peoples any person in the community could be called upon to assist with birth if necessary. The wisdom to support pregnant mothers was passed from Grandmother to daughter throughout time where women were the holders of both the physical, mental, social, and spiritual aspects of the birth experience. In many different Indigenous languages the name midwife did not exist, but instead several titles existed depending on the language of the peoples:

"woman who can do everything" "watch and care" "A woman who's hands assists a child coming into this world" "the helper" "the one who waits for birth" "women's helpers" "the woman who catches the baby" 

In 2017 it is time to make a bold and definite move to support Aboriginal women in Canada. By recognizing the experience and knowledge which has survived for countless generations of sharing and training our communities will be strengthen through the participation of these women. Through the heartiness and success of these peoples throughout time we can see evidence that these methods were successful as evident through the Aboriginal population today. The knowledge and experience these women possess will rebuild relationships and establish health and vitality to their communities through respect and support of their practises.

http://aboriginalmidwives.ca/sites/aboriginalmidwives.ca/files/styles/large/public/IMG_2723_Rachel_Olson.JPG?itok=HV9tgitp

“Inuit midwives have been practising it for thousands and thousands of years. Why not continue it? Why should we have to be so dominated by this Western system and not practice our own ways? We have survived for over five thousand years. Why not learn from the Inuit midwives?" (Melanie Paniaq, Pauktuutit Inuit Women of Canada).

National Aboriginal Health Organization(NAHO). 2008. Celebrating Birth – Aboriginal Midwifery in Canada. Ottawa: National Aboriginal Health Organization. Accessed on March 27th, 2017:

http://www.naho.ca/documents/naho/english/midwifery/celebratingBirth/Midwiferypaper_English.pdf

   On February 10th, 2017, Aboriginal Midwife Ellen Blais announced that the government is establishing 6 Aboriginal Midwifery programs in Ontario. The Dilico Family Health Team has hired 2 aboriginal Midwives to work in their clinic. The midwives will travel out into the 13 communities they serve and provide prenatal, birth, and 6 weeks post care for Aboriginal women in the program using Aboriginal practises. The announcement includes 2 million dollars in funding to establish 5 additional programs other Aboriginal communities in northern Ontario. This initiative is an important landmark in Canadian history as it recognized the inherent worth and dignity of Aboriginal women in Canada and publicly declares to support their knowledge and experience. The oppression and marginalization of Aboriginal women throughout Canadian history is a catastrophe. After recognition the next step is empowering and building. Funding for Aboriginal Midwifery is a direct action to give back maternal power and wisdom to these women. Supporting their purpose and practise will assist them to better serve their communities.

In further discussion is it interesting to note that the article did not speak as to where or how the Aboriginal midwives were trained. In Ontario to be certified as a midwife you must attend a 4 year degree program at Ryerson University, be registered in another province, or have your international certification transferred. In the article it was not mentioned if the Aboriginal Midwives also became certified in the way. Requiring an Aboriginal student to study in a westernized program is arguably still an oppressive practise as it fails to recognize the unique ownership of the knowledge and the experience of Aboriginal Midwives passed doing through generations. As Melanie Paniaq stated above Aboriginal midwives have been practising and passing down their knowledge for thousands of years. An important discussion to furthering the practice of Aboriginal Midwifery would be to establish a certification board headed by experienced Aboriginal midwives who train and pass down their own practises and indigenous ways of knowing. They should decide if a person is experienced enough and has demonstrated commitment to their community similar to the training of other elders and leaders.

      The best way to support Aboriginal women in Canada is to recognize their strengths and compensate them for their practise. From recent media stories about missing and exploited women in Canada it has become startling how appalling Aboriginal women have been treated throughout the history of colonization and how devalued they are today. Moving into the future it is important to be just as aggressive in our approach to supporting these women to establish safe and healthy futures for their families and communities. An interest in Aboriginal midwifery is an extraordinary opportunity to take the incredible strength, and generations of knowledge and experience, of these women and use it to support their communities. 

    The National Aboriginal Health Board links Aboriginal Midwifery with the health of all members of the nation. The community and family centred approach to birthing encompasses the mother and new child in the centre of the community creating powerful relationships from the moment of birth. From when the child first hears their native tongue and are welcomed by their people on their land a solid relationship is formed. In contrast the thought of as Aboriginal child being born in the sterile, cold environment of a city hospital in which western doctors deliver them in western ways and receive them in western language appears cruel and barbaric. Proof that Aboriginal midwifery is successful is in the large pre colonial population which was welcome entirely through Aboriginal practice. The whole community is strengthened through participation in the birthing even and the bond to the mother and child and will provide support to them throughout their lives. Being born on their land and in the folds of family and community is the centre of the goals for Aboriginal Midwifery (NAHO 2015)

Alex, Cathy. "Ontario restores 'beautiful ceremony' of birth by funding 6 Aboriginal midwifery programs" February 10th, 2017. CBC News, Thunder Bay. Accessed on April 1st, 2017.

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/thunder-bay/thunder-bay-dilico-aboriginal-midwifery-1.3974972

Woman Up with Moana

Put your favourite movies to the The Bachdel Test:

1. Two female characters (preferably named),
2. Who talk to each other,
3. About something other than a man.

       My favourite movies: Labyrinth, The Fifth Element, and The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe.

In Labyrinth, Sarah the main character travels through the Labyrinth to rescue her brother from the Goblin King who falls madly in love with her. Almost all the goblins, puppets, and creatures appear male and the two female humans are in a mother daughter role. They do talk about dating, but mostly about her taking her responsibilities seriously. All Sarah's friends in the labyrinth are male.

      In the Fifth Element with Bruce Willis and Mila Jovovich there are 2 prominent female characters, Leeloo and Plavalegauna the Opera Diva who take a major part in saving the universe from the forces of evil. Bruce Willis is the brawn weapons expert, witty military hero. The priests are men and all the bad guys are men.

I        n the Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe (BBC TV movie, 1988), the majority of cast is male, however the main character is female, Lucy, the youngest of the Pevensie children who discovers the wardrobe and first Adventures into Narnia. Her sister Susan also joins her, and there is Mrs. Beaver. All these roles fit the archetype of traditional female roles where Lucy is a care taker and healer, Susan is beautiful, and Mrs. Beaver is a housewife who gets the kids lunches packed for the adventure.

      I never looked at these movies through this lens until now. I was always the girl who would not be held back or told she cannot do what the boys can do. I was always looking for the next adventure. My favourite movies definitely reflect this spirit however it would appear that when you decide to take on the world you do it with a team of guys because that is how you win and survive. When we tell little girls that they can go out and adventure, but always with a man to escort them it takes away from the sense of self confidence and discovery. The common theme of these movies was the success of these women as long as they traveled with brave, brawny, intelligent, or skilled man. I found myself at times of my life defining myself in position to men: my husband, my Father, bosses and coworkers. If I wanted to be among the best in my field I had to find out who those men are and mirror them because that is how you make it. Until now I had never made this comparison knowingly, it was just the way it was.

       Moano is a story of the chief's daughter who is called to adventure on the seas once sailed by her ancestors. In this story she is propelled by a sense of adventure and the duty of being a young ruler and wanting to improve things and make it better for her people. The community is running out of food and resources on the Island but it has been so long since the people have voyaged that they have forgotten how. Moana takes it upon herself to set out and find a way to save her people. The movie satisfies the Bachdel test. The lead character is female and she talks to her Mom and her Grandmother about things other then boys, i.e. how to make a better life for their community. There is a main character, Maui who is male, however there is no romantic attachment between him and Moana, the lead. Instead there is an exchange of aid and skill which does not have Maui rescuing her. There is a fun tit for tat exchange between the two which lends to an entertaining story. In the story Moana is a strong women who displays positive characteristics of love, loyalty, compassion, fortitude, and courage. It is her tenacity and adventurous spirit which comes through to save her people.

   When females are visible in the dominant power structures of a culture it tells young girls that they are valued and can participate one day too. Women in aviation like Amelia Earhart show girls they too can soar. Here is a picture of the new role models for girls to replace the Disney Princess phenomenon affecting young girls around the world. In a world where girls see Ruth Nader Ginsberg in the supreme court or Ellen Johnson Sirleaf the president of Liberia. Author J.K Rowling has shown girls everywhere what you can do as a single mother with nothing more then a computer and time.


   

    

If Lesbians and Gays Support the Miners then Adult Surviros support the FASD Network!

     I recommend the movie Pride, which I was able to watch on Netflix. The story was a coming of age story in that a small, conservative Welsh town of miners grew into the times to become a progressive community which supports contemporary values of inclusiveness and respect for the dignity of all persons. It all started when LGBTQ members marched during the time that there was a strike going on for the miners. One of the main characters, Mark Ashton (a passionate advocate always fighting for the cause type guy) felt a feeling of shared purpose the National Union of Minerworkers fighting for support and recognition in 1984. Both groups had their interested devalued and suppressed by the dominant society. Both were fighting for support and recognition. Both had health and socioeconomic challenges which affect them, their families and the people who loved them.
       As any movie there needed to be some drama where the miners at first did not see how their two causes could share a likeness and they eventually parted ways. But not before some fun dance scenes and a great montage of Welsh miners hitting the gay bars and shaking their groove things in London.
 

       I loved the adorable bashful naiveté of the miners juxtaposed with the sass of the Gays and Lesbians in the story. And of course at the end any one who is passionate about equal right issues and inclusion will cry like a babe. There were some great moments of fear from both parties as they struggled to gain ground.  The miners voted to break ties with LGSM because they were afraid the association would loose them support. In this moment the LGBT felt the blow of being rejected by a group who too was oppressed. Even the rejects rejected them. When the miners lost the strike and returned to work they were forced to feel the same degrading rejection from a community they thought supported them. On common ground again the friends found strength in eachother and the miners came out to support Gays and Lesbians of England when they marched with them in the next pride parade. Try not to cry. This movie would be great to play for students in middle or highschool. The story causes you to get to know the real people behind the labels and it is difficult by the end to deny their humanity. The story is speaks to a sense of fairness in all of us as it is hard not to see our own insecurities in either the miners of the LGSMs.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pride_%282014_film%29








      Adult survivors of abuse (ASA) share many commonalities with people who are affected by Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD). Both these populations share similar problems with intelligence and learning; sensory integration problems; behavior and mood problems; and physical or health problems. These challenges make navigating the adult world where there are multiple structures, limits, and challenges on the road to success. ASA may suffer from anxiety disorders which make taking a test, or keeping a regular schedule a challenge. Adults with FASD have difficulty sitting still, and struggle with erratic or compulsive behaviours so they are in the same boat. Both suffer from depression and effects of stress on the body, can be prone to aggression or have difficulty with emotional regulations. There is also a tendency to be less emotionally and behaviourally mature as their peers.

    Some ways we can help both parties is to be more flexible with testing procedures. Offer a quiet environment which is free of distractions and allow privacy so students can fidget or move at their discretion. Job positions which are more flexible in their schedule by maintaining non traditional hours for some, or positive mentorship and coaching are ways to support adults struggling with either challenges. Through these types accommodations the community benefits through greater participation and less need for economic and social supports.
   Would Adult survivors of abuse see a common ground with persons with FASD, or would they like the miners, shy away from the association? There is a shame associated with either party. Abuse survivors feel the shame that there is something wrong with them, or some how they deserved the abuse. Persons with FASD are also shamed through their inability to adjust to the normal activities of the modern world. Both did not do this to themselves and the events leading to their exposure were beyond their control. Both are victims. There is a commonality to their experience and perhaps by combining numbers they can raise awareness for physical and mental health, addictions and greater accessibility for all.
    There are many services which could be implemented or broadened to support both persons with FASD and Adult survivors of abuse. Employment and skills training which offer a smaller class size and more one on one training opportunities. An abundance of mental health building opportunities like counseling (individual or groups), art therapy, subsidized physical recreation opportunities. Support for families like conflict resolution and self regulation classes, or support to take respite could strengthen relationships since some of the effects can put strain on the people close to them. These strategies could also have an positive impact on persons with FASD if available on an as needed basis due to the sporadic and impulsive nature of the disorder.


If any of us look around there is someone out there struggling just like us and we all have our own challenges we have to over come. The ability to recognize the humanity in all of use can facilitate the social evolutional push which is all around us today. As all persons interact with the system there is an opportunity to include supports for a variety of needs, this way we can all find commonality as we work through what ails us.
     

http://www.vetmed.wsu.edu/docs/librariesprovider16/default-document-library/the-long-shadow-adult-survivors-of-childhood-abuse.pdf?sfvrsn=0




https://www.havoca.org/effects-child-abuse-neglect-adult-survivors/




http://www.aboutkidshealth.ca/En/HealthAZ/ConditionsandDiseases/BrainandNervousSystemDisorders/Pages/Fetal-Alcohol-Spectrum-Disorder-FASD.aspx

Unfounded

Unfounded

Why police dismiss 1 in 5 sexual assault claims as baseless

In a 20-month-long investigation into how police handle sexual assault allegations, The Globe and Mail gathered data from more than 870 police forces. The findings expose deep flaws at every step of the process

By Robyn Doolittle London, Ont.

Published Friday, February 3, 2017

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/investigations/unfounded-sexual-assault-canada-main/article33891309/

When I first started researching this essay it was after London Police Force said they are investigating unfounded cases and it was linked to the inquiry conducted by the Globe and Mail and the findings published on February 3^rd, 2017. I watched as slowly in the days after many of the rest of Canadian police forces started to release their own statements pledging to review their own 'unfounded' cases. The RCMP responded, then Ontario, then Quebec who have their own provincial police departments. I cried- out loud. I did; and I was at work (in a male dominated, macho profession). I could not believe that someone was taking women seriously. Major police orgaisations wanted to start a serious discussion into violence against women and are taking steps to become accountable. Someone has taken real, salaried, professional hours to conduct research and then published this research for the world to see. Violence against women is a problem today. Today I am crossing my fingers we are finally going to do something about it.

I am still seeing new police forces, from the 873 jurisdictions that were included and supplied their data, come forward to dedicate their organisations to being a part of this research. 2017 is the time for recognition for all Canadian women who bravely carried on after being called a liar. For women who are afraid to come forward because they are afraid of losing credibility or being ostracized at work. I am still reeling. I am scared to hope that this means my daughter will hopefully live with less sexual violence in her life. I wait on bated breath to see how the next years and months unfold. I am not going speak at this time in my blogg about the data or research on this, or really lend a critical eye but instead give a candid reaction to the huge, incredible, affirming, and about f*(&$king time news. I have decided to write my research paper on this as well, so just hold your horses for the real critical analysis on this article by the Globe and Mail. I will post the link later if anyone else wants to read it.

 I have never been forced in to unwanted sex acts but the definition of sexual assault is so vague I do have a handful of incidents in my history which I would consider unwanted sexual attention, pressure, coercion, and harassment. I never told anyone in authority and think I only disclosed to a handful of friends. Some of the perpetrators are my partners in my workplace today. One of them will sometimes fill the role of supervisor to me and other women at work. I never told because I would not be able to prove it (men are smart, they divide and conquer) and it would make things unbearable for me if I did not receive the support I needed.

 My insides did a little leap for joy, with one fist raised to pump the sky. What could this mean? Will there eventually be less sexual assault? Will men be held accountable for their actions? Will sex workers receive more protection? Then I wondered why now? What was the catalyst? Did our First Nations women demanding inquiry into the missing women become catalyst for justice of all women? Were they our sounding board? My thoughts are that the Globe going public on this will finally force public organizations to recognize this issue and pledge time and money to remedy this atrocity of modern society. If you read the article you will see that the data is decades old and been mulled over in private for quite some time. So now I am livid. This better lead somewhere ladies.

Am I even allowed to write about race?

I have a lot of problems with the concept of race. As a white person I am uncomfortable with even talking about race. I do not even want to write this metatext because it makes me uncomfortable to address race.  I am taught that it is bad to be racist and that we do not talk about someone else's race because we are white and privileged so the last thing you do is bring it up. White people are not allowed to be racist. I know that I directly benefit from racial marginalization and from the historical handing down of privilege from my white ancestors from generation to generation. So for this reason I will go out of my comfort zone and address race because I know different cultures and minority race persons do not have the luxury to ignore race. The last thing I want is for anyone to say I am racist, so I will incorporate behaviours, points of view, and practices into my daily life in order to firmly affirm that I am not racist. 

In feminist discourse I have observed minority women talk about their experiences with race and the impact it has on identity and self-expression.  Their experiences are juxtaposed by a comparison the 'white' experience. There is a creation of other when you do something this way and you see others doing something else. White culture is the dominant culture in Canada and so it is easy to take a look at what you are doing and compare it to the way “Canadians” do it. In her article, The Hall of Shame: Lies, Masks, and Respectful Femininity Amita Handa includes dialogue she has had with Salimah, a South Asian woman, who said, "Okay, when I see white girls, I can generalize here, most white girls are more giving, like fast sexually, you know. Even though Indian girls aren't [fast], well not all, but I'm just saying they're taught not to be. But I don't think that's enforced in, in you know, white families. I know this one girl whose mother bought her the pill. That would never happen in an Indian family." When I discuss my sexuality and sexual expression it has never been in comparison to how another race or culture does it. I would never even start to do that because if a white person does that they are racist and I am NOT racist. I have a bit of problem with how white women are labeled as fast in this dialogue and several other times in the next few pages called promiscuous, Canadian girls are sluts, "bad', or sexually deviant. I am considering critically reflecting on South Asian women's sexuality and self-expression but I cannot even bring myself to do it. At first I thought it was because I did not want to appear to be racist by judging what someone else does, but upon further analysis I am considering that I do not have to compare myself to someone else because I have the freedom of my culture to express myself as my culture deems appropriate. I do not need to compare myself to feel legitimate and I wish everyone could know this freedom. 

In Beyoncé's song Formation the lyrics also express her statement that she is "slayn". When I read the lyrics my interpretation of her meaning is that she wants to be successful so she goes ahead and does that and she then reaps the rewards of her success. This approach has worked for her and she is very successful. She talks about the material possessions she has reaped through her success and also includes some references to her culture and race. After listing qualities of her race she likes she follows it up with: "Earned all this money but they neva take the country out me.  I got a hot sauce in my bag, swag" This appears to me to say that by gaining wealth your membership is apt to change. By even mentioning that there is a divide, or difference between her wealth today and the origins of her identity is like calling black people poor. This song says a lot about racial disparity of socio economic reality of the majority of Black Americans. The boasting of having a lot of wealth, without saying the statement out right it draws attention to the fact that at some time there was no wealth because this status is a big deal to her so she is singing about it.

When I graduate with my BSW I will be proud of myself. I told my husband that one of the things I am most proud of is breastfeeding my two children past the time as recommended by the WHO. When I accomplish this I want to reward myself in a major way because it was a huge sacrifice which took a lot of time and effort and I did this important thing for the love of my body and my children. Both these things were hard for me and took a lot of work and time. I understand it is a luxury to be me in all my whiteness. Sometimes I do wish I stayed at home and was 'taken care of' but I do not continue on to think like the lucky South Asian girls. At least through my privilege when I do things, celebrate things, express myself I do not need to do it in reference to my whiteness. I just do it. The best thing I can think of to do is to stop worrying about my comfort zone and being guilty for being white. Time to push it aside and stand up for race issues because I am afforded the luxury to be comfortable; I can stand to be uncomfortable sometimes to make sure everyone is able to be comfortable just like me.

Do what makes you happy!

Chapter 40 - Exacting Beauty: Exploring Women’s body Projects and Problem in the 21^st Century, by Carl Rice

– What do you think a fat-friendly and girl-friendly physical education curriculum would look like? What about a physical education program that affirmed the capacities of kids with difference bodies, including those with physical differences or disabilities? If you had the task of designing a feminist health promotion campaign, what messages would you want to convey in order to promote girls’ and young women’s health?  ( Rice, Pg. 399)

"Beauty ads now encouraged women's investment  in appearance in the name if their emotional well-being and psychological health." (Rice, pg. 394)  The idea that if you achieve physical beauty you will be physically healthy and feel great creates unrealistic expectations. So if you are not 'pretty like the girls in the magazine' you cannot feel great. So I am a cute, chubby redhead which is not the archetype ever to be featured in magazines, so then I will never be happy? Some people choose unhealthy ways to achieve the look found in many modern magazines. An eating disorder can give you that sought after thigh gap, however is emotionally exhausting state which is unhealthy in many ways. 

The text discusses physical health in The Weight Project on page 396 referencing a program started by Prime Minister P. Trudeau in the 1970 called ParticipACTION which aimed to Canadians to be more active and promote good health. The message was that thinness was associated with good health and fatness with poor health. The idea that caught on was that fatness and fitness could not go together. Girls naturally carry a bit more fat then men through sex linked characteristics. Some people have thin body types and are not as active or healthy as others with larger body types who partake in fitness regularly. The text rightly reflects on how by trying to get Canadians to be more healthy the campaign actually caused a skewed perception of health and wellness.

Positive psychology explores the link between happiness and positive thoughts with our health, longevity, and wellbeing. This area of study is where my interest lies and I am hoping to bring it in to the realm of social work throughout my career. Using positive psychology as a spring board in building champagne to teach young persons about health and wellbeing I would take away appearance and perceiving with our eyes right out of the equation and I think there would be many benefits to this. "Do what makes you feel good!" This is the catch phrase for my program. It would emphasize discovering the capabilities of your body by moving in anyway which makes you feel happy. Stay in motion for as long as you feel good about it and see what makes you feel great.  

If we follow the visual standards set by the current fitness and beauty media people with different physical abilities are left out completely. If we instead focus on the movement and activities which make us feel good everyone is included because everyone is capable of this state. I do not look like a runner and I run like mad when I play soccer but I do not think I look like a runner so I have never tried jogging. I am worried that I will look dumb if I cannot run that long so I have never tried. So much potential is wasted worrying on how we look. Just get up and move in any way that drives you, makes you feel good and able. If you cannot do it in front of others, enjoy moving on your own. It does not matter when or where as long as you move and it feels good.

Every body is shaped different, has different ability, and is capable in different ways. The goal of good health is that your body functions in a way which is optimal for you and how good you feel. Yolanda, 23, was quoted on page 399 that she did not do well in fitness because she did not like to be tested in front of everyone. Some people enjoy sports competition and pursue that type of fitness, however this is not the only way to be active. Dance, hike, walk, spin in circles, play tag, or jog chatting with friends; jump up and down. Which one do you like to do? Just go do it. How long? Who cares! What do you look like is not important. Are their rules? There could be or not be. Depends what you are up to, just get up to something that makes you happy.

Girls are often put in situations where we are in competition with each other. This type of comparison is always a let down because we are each unique and will never be exactly like anyone else. The feel good moving approach is not only pro body, but also pro community and mental health. Since there is only emphasis on doing what feels good for your body you can do it with, or alongside someone and just enjoy being with someone. When we are feeling good participating with others it inspires the mind to try it again. Do you like to walk with small weights to work your arms? Well I also like walking with my dog. Both girls like to go for twenty minutes four times a week. Great, go together. When the only rule is feeling good there is not a set of expectations to hold ourselves or others to so it is hard to disqualify ourselves or others from participating.

Physical activity releases endorphins so if you get up and shake it to your favourite song, doing any moves you like, the feel good hormones will flow. Your mind will associate simply moving around in a way which makes your body feel good and your mind and body will be conditioned to keep it going. Each time we can notice more strength, or greater physical parameters we did not know we could accomplish before. Learning something new about ourselves, feeling good just moving, and learning other people enjoy moving too takes appearance, clothing style, and the need to compete out of the equation.

I think I am on to something here. Could be contagious!