Women's Equality Branch
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All Issues | 2014 Issues

WOMEN FEMMES NB

IN THIS ISSUE:

• GENDER EQUALITY SCHOLARSHIPS
• NOTICES
• DID YOU KNOW?
• ONLY 1 IN 3 CANADIANS KNOW WHAT SEXUAL CONSENT MEANS
• POWER AND CONTROL: SEXUAL ASSAULT REFLECTS SOCIAL NORMS
• CANADA HAS FAILED TO PROTECT INDIGENOUS WOMEN FROM VIOLENCE, SAYS UN OFFICIAL
• REPORTER TALKS ABOUT HER VIRAL VIDEO TAKEDOWN OF 'FHRITP' PERPETRATORS ______________________________________________________________________________

GENDER EQUALITY SCHOLARSHIPS

The Scholarship Program is intended to encourage and support women and men pursuing a non-traditional career at a New Brunswick college.

Any occupation in which women or men make up less than 25% of the total workforce is considered "non-traditional".

For more information or to apply, please visit: http://bit.ly/1JD2QSZ

NOTICES

Did you know that over 75% of cases of sexual assault of women with mental disabilities involved recurring episodes, and that most of the time the abusive person is a caregiver? In recognition of Sexual Assault Awareness Month, DAWN-RAFH Canada will be hosting a Facebook Forum on sexual violence and women with disabilities / Deaf women.  We invite women with disabilities, Deaf women, advocates and service providers to check out our forum and share your thoughts and experiences as a way to increase our collective understanding and ability to respond to this issue. The forum will remain open until the end of May. Visit https://www.facebook.com/DawnRafhCanada to see our infographic on violence and to participate in the forum.

The Women's Shelter in Fredericton is in need of donations. You can help by dropping off any of the items listed at 273 Brunswick Street (Fredericton, NB) any day between 7am and 11pm!  They are in need of things such as: food, laundry soap, bounce sheets, hand soap, dish soap, shampoo and conditioner, body wash, bras and underwear, shoes and socks (all sizes), clothes (large, XL sizes), blender, paper towel, cough drops such as halls, any type of cleaning supplies such as toilet cleaner, tub and tile cleaner, Windex, Lysol, floor cleaner, mop, broom and dust pan, Vacuum, scrub brushes, sponges, dusters, cleaning cloths, and any items to pass time such as art supplies or cross word books (except for under wear, items do not have to be new).

The FIFA Women’s World Cup is the largest single sporting competition for women in the world and New Brunswick will be at the center of the action. Starting June 9 the Moncton Stadium will host the World for 7 thrilling games. Don’t miss this unique occasion to see some of the best soccer players of the planet play right here in our region. For more information please visit:  http://moncton.fwwc2015.ca or [email protected]. To purchase tickets: http://fifa.to/TFHJsv

Family Enrichment and Counselling Service – Free program for children who are anxious. Children aged 8 – 11 on six consecutive Wednesday afternoons from 1:30 to 3:00 pm, beginning June 10.  Light refreshments provided! Limited number of spaces are available so please register ASAP. www.familyenrichment.ca

Walk a Mile in Her Shoes (Shediac) is looking for volunteers to serve on the organizing committee and to accomplish certain tasks, such as serving food, distributing T-Shirts, welcoming participants, collecting donations etc. during the WALK A MILE IN HER SHOES, October 2, at the Shediac Multifunctional Center from 11:30 to 2:30. This is a day of awareness and fundraising to end violence against women in our community. If you are interested please contact Phillis before June 12 at 506-533-9100 or e-mail at Bénévoles/Volunteers. http://www.criseshediacrisis.org/fr/

NB-MAP – New Brunswick initiative  - New Brunswick Mentor Apprentice Program (NB – MAP) is launching a three year initiative called New Boots – Progressing Women in Trades which will be helping New Brunswick women successfully complete their apprenticeship in the construction trades. New Boots will match women (Block 1 apprentice) with a supportive employer for the duration of their apprenticeship, and provide them with the support they need to achieve journeyperson status. The goal of the initiative is to better understand the limits and difficulties that women face when integrating a non-traditional trade and find the best practices how to better help their integration in this workforce. New Boots is part of the New Brunswick Mentor Apprentice Program (NB – MAP), and is supported by the New Brunswick Building and Construction Trades Council (NBBCTC) and the government of New Brunswick through the Department of Post-Secondary Education, Training & Labour (PETL). http://caf-fca.org/new-boots-progressing-women-in-trades/

CAF – National research project. Research Projects - Share your Insights: Women in Trades. Over the next three years, CAF-FCA will implement a project focused on engaging employers to train women in the skilled trades.  We are seeking your best practices for hiring and retaining women in the trades and employer champions who are willing to share their experiences. If you are interested in providing insights, contact Emily Arrowsmith:  [email protected]

A Path Appears, from the team that brought you Half the Sky: Turning Oppression into Opportunity for Women Worldwide, follows reporters Nicholas Kristof and Sheryl WuDunn accompanied by actor advocates to Colombia, Haiti, Kenya, and throughout the United States as they uncover the harshest forms of gender-based oppression and human rights violations, as well as the effective solutions being implemented to combat them. The Department of Justice estimates that there are 300,000 children at risk of being trafficked into sexual slavery in the U.S. In the first episode, Sex Trafficking in the USA, we meet the survivors behind these shocking numbers, and illuminate the widespread existence of a violent crime taking place across America. Watch the trailer, order the film or the book here: http://apathappears.org/film/

Attracting & Retaining Top SETT (Science, Engineering, Trades & Technology) Talent: A Workshop on Understanding and Creating Gender Inclusive Workplaces. An interactive workshop module designed to increase awareness of the factors that influence the success of women in their organizations. Held at Avard-Dixon Building, Room 120 Mount Allison University Sackville, New Brunswick on June 3 from 1:00-5:00 p.m. To register: www.genderinclusiveworkshop.eventbrite.ca Cost is: $185 per participant. Inquiries: 506.444.2444 or [email protected]. Registration limited to 25 participants.

Sexual Assault Prevention Facilitation Training:  The Fredericton Sexual Assault Crisis Centre (FSACC) will be offering training on The Empowerment Project (TEP), a toolkit used to train facilitators to deliver self-protection and assertiveness workshops to women and girls, and  Man to Man, a toolkit for delivering workshops to men and boys about reducing sexual assault.  Participants can be community educators, teachers or guidance counsellors, or other service providers who work youth, young adults, or adults in the area of preventing sexual violence against women.   When and Where:  French:  June 2-4 (Fredericton).  English:  June 16-18 (Fredericton).  Cost is $150. For more information, or to register, please contact Jenn Richard by email at [email protected] or by phone at 506.452.6986.

Join us for the Atlantic ConnecTions Conference, June 4-5 at Mount Allison University in Sackville, New Brunswick.  Our theme for the conference is ACT! We want to explore how can we Act, Celebrate, Collaborate and Transform to make a difference for women in SETT (Science, Engineering, Trades and Technology).  We want you to be part of the ACTion! For more information visit: http://atlanticconnections.ca/.

Disability Awareness Week - Join the PCSDP (Premier’s Council on the Status of Disabled Persons) in Fredericton for a Walk and Roll around the block to show support for Disability Awareness Week. A province wide 15-minute Walk and Roll Challenge will be held at schools and other public locations in New Brunswick. Legislative Assembly at noon on Friday, June 5. For more information and a list of activities and events: http://bit.ly/1blQUXM

Current Opportunities to Serve on New Brunswick Agencies, Boards and Commissions (ABCs):   Qualified women and men having the highest personal and professional integrity are invited to serve on New Brunswick agencies, boards and commissions (ABCs).  For more information, click the following link:    ABC current opportunities

Voices of New Brunswick Women Consensus-Building Forum – Contact Us: Sartain MacDonald Building, 551 King Street, Suite 103, Fredericton NB E3B 1E7, T. 506.462.5179, F. 506.462.5069, E. [email protected], www.voixfemmesnb-voiceswomennb.ca.

ONLY 1 IN 3 CANADIANS KNOW WHAT SEXUAL CONSENT MEANS

Canadian Women’s Foundation study reveals that lines are blurred when it comes to new vs. existing partners, online vs. offline activity

A new study from the Canadian Women’s Foundation, which launched its annual May-long Campaign to End Violence, reveals that while almost all Canadians (96%) agree that sexual activity between partners should be consensual, two-thirds of Canadians (67%) do not understand what it means.

According to Canadian law, consent should be both positive (e.g. saying yes, initiating and/or enjoying sexual activity) and ongoing (e.g. continues during the sexual activity). Only 1 in 3 (33%) survey respondents identified both of these traits as forms of consent.

“Over the past year, sexual assault has been pushed into the spotlight, causing greater awareness about the importance of consent” says Anuradha Dugal, Director of Violence Prevention, Canadian Women’s Foundation. “The fact that most Canadians agree sexual activity should be consensual is a positive sign that people understand the critical importance of consent. However, it’s alarming that so many people don’t understand what consent actually looks like. This gap can increase the risk of unwanted sexual activity and assault, and is a clear sign that Canadians desperately need more education on the meaning of consent.”

Consent in long-term relationships

The survey revealed that some Canadians think the need for consent becomes less important the longer couples are together. While most Canadians (97%) believe consent is required for sexual activity between people on a casual date or between new partners, 1 in 10 Canadians believe consent is not required or don’t know if it’s required between spouses (12%) or long-term partners (11%).

“Most sexual assaults in Canada are committed by someone the victim knows and trusts,” says Ms. Dugal. “It doesn't matter how long you’ve been together –- sexual consent is always required.”

Continued: http://www.canadianwomen.org/press-consent

POWER AND CONTROL: SEXUAL ASSAULT REFLECTS SOCIAL NORMS

Men who rape are not mentally ill or sexually depraved but rather ordinary men with a desire to exert power and control.

Canadian society was founded on a colonialist model that supported patriarchy. Men, especially men of privilege, developed a sense of entitlement to exert power and control over certain groups, one of which included girls and women.

The basis of rape culture is men believing it's their inherent right to use power and control over girls and women.

Historically, predominant ideas, social practices, media, government, schools, religious institutions, employers, the various levels of law enforcement and justice were established by privileged white men. All of these institutions play a role in condoning sexual assault.

They accomplish this by normalizing violence against women and reinforcing the myth that the survivor is to blame. Conversely, these institutions can choose to make a difference by supporting women's rights - which, quite simply, are basic human rights.

When women are sexually assaulted, in most cases men are the perpetrators. These men come from a wide spectrum of economic, ethnic, racial, age and social backgrounds.

In 80 percent of cases, the assailant was known to the survivor. These men include health professionals, police officers, military personnel, teachers, professors, employers, coworkers, religious leaders, coaches, lawyers, neighbours, dates, boyfriends, relatives, and partners of the women they sexually assault.

Because the survivor knows the perpetrator, the assault is often not recognized as a crime by either the survivor or the rapist.

Alcohol is often blamed as a mitigating factor in rape. Clearly a double standard exists where alcohol consumption by an offender is often used to excuse their behaviour, while survivors who were drinking are blamed for their own victimization.

Continued: http://bit.ly/1F69nzh  

CANADA HAS FAILED TO PROTECT INDIGENOUS WOMEN FROM VIOLENCE, SAYS UN OFFICIAL

UN special rapporteur says Canadian government has repeatedly failed First Nations women and calls for national inquiry into decades-long epidemic.

Canada has repeatedly failed to put an end to a decades-long epidemic of violence against First Nations women, according to the UN special rapporteur on the rights of indigenous people, who renewed a call for a national inquiry into the problem.

Speaking to the Guardian in New York, Victoria Tauli-Corpuz said the government had taken some steps to try to protect Aboriginal women, including direct funding for about 30 organizations to reduce violence against them.

But she added: “That’s not enough. That’s not an adequate response.”

Tauli-Corpuz pointed to the killing of First Nations woman Cindy Gladue, who bled to death in a hotel bathtub in Edmonton in 2011 after she was stabbed by a trucker who prosecutors say had hired her as a prostitute.

The man accused of her murder, Bradley Barton, was found not guilty in March, a verdict which prompted outrage among activists. Following a national letter-writing campaign, the government said it would appeal the verdict.

Tauli-Corpuz traveled to Canada in April to draw attention to a seven-year-old UN demand for the government to conduct an inquiry into violence against First Nations women which has claimed 1,017 victims from 1980 to 2012, according to a report by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. Another 164 remain missing.

“The government looks at it as not really something that’s related to racism,” said Tauli-Corpuz.

But indigenous groups contend that institutional racism contributes to a culture of impunity for perpetrators of crimes against Aboriginal women, Tauli-Corpuz said. “Their claim is that the police are so discriminatory against indigenous women, and so [the police] don’t believe that there are these kinds of things happening,” Tauli-Corpuz said. “They really blame it on racism, number one. (…)

Continued: http://bit.ly/1JEPC5Z  

REPORTER TALKS ABOUT HER VIRAL VIDEO TAKEDOWN OF 'FHRITP' PERPETRATORS

F--k her right in the p---y." That's the offensive phrase that Toronto TV reporter Shauna Hunt is tired of hearing.

Her taped confrontation on Monday with obscene soccer fans who shouted the phrase has gone viral. Many people on social media are calling her a hero.

"It wasn't on live television, this is just what I had to deal with," Hunt tells As It Happens host Carol Off. "It happens almost every day, at least to me, my other colleagues at CityNews, and I know other reporters in the city get it all the time." 

The 'FHRITP' videobombing trend has been going on for a while. CBC reporters say they have experienced the same thing.

"I remember twice I've cancelled live hits," she says. "All it takes is me calling the producer and saying: 'I don't feel good in this situation, they're already yelling that disgusting phrase at me and I just feel like we're going to get one live.' Of course, everyone's really understanding of that. But the fact that this is affecting how we do our job, this is the problem."

(…)

Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment, which owns the soccer club, says they plan to ban the men who were involved.

Hunt responds: "Our intention was not to vilify these two guys, they just happened to be the guys in the confrontation. They're just an example of hundreds and hundreds of men that have been doing this to reporters in Toronto for the past two years." (…)

She hopes that as a result of her video that the 'FHRITP' trend will stop.

"It's degrading. I just want these people to realize that when they're doing this, that they're putting reporters in a very uncomfortable situation. And it is humiliating." http://bit.ly/1AvJwoH
 

IN PARTING

“I was guilty of an evil mindset that placed more value on men than women, and I couldn’t have been more wrong. In fact, due to that same mindset, I was actually half a man.”

-Terry Crews
Actor and Author

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Women's Equality Branch | 551 King Street, Suite A | Fredericton, NB E3B 5H1