Posts by Jenna Owsianik
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In the Blog
King for a Night
Last autumn, my friend Sarah Buell and I worked together to produce “King for a Night.” The 8-minute doc reveals a glimpse into the lives of two Vancouver drag kings - women-identified people who like to stuff their pants and perform on stage as men. By following Paige Frewer (Ponyboy) and Kelli Gold (Billi Gold), we bring to light the often misunderstood character of female drag through a rare perspective from the city’s queer scene. Frewer … READ MORE
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In the Blog
Campus gropers told to look over shoulders
Last semester at least three women reported being groped while on The University of British Columbia campus. Almost predictably the message from police was for us ladies to watch ourselves and make sure we took the proper steps to avoid being the next target. I didn’t hear police warning men to stop assaulting women. Then a few weeks ago I came across some signs near the university library giving tips to the campus gropers on how … READ MORE
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In the Blog
Jacob stops some forms of retouching, still uses typical models
Although fashion retailer Jacob announced last week that it will no longer alter the size of models’ bodies in its advertising images, does this really mean the company is committed to promoting realistic images of women’s bodies? Or, is the company simply peddling a body positive approach in an attempt to sell more merchandise? Jacob explained the move in a statement on the company’s website: “As a socially responsible company, JACOB has always made an effort to … READ MORE
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In the Blog
Vigils honour missing and murdered women
Two years ago, Shannon Alexander, 16, and Maisy Odjick, 16, disappeared without a trace from the town of Maniwaki, Que., near their native community of Kitigan Zibi. Families and friends continue to search for the girls, and are holding a candlelight vigil in their honour on Monday evening in Kitigan Zibi. Shannon and Maisy are two of nearly 600 missing or murdered aboriginal women and girls in Canada, according to the Native Women’s Association of Canada. On … READ MORE
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In the Blog
Safe cosmetics campaign targets Canadian girls
Many of the popular resources available on cosmetic products and toxic ingredients come from the United States. They include some useful databases and backgrounders, but their conclusions seem at times periphery to us Canadians. Up here, we regulate our cosmetics differently! You may be happy to then know that FemmeToxic, a Montreal-based campaign for safe cosmetics, launched last summer. Its goal: to inform Canadian girls and young women about the chemicals found in cosmetic ingredients. FemmeToxic is … READ MORE
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In the Blog
Eco-beauty resources
Sometimes trying to figure out how to find safe personal care products and what ingredients to avoid can be overwhelming. Depending on where you look, you might even find conflicting information that will only aggravate the headache you’ve developed in the process of your search. Below, I’ve provided a list of helpful resources that break down the details for us in a palatable way. Health Canada’s Consumer Product Safety website on Cosmetics and Personal Care. … READ MORE
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In the Blog
Health risks: Parabens in beauty products
What’s in your make-up kit? And how many of those beauty products do you use in a day? Give or take a few products, my usual morning regime involves body lotion, tinted moisturizer, mascara, hair mold, and sometimes bronzer or eyeliner if I’m feeling so inclined. I wouldn’t be surprised if a lot of other women, particularly young women, also reach my daily average. What concerns me is that most beauty products contain parabens, a type … READ MORE
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In the Blog
In search of safe beauty products
The living’s green and pretty in Vancouver, again named “the most liveable city in the world.” Just about every cosmetic product comes in a greenwashed or health-friendly option: there’s paraben-free lotion, deodorant without aluminum, and nail polish sans formaldehyde! I’ve spent a year trying to pick safe, personal care products that work, and I’m still confused about which ones I should avoid. Sarah Dickson, the body care buyer at Capers Whole Foods Market in Kitsilano, puts … READ MORE
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In the Blog
J.D. Salinger: His “recluse” status and women
Over two weeks have passed since the death of mystified literary icon, J.D. Salinger, the author of The Catcher in the Rye and creator of its angst-ridden and much-loved antihero Holden Caulfield. Headlines and obituaries emphasize Salinger’s reclusive and secretive lifestyle, mentioning diehard fans’ wild goose chases for the man in his small town of Cornish, New Hampshire. Although Mikki Halpin at Salon.com says she understands the appeal to see Salinger as a “higher intellect … READ MORE
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In the Blog
Provoked, Battered Woman’s Syndrome
I hope everyone is enjoying the new year! I’m usually ‘anti’ any sort of holiday, even if it’s not religious, but the fresh start of a new year is quite tantalizing. Anyone have any good resolutions to share? Also, here’s a video review of the film Provoked: Watch Provoked for free online, here. Order the book, here. … READ MORE
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In the Blog
White Chicks and Black Men
It’s finally Friday, and that means another edition of my bi-weekly video review! Comment and rate it, even if you hate it! “Racism (and Misogyny) in the Elevator” video: … READ MORE
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In the Blog
there isn’t a tag for vampire hunks…
Overnight Robert Pattinson, star of Twilight, has pretty much became one of the sexiest badboys under thirty thanks to all those closeted and non-closeted teenage girls. In an interview for Rolling Stone magazine he tells, “I get letters that say, ‘I’m going to kill myself if you don’t watch High School Musical 2 with me.’” A mother has even asked him to bite her baby’s head! Pattinson’s contradiction with the opposite sex is most intriguing: The stuff I … READ MORE
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In the Blog
the future of feminism?
During memorial periods for the Montreal Massacre, the concept of feminism seems to receive a little bit more mainstream media airtime than usual. Well, maybe not if you count happenings such as the whole Sarah Palin debacle, but generally speaking, feminism takes a back seat if it’s not being dragged under the car itself. This weekend, two particular yet absolutely polarized columns questioning the future of feminism caught my attention. One was authored by anti-feminist apologist … READ MORE
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In the Blog
Twilight and feminism? can they be friends?
This has been my hardest film review so far. I think it had something to do with my newfound addiction to the very unhealthy, yet very sexy, Twilight book series. What started as research became something so much more…. Ide Cyan’s post is available here. Nabil’s post is available here. I apologize in advance for any incorrect name pronunciations or sex/gender assignments … READ MORE
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In the Blog
David Frost Acquitted
Last Friday, David Frost was acquitted of all four counts of sexual exploitation. He had been accused of manipulating his former players and their teenage girlfriends into group sex. Christie Blatchford of the Globe and Mail weighs in on the trial with a superbly inquisitive column. She writes: How curious that at the just-ended criminal trial of former junior coach and National Hockey League-accredited player agent David Frost, it was, to use the lexicon of the national game, … READ MORE
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In the Blog
puppy snack time
No Film Friday today, but here’s a video of my puppy eating an apple to help you start your weekend right! I’ll be back next week with a review of, breathe, Twilight. … READ MORE
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In the Blog
Women’s Studies grad auctions off her V-card
Who would have thought a 22 year-old with a Bachelor’s degree in Women’s Studies would be selling her virginity? Who knows, but almost everyone has an opinion about it as her story is being gobbled up by the mainstream media. Appearing on The Tyra Show under the pseudonym Natalie Dylan, the young woman explains why she’s willing to finance her graduate degree by putting her flower on the market. Natalie, sitting alongside her sister, says, “We … READ MORE
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In the Blog
Breakfast at Tiffany’s
Staying in tonight? I know I am! Maybe you’re even looking for some movie advice, too? … READ MORE
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In the Blog
A MISS G__ VICTORY!!
It’s been almost four years since The Miss G__ Project for Equity in Education began their crusade to get a Women’s and Gender Studies (WGS) course added into the Ontario high school curriculum. Well baby, hard work and perseverance pay off! Drum roll please…. During the 2009 winter term the official WGS course will be piloted in high schools across Ontario! Open and College/University credit options are expected to come by the following September. Although Miss G__Project co-founder … READ MORE
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In the Blog
The Tobias Funke Theory in The Jackal
For this Friday I decided to dig, a little deeper, into that mysterious male psyche I never quite understand. What better place to start than with a male chick-flick, the action film? “Tobias Bluth” is best-described as a “…deeply closeted homosexual” from the series Arrested Development. This is a video montage of his erotic outbursts: … READ MORE
