Posts by Andi Schwartz
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In the Blog
Bits and Pieces: My Latest Creative Project
“At the start of last school year, I felt entirely made of bits and pieces—stray rubble held together by the excitement of what the year had to offer but kept fractured by the inherent doubt of my own capabilities. If I’m being honest, I’ve felt pretty lost since going away to college, but I think that is because I am discovering a “me” I have never known; all my creative energy is going into creating her.” READ MORE
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In the Blog
Whatever Happened to Ontario’s Sex Ed Curriculum? The Complete Timeline
After a decade of ongoing controversy, what is the full story of sex education in Ontario? What kind of curriculum do we have now? And more importantly, how exactly have the affected students made their voices heard along the way? READ MORE
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In the Blog
Learning to be an Ally in Indigenous Activism
“I had good intentions, but quickly learned that I could not understand Shannen’s struggle. I could never experience the pain and injustice caused by colonization’s legacy, or the unfairness of having inadequate schooling. So how could I confront the injustice I witnessed? This question helped me realize I could ally with Indigenous-led movements.” READ MORE
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Blog Series
A Tale Of Two Spectrums: The Challenges of Being Both Queer and Autistic
“Many autistic people may come out as LGBTQ+ while some of their neurotypical peers may not because of two traits that many autistic people share: a lack of adherence to social norms and a strong sense of honesty. Openly identifying as queer may come a little easier to folks who aren’t tied to social expectations of gender and feel the need to tell the truth. However, LGBTQ+ autistic people who occupy these two dual spectrums face massive challenges in their day-to-day lives.” READ MORE
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In the Blog
“I Woke Up Like This”: The Beauty Industry, Gaslighting, And The Bravery Of Loving Yourself
“The way women have been taught to tear each other down does not actually benefit us. If we want to create supportive spaces, our only option is sisterhood — and unfollowing accounts that don’t support our mental health. One of the best things we can do to improve our body image is to curate our Instagram feeds.” READ MORE
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Blog Series
Passing the Test: Girls, Autism, and Stereotypes
Many autistic girls receive a late diagnosis, and some may not even be diagnosed at all. But misdiagnosis is just the beginning; stereotypes about autism erase autistic girls’ and women’s experiences and perpetuate stigma. READ MORE
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In the Blog
To Those Who Have Painted My World Orange
A love letter for pandemic times. READ MORE
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In the Blog
The Problem With Detox Talk: How to Build a Self Caring Yoga Practice During Quarantine
“Since quarantine began, a wide range of yogis – from popular influencers to local yoga teachers – have persistently argued for the importance of keeping or creating a yoga practice to handle stress levels during quarantine. Many of these teachers, however, also started to market from a weight loss perspective, and sport slogans like “lose the quarantine 15.” This, combined with the indirect messaging of what a yoga body “should” look like (online yoga accounts often show just one type of body: thin, white, and clad in expensive yoga wear), very quickly turned into a conversation about how yoga could make you into a superhero mermaid with a six-pack.” READ MORE
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In the Blog
Banding Together Through Mutual Aid
“Ironically, as social isolation is encouraged for the sake of public health, it is small, united groups of people that may ultimately thrive.” READ MORE
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In the Blog
A House of One’s Own: Feminism and Furnishings in “Sex Education”
“Having your own space has been central not only to women’s independence, but also to unlocking their creative potential.” READ MORE
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In the Blog
Rust Belt Femme: An Interview with author Raechel Anne Jolie
“The Rust Belt gave me my femme identity more wholly, and more fully, and more beautifully than anything else.” READ MORE
Author Raechel Anne Jolie talks to us about growing up in the Rust Belt, becoming femme, and writing a memoir about it all. READ MORE
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In the Blog
What We Can Learn About “Distant Socializing” From Chronically Ill Trauma BBs
Can living through a global pandemic help us imagine a more accessible future? Margeaux Feldman believes it can. Margeaux first got sick in 2016. Like many other chronically ill and disabled folks, she has already developed many strategies for “distant socializing.” She shares her tips for staying grounded and connected in this wild time and her hopes for a more accessible future. READ MORE
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Blog Series
TIFF Next Wave: Denise’s Top Picks
Our writers review their top picks. READ MORE
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Blog Series
TIFF Next Wave Film Festival is on This Weekend
Our writers review their top picks. READ MORE
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In the Blog
This Story Is About You, But Not For You: A Review of “Made in China”
Gelaine Santiago reviews the film Made in China. READ MORE
“Made In China couldn’t seem to reconcile the nature of telling the story of a Chinese person with its desire to pander to a white audience. Because of that, so much of this film just felt watered down, the way Chinese dishes are removed of spice and heat and history to be made palatable to mainstream consumers.” READ MORE
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In the Blog
Barriers in the classroom
Latinx students face unique education challenges that are not being addressed. READ MORE
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Abortion Talk: Five Reasons to Ditch “Women’s Health” and Switch to “Reproductive Health”
While abortion rights are being fiercely debated around the world, it’s important to think about the language we’re using in these conversations. Here’s five reasons to stop talking about abortion as “women’s health” and instead call it what it is: “reproductive health.” READ MORE
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In the Blog
When Will We Get the Queer Representation We Deserve?
It’s always wonderful to see myself, a queer woman, represented in mainstream movies and TV shows, but at what cost? At the overly graphic sex scenes, the lack of racial and gender diversity, and the absence of body inclusivity in the characters and cast? We want representation, yes, but we deserve the kind of representation that is authentic and real: queer people come in all races, body sizes, genders, and abilities. Showcasing only thin, white, feminine-presenting women and calling it “representation” is almost as harmful as not having any representation at all. READ MORE
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In the Blog
The harmful effects of slut-shaming in school
Content Note: This blog post discusses slut-shaming and mentions sexual violence, rape culture, self-harm, eating disorders, and suicide. READ MORE
“The first time I was slut-shamed, I was only 13 years old. I did not even realize what it was, I just felt immense shame and humiliation. I was wrongly accused, threatened, punished by school authorities, and ridiculed by my peers — all for sitting on a boy’s lap in a classroom (with other people present).” READ MORE
