Street Harassment

Street harassment is defined as any unwelcome words or actions that invade the space of another -whether physically or emotionally- and focus attention on the gender or sexuality of the (usually female) target.

End Street Harassment Week, 2012

This is International Anti-Street Harassment Week, going until Saturday the 24th. To show our support for making the streets safer for women and girls, we’re distributing the following pamphlet on street harassment:

Street Harassment: What it is, what it isn’t, how to deal with it.

Feel free to click, print and share or let us know you’d like copies of it and we’ll do our best while supplies last.

Taking sides

With Border Land School Division’s recent decision to remove the ally cards from classrooms, The Best Defense Program – having been teaching in schools since the early 90s – seeks to make our position on the matter clear: We wish to be allies to all those who might be targeted based on gender/identity, or sexual orientation.

Childhood is not a time where the vulnerable should be placed in a position of seeking allies, but of having responsible allies who are informed placed before them. As a group we support the efforts of teachers who would be such an ally, fully aware of the controversy that comes with identification as an ally to marginalised groups and individuals. To meet this end, we have entered into discussion with the Rainbow Resource Centre to ensure an inclusive approach to our programs.

I know this may have an effect on our ranks, but this isn’t a topic open to debate. This is what it means to take a side.

~Gaz

Go hug Gramma

My mother spent a lot of time being mad at me just after my oldest started to walk. She felt I was teaching my daughter to not trust her grandmother, to not like her. The issue would always arise just after we stopped in for a visit

Nine Real Self-defence Tips

I hate all the “never do this” and “always do that” garbage I see out there passed off as self-defence advice. I’m tired of seeing victim-blaming masquerading as empowerment. Here are nine tips that don’t engage in victim-blaming, are applicable to anyone, and can work as well as a kick in the balls.

That unapologetic Jezebel.

Ever apologize for something you really didn’t need to apologize for?

Fine, the cop said the wrong thing (again), so what’s the right advice?

Back in February, I wrote about an incident involving a constable with the Toronto police who gave the women in a law class fashion-advice (“Don’t dress like sluts!”) when asked what women could do to protect themselves from being sexually assaulted. The SlutWalk movement it sparked has now

Six Questions About Blame

I received an email asking about SlutWalk, issues around victim blaming and attire, and the messages we send. The questions were thoughtful and representative of a large group of people who have a hard time wrapping their heads around issues of rape and victim attire in general

Put yourself in these shoes.

This is not my story, it belongs to someone else. Please take the time to read it thoroughly and picture it in your mind. Imagine it’s you doing the narrating. Or me.

“A few weeks ago, I was on my way back from a long, hard run through Manhattan. I had had a really shitty day, and while the run had been hard, I was hoping that it would send some welcome endorphins pumping through my body. I stood on the subway, sweaty but pleased with myself, with my usual cool-down music piping loudly through my headphones. As I stood there, I became aware that the woman standing next to me was speaking to me.