Who has the Power?

Comics have a way of effectively explaining without simplifying difficult concepts. If you are confused about female empowerment vs. objectification, here is an excellent explanation via cartoons.  http://everydayfeminism.com/2015/04/empowered-vs-objectified/

Is Google sexist or just the people who use it?

This provocative UN advertisement campaign shows different women with their mouths covered by the Google search bar filling in the most frequently searched headings following: “women cannot…” “women shouldn’t….” This campaign reveals many hurtful truths about how major portions of our society view women.

http://www.bforbel.com/2013/10/un-womens-ad-reveals-disheartening-sexism-on-the-internet.html

We have a long way to go…

Sexism exists everywhere we look in society. The following link has several video clips by the Representation Project. The first video celebrates many of the wins women have had in the media in 2015, but also counters those wins with the countless normalized and glorified representations of abuse, violence, racialization and sexualization that dominate the media.

http://therepresentationproject.org/resources/videos/

Some food for thought

Here is an interesting and
informative info-graphic contain
several statistical social justice issues.
It can be found at
 http://www.jaluch.co.uk/infographic/

Add to your Social Justice Bookshelf

Ozlem Sensory and Robin DiAngelo use easy to understand the notions of race, privilege, oppression and social construction of power in their  text;  Is everyone really equal? An introduction to Key Concepts in Social Justice Education.  This text is routinely used in Education Foundations 301 classes at the University of Saskatchewan. You can purchase a copy at:  
http://www.amazon.com/Everyone-Introduction-Concepts-Education-Multicultural/dp/080775269X

Jackson Katz website: Anti-sexism and gender violence prevention

Jackson Katz is one of America's leading anti-sexist male activists. An educator, author, filmmaker, and cultural theorist, he is internationally recognized for his groundbreaking work in the field of gender violence prevention education and critical media literacy...  

http://www.jacksonkatz.com/index.html

Call for investigation of missing and murdered Aboriginal women

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CBC News - Missing aboriginal women prompt UN letter: Two Canadian groups requested investigation, accusing Canadian government of breaching convention

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/story/2011/12/13/pol-un-aboriginal-women.html

Racism and the Sexualization of Indigenous Women

Callaloo Parade and the Sexualization of Native American Women: Sexual Violence as a Tool of Conquest: http://beyondbuckskin.blogspot.com/2011/07/callaloo-parade-and-sexualization-of.html

The violence (racism and misogyny) Indigenous women experience is systemic. Last year we were fortunate to have Marilyn Wapass present a powerful and inspirational talk called Racism and Violence Against Aboriginal Women. She left us with many resources and ideas to create change.To learn more from some of the many resources available see:

Stolen Sisters http://www.amnesty.ca/our-work/campaigns/no-more-stolen-sisters
Native Women's Association of Canada: Sisters in Spirit http://www.nwac.ca/
Video: Finding Dawn (NFB, 2007) http://www.nfb.ca/film/finding_dawn/
Video: Stolen Sisters ( Fahrenheit Films, 2007) http://www.stolensisters.com/page3.html
Book: Conquest: Sexual Violence and American Indian Genocide (Andrea Smith, 2005)

Book: Making Space for Indigenous Feminism (Joyce Green ed., 2007)

Black or White: Kids on Race. A CNN analysis of race

Although CNN doesn't provide a thorough race analysis of this study, the study is interesting and important because it tells us that children are STILL internalizing the hierarchy that STILL exists in our society. It also tells us that kids are thinking about race in complex ways. This documentary can be used in the classroom to show students how the history of race and contemporary racist ideologies, that support beliefs in white superiority, continue to hold power and influence everyone. One of the important messages in the study is that we have to examine our own beliefs before and as we teach children about racism - children model adults' behaviors (what we do and say) and these observations influence children more significantly than what we try to teach them. Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wYkUMqxr_o8

CNN tried to hold individual parents accountable for the children's responses, however, they did not explore the history and purpose of race or the structures existing in our society that allow racism to occur. These structures normalize the false beliefs that whiteness is ideal and dark skin signifies inferiority. Clearly, as this study demonstrates, it is never too early to start to teach children about racism and anti-racism education.

Some questions for students: How would you apply this study to a Saskatchewan context? What policies and practices do these messages justify? Who benefits? What are the social and material outcomes of these beliefs? From where do these ideas originate and why? What has to happen to challenge and change these ideas? What can one person do?

Thanks for sharing Janice!

Mickey Mouse Monopoly Disney, Childhood & Corporate Power

One of my former students sent this link to me. Thanks Jocelyn! The Media Education Foundation's study guide for the film provides excellent anti-racism and anti-oppressive teaching resources/discussion questions for children (with some modifications) and youth. Mickey Mouse Monopoly part one (all five parts are on YouTube):
Mickey Mouse Monopoly youtube playlist

Media Education Foundation (click on study guide):
http://www.mediaed.org/cgi-bin/commerce.cgi?preadd=action&key=112The Disney Company's massive success in the 20th century is based on creating an image of innocence, magic and fun. Its animated films in particular are almost universally lauded as wholesome family entertainment, enjoying massive popularity among children and endorsement from parents and teachers. Mickey Mouse Monopoly takes a close and critical look at the world these films create and the stories they tell about race, gender and class and reaches disturbing conclusions about the values propagated under the guise of innocence and fun. This daring new video insightfully analyzes Disney's cultural pedagogy, examines its corporate power, and explores its vast influence on our global culture. Including interviews with cultural critics, media scholars, child psychologists, kindergarten teachers, multicultural educators, college students and children, Mickey Mouse Monopoly will provoke audiences to confront comfortable assumptions about an American institution that is virtually synonymous with childhood pleasure. Sections: Disney's Media Dominance | Disney's Gender Representations | Disney's Race Representations | Disney's Commercialization of Children's Culture

SAFE - Social Justice and Anti-Racist Anti-Oppressive Forum on Education

SAFE (Social Justice and Anti-Racist Anti-Oppressive Forum on Education) is a STF Special Subject Council dedicated to centralizing anti-racist and anti-oppressive pedagogy in Saskatchewan schools.

https://sites.google.com/site/sasksafe/

The SAFE mission is as follows:
"It is our belief that oppressions such as racism, sexism, classism and homophobia continue to permeate our schools, as well as other institutions within the society. These are issues which greatly affect our teaching staff and our students within the system, yet because they are considered to be ‘controversial’ in nature, they are often ignored or silenced. The research study that I conducted for my thesis indicates that in the Saskatchewan context, teachers are ill equipped to deal with the many oppressions that our students face, and do not have the resources needed to respond to issues such as racism, which create institutional and systemic consequences (McLean, 2007). Our goal is to provide the ongoing knowledge, resources, workshops and conferences which will support teachers in their approach to Anti-Racist Anti-Oppressive theory and praxis. We want to create SAFE spaces to discuss these issues and maintain a dialogue that normalizes the work towards social justice in our schools."
-Sheelah McLean

SAFE welcomes all (including community members, pre-service teachers) who are interested in working against socially constructed oppressions.