The Gender Companion

"Don't Assault People"

2012-02-24T00:01:00.000-08:00

Toward the last third of this course, our intrepid Psychology of Gender students reach a very challenging uphill climb: the readings on "Power and Violence" Reading page after page of statistics about violence -- and especially violence against women -- can make anyone disgusted with the vast number of assaults that do not get reported, numb from too much exposure to repetitive violence-related language and imagery, and/or re-traumatized by the explicit discussion. This kind of depressing reading can weigh down the good heart of even our most courageous students. So here is a post about a poster about sexual violence that zinged me awake again to an important reframe around violence.

But first, I'll give you a little back story.

After I graduated from high school (Grad '77), I came to live in student residence on UBC campus. Almost at once, and certainly before my boxes were unpacked and my brand new text books lined up on my solitary shelf, I remember hearing the RCMP give us UBC women advice on how to stay safe on campus. On the top of the RCMP "safety" list was, don't go out at night, followed by, don't walk alone. "But that's an impossible double bind," I thought to myself while I listened to the officer's tips and tricks to avoid my being a victim of sexual assault.

My evening classes started at 7:00 PM and for several months of the year they took place AT NIGHT. And after my classes finished, I rarely found someone in my class who was walking back to my residence, so I walked home at ALONE. I was stubborn enough in those days that I refused to limit my activities or miss taking a class because "women like me" were being targeted. The only effect that those RCMP talks had on my behaviour was that I became bugged out with fear that I might be imminently attacked as walked home ALONE AT NIGHT. I was angry that I had to choose between my academic career or my emotional and physical safety; choose whether go to school and be in danger or stay home and rot my brain.

So when I recently saw this "Sexual Assault Prevention Tips"poster by Lisa Sanchez (originally posted on her blog on 10 June 2011), I assumed it was the usual disempowering, double-bind, victim-based message and felt my old familiar anger flare in my body.
But then my eye caught #10 on the poster, "Don't assault people."
And then I read the whole list.
WOW!
Ms. Sanchez has created a poster (an e-poster that is not available in printed format) with 10 steps that focus on the wrongful behaviour of and potential corrections for potential sexual aggressors. She takes the focus off the people who should not have to change their behaviour -- the women and men who get targeted. Had this poster been available when I was living on campus, I would have eagerly papered all my walking routes with it just to raise awareness that letting sexual aggressors walk ALONE AT NIGHT was an extreme danger to law-abiding people like me. In addition, the poster underscores that potential aggressors themselves need to raise their own awareness of their potential to harm and get themselves out of harm's way. I am not saying this kind of poster would help women suffer fewer attacks, but at least Ms Sanchez's poster avoids promulgating fear in well-behaved peaceful people who enjoy walking ALONE AT NIGHT.

Give Ms Sanchez's poster a read and see what you think of her reframe. Could a wide-spread campaign based on her 10 steps significantly increase safety in public spaces? What 10 steps would be on your "Sexual Assault Prevention" poster?

After thought: While this post has been sitting in the queue this week waiting to be published at 1-minute-past-midnight on Friday, I have been worrying that, in this post, I might be giving the impression that being cautious when in unknown or risky situations is unimportant. On the contrary, I am very mindful of my risk of physical or psychological harm and routinely decide ahead of time what my safety plan will be for each risky situation. But I don't make rules for myself that are based on gender-stereotyped myths. I choose safety precautions based on the actual/statistical risk of something going wrong and what I am willing to add to my day to mitigate or avoid certain risks.

Next week, if someone requests it, I can post some of my personal safety-in-public and safety-at-home rules that I have for myself. I strongly encourage every woman and man to be aware of the actual risks in each situation and come up with a personalized plan to be safe. Being empowered while also being mindful of and prepared for possible -- or probable -- dangers is a far cry from being "bugged out with fear" as a result victim-focused information campaigns that urge cloistering and restrictions to your right to walk ALONE AT NIGHT.

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The Gender Companion, copyright 2012 – Dr. Jessica Motherwell McFarlane, Ph.D. This blog is a companion site for the Psychology of Gender Online, UBC. Creative commons attribution, non-commercial sharing only (translation: feel free to quote me in context or use this entry but please always credit me for my work, thanks.)http://thegendercompanion.blogspot.com/ See also Psyc 320 course description: http://ctlt.ubc.ca/distance-learning/courses/psyc/psyc320/

Pub sing to your loved ones

2012-02-17T00:01:00.000-08:00

If you have been following along with me these past few weeks, you will know I owe you the second half of my pas de deux "bleu" - a "dance" that I hope will provide you with a quirky but slightly deeper contemplation of masculinity. I have my daughter to thank for telling me about this rousing pub-singing offering for your Valentines week. This man-chorus surprises us with more than singing a repetitive sports chant. Any chorus that sings in three part harmony steals my heart every time.

So rather than my reinforcing heterosexual coupledom, on this Valentines Day, I would like to send along my wishes that you may be loved and send out love to your family, friends, and beloved furry, finned, and feathered creatures and in doing so know that you are a valued and important person on this Beautiful Planet. I hope you enjoy the PUMA Hardchorus singing, "Truly Madly, Deeply" written and original performed by Savage Garden.

10 responses to "Man Up"

2012-02-10T00:01:00.000-08:00

If you read my last two posts you'll know that they were a matched pair, a dual inquiry into and re-visioning of girly-girl culture, two posts that I like to think of as a, pas de deux "rose" (because it seems crass to use the English term "pink" in this context). Now for the next two weeks I would like to bring to a theatre near you, pas de deux "bleu" -- an inquiry not only into the broken side of "manly" culture, but also a call to go deeper and understand each person's humanity and not settle for a faux-man role.

Yesterday, while parked and waiting to drive the car pool kids home, I watched this so-amazingly-right-on spoken word performance by Guante entitled, 10 Responses to the Phrase "Man Up." When I got back to my desk, I discovered that AnnaW from the Jan2012 class posted the same link on the discussion board. I agree AnnaW, Guante's performance is worth seeing because it is 4 minutes and 18 seconds of empowering and healing man -- and woman --medicine for the heart and soul. Please sit back and relax (theatre lights are now dimming) and watch Guante's work as the first dance step in my pas de deux bleu (curtains open with a long swoooosh sound)...

Twisted but empowered "fairy time"

2012-02-03T00:01:00.000-08:00

This week I want to shake up girly-girl culture some more with this twisted revisioning of a little girl's "imaginary" fairy world. Jason Wingrove's Moving Day is equal parts deeply-disturbing and you-go-girl-empowering. I love his achievement here because it made me think -- a lot -- about his message.

I can't wait to hear what you think about this video. No time for popcorn, just buckle up for a surprising ride and click play...

Moving Day from Jason Wingrove on Vimeo.

My Little Ponies jump over gender hurdles

2012-01-27T00:01:00.000-08:00

Are you having trouble believing I am kicking off the 2012 season here at The Gender Companion highlighting the gender busting aspects of My Little Ponies? You might be thinking, "No way am I ever going to check out this girly-girl cartoon." But to you who would not touch this stable of ultra-fem equestrian kinder-pop stars with a ten-foot carrot stick, I say, "Hold your horses! These are no one-trick ponies."

My interest in My Little Ponies was first peeked when I was standing at my kitchen chopping board prepping veggies one morning. I was listening to Jian Ghomeshi on CBC radio interviewing WSJ reporter Vauhini Varaabout about a growing fan base of teenage and adult men who sincerely enjoy following the adventures of female ponies (click here) with names like: Twilight Sparkle, Rainbow Dash, Pinkie-Pie, Fluttershy, AppleJack, Rarity, and many more.

My knife stopped chopping in mid-slice while my brain worked hard to comprehend what my ears were hearing on Jian's show: "Men...toy ponies...friendship stories... bronies conventions...addictive cartoons...fights on blogs. What the heck was this all about?" By the time I finished dicing my veggies, I felt duty bound to go where no-card-carrying feminist ever should have to go -- to the My Little Ponies youtube channel. But I needed a brave soul to ride side-saddle with me on this investigative expedition. I literally BEGGED my gender-savvy teenage daughter to ride with me into this new world of high-pitched-voices and super-colour-saturated animation. So with equal parts curiosity and embarrassed reluctance, we sat down to our first episode of My Little Ponies: Click here to watch My Little Ponies Season 1, Episode 1

The verdict: My daughter and I agree, this My Little Ponies (MLP): Friendship is Magic series, now about to begin its third season, definitely meets some standard criteria for gender-challenging TV programming. First of all -- and a big surprise to me -- the episodes have solid stories lines and with believable characters who have common -- and super -- strengths and flaws. I appreciated that there were far fewer (than in many other animation series) incidents of intentional harm-to-others. Humour was plentiful. And the episode writers realistically depicted growing pains and moments of genuine moral or social growth in their characters. I can't say that I will become a pony-fan any time soon (indeed I must confess that I fell asleep during several of the episodes. Hey, I blame my kitty for purring too loudly on my lap and hypnotizing me into unconsciousness) but I can recommend this series to parents who want their children to watch programming with strong and diverse female characters.

One eery aspect of this series is that very nearly all the characters with speaking parts are female with males taking only minimal or token roles in the plot -- a complete reversal of the traditional gender portrayals in many of the blockbuster hit movies. Reversing sex/gender exclusion rates does not make a project non-sexist, nor gender-fair, but it does horse-shoe hammer home the point: excluding half of the gendered population leads to a distorted world view that feels just plain weird. That there is very minimal male representation in this series makes the growing number of Bronies (male fans) who are addicted to these pony adventures even more curious.

Take this Pony challenge: At this point in my post I would like to invite you to watch this video made by Feminist Frequency (click here) Then watch a MLP episode to judge for yourself if the episode passes this Bechdel representation-of-women test (meant for movies but we will stretch and apply it here). My Little Ponies passes this test with flying colours, don't you agree?

Are you ready to ride? If you dare slip on your cowgirl/boy boots and hop into the saddle -- its your turn to watch some My Little Ponies episodes and decide for yourself if you think the writers reinforce "girly-girl," ultra-feminine gender roles or invite female and male viewers to breakdown rigidly defined gender scripts. Giddy-up and sally forth. I'll be keen to hear what you think.
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Credits: My Little Ponies image credit

Bronies image credit

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Welcome Jan2012 class!

2012-01-06T00:01:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year and a hearty welcome to our January 2012 class (who we will nickname Jan2012). I hope all readers of this blog: past, present, and future students, as well as their friends and family, and any folks who stumbled upon this site, will enjoy the creative and provocative links I post here on The Gender Companion.

I especially welcome your comments and I encourage you to suggest topics you would like to see me cover on this blog.

Be sure to come back here for my next two posts of the year:

(1) "Bronies" - grown men who sincerely enjoy watching "My Little Ponies," and

(2) a dark retelling of the story behind the "sweet" fairies in one girl's imagination.

I am glad you are coming along for the ride here on The Gender Companion.

Manthropology

2011-12-03T11:29:00.001-08:00

It had to happen. After holding out for as long as I could, my teenage daughter needed a phone so us parents could keep in touch with her while she was at high school several miles away. So I handed down my very old cell phone to my soon to be double-thumb-texting teen. And I got myself an iPhone 4S (I always buy the best available and then make my phone last until a year past my phone contract so I can bargain again for the best available).

So, you might be asking:

You: So, this Psychology of Gender post must be about gender and cell phone use?

Me: No.

You: A teenage daughter’s gendered cell phone habits?

Me: No

You: What then?

I’ll need to give you a bit more of the story.

Later, on the night I bought my iPhone, I was showing off to my husband:

Me: “Look Honey, I downloaded the CBC Radio app - one of the first apps I added to my phone.”

Him: (distractedly) “that’s nice”

Me: “Here I’ll show you how it works.” (I lean over so we can both see the screen). “Look, you just click on the CBC icon and choose from this list of live streaming radio programs…” and then we both saw it at the same moment - “MANTHROPOLOGY.”

Him: (more interested now) “What’s Manthropology?”

What’s Manthropology? That’s what this gender post is really about.

You: So your not going to tell me about your new phone?

Me: Forget about my new iPhone 4S.

You: Awww

Me: Oh alright, yes, it is fabulous! And I love dictating my emails and text messages to Siri (the auto voice assistant) who mostly gets my messages correct except when she doesn’t. Her errors are so unexpected, vague, or confusing they sound mystical. In future models, Apple will make iPhone Siri better and better, but I will get to keep Mystical Siri -- my personal eccentric guru -- for the next 4 years.

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Here is just some of Siri’s mystical powers:

Me: “Siri what is gender”Siri: “Let me think about that...This might answer your question: http://www.wolframalpha.com/input/?i=gender

Me: Siri, I never knew gender was a musical instrument…

Siri: Sorry I can’t look for places in Canada.

Me: ???

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Me: Siri, what is the difference between Employment Equity and Affirmative Action?

Siri: ”Hmm, let me check on that … Will this answer your question? http://www.uwo.ca/equity/employment/faq.htm

Me: Well, done Siri!

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You: But wait! This post was supposed to be about MAN-THRO-POL-OGY, remember?

Me: Oh yes, I am super excited to tell you about the new CBC Radio radio essays about modern issues that are dear to some men’s hearts such as… Oh, darn, I have run out of room in this post to say more. You simply MUST go to Mantropology Manthropology updated link and tell me what YOU think of this new show. :o)

"Sam the athlete"

2011-11-25T08:04:00.000-08:00

It's Friday. Do you need something a little different to help you kick off the weekend? Try listening to this charming story of growing up and gender experimentation told by CBC radio host of the Vinyl Cafe Stories, Stuart McLean. Probably you already know Stewart as shucks-isn't-Life-grand story-teller. But if you haven't and I am the first person to suggest this amazing collection of stories, then I will consider my job as a teacher well and truly done by linking you up with Stewart.

For today's free gender tidbit you must go to your iTunes store, search for Vinyl Cafe September 24, 2011 "Family Pack." You'll hear "Sam the Athlete -- the second story -- begin at 23:45 minutes into the podcast.

Would you have followed in Sam's shoes or would you have done it differently. What if you were Dave or Morley, what might you have done? Enjoy this fabulously fun story about trying to find a way to feel worthy enough to wear the team's uniform.

Find out if you have caught Feminism...

2011-11-18T00:01:00.000-08:00

F is for…FEMINISM

(Book Excerpt)

FIND OUT IF YOU’VE CAUGHT FEMINISM!
Do you believe that women should have the right to:

• Vote?
• Go to college?
• Drive a car?
• Open bank accounts in their own names?
• Enjoy sex?
• Work in whatever occupation they might choose, and get paid the same as men when they do the same work?

Did you answer yes?
Then you better lie down. . . . You’ve probably caught feminism.

The Guy’s Guide to Feminism is a new book by Michael Kimmel and Michael Kaufman. By the looks of this short excerpt, The Guy’s Guide might be just the ticket for helping us see that Feminism is good for us all. Check it out here.

My thanks go to Chloe at Feministing for finding this link.

Celebrating Same-Sex Marriage

2011-11-04T09:43:00.000-07:00

After my extra Halloween post on Monday, I nearly missed that today was Friday and it was time for a another inspirational post. I have KirstenM from the Sep2011 class to thank for this link to a heart-warming slideshow of Lesbian and Gay newlyweds in New York where same-sex marriage is now legal. Seeing all the wedding photos made me smile and helped me remember that good things are happening in our world.

To see the photos go to: portraits-of-same-sex-couples-just-married-in-new-york

Mazel tov! Blessings! and Cheers! to all the happy couples.

Happy Halloween!

2011-10-31T00:01:00.000-07:00

Happy Halloween!

May the gender-fun force be with you.

source for Darth Vader in Hello Kitty costume

Feminist boy and proud of it!

2011-10-28T00:01:00.000-07:00

For years now, we have witnessed many students begin the thrilling adventure we like to call "The Psychology of Gender." For many their first challenge is to come to terms with the F-Word -- Feminism-- a process that is complicated by all the F-Myths (myths about feminism and feminists). Indeed, it seems to me that the F-Myths are far more widely known than the truths about the F-Word. That is why I am delighted to share this "Brief Bibbel to Being a Feminist Boy" by RitchandFamous. With humour, passion and clarity, this feminist boy rocks at dispelling F-Myths and making plain the kind and fair play called for when one declares oneself a Feminist. Brilliant!

My thanks go to Feministing where I first saw this link.
http://feministing.com/2011/08/15/on-being-a-feminist-boy/

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The Gender Companion, copyright 2011 – Dr. Jessica Motherwell McFarlane, Ph.D. This blog is a companion site for the Psychology of Gender Online, UBC. Creative commons attribution, non-commercial sharing only (translation: feel free to quote me in context or use this entry but please always credit me for my work, thanks.)http://thegendercompanion.blogspot.com/ See also Psyc 320 course description: http://ctlt.ubc.ca/distance-learning/courses/psyc/psyc320/

On TV tonight! Miss Representation

2011-10-20T12:22:00.000-07:00

I have just learned that Miss Representation will be aired on OWN tv tonight, Thursday, Oct 20, 2011, at 8:00-10:00 PM PacificST. Tell your family and friends; pop some corn; steep a huge pot of tea; and gather around for a documentary that just might change the way you see media. Enjoy!

Thanks to Hazel H in the May2011 class and Emily P in the Sep2011 class, Evelyn and I found out about this excellent movie Miss Representation. We rushed to the matinee of this Vancouver Film Festival offering at the Granville 7 downtown. The line up was long but so worth the wait.

These film makers do a great job of demonstrating how the vast majority of our public stories are told and shown by various media creators from a male point of view designed to pleases male viewers. The film producers make crucial call for women to learn how to create media and then take their place as story tellers of women's stories. Watch this trailer to hear these amazing high school teens and adult women speak about the warped -- or missing -- media representations of women.

If you ever have the chance, you to should rush to see this movie and bring every young woman you can along with you to see this excellent documentary (or watch it tonight on TV)!

Sep2011 class bonus point - perfect formatting J#1

2011-10-20T10:05:00.000-07:00

Sep2011 class Journal#1 is due Oct 23, 2011 at 9:00PM PST.

The Sep2011 Class is invited to earn a bonus point for using PERFECT formatting for all journal submissions. If ALL journals meet the formatting criteria below, then the student earns a bonus point. If one journal is improperly formatted the bonus point will be lost and cannot be re-earned.

It's Easy to be perfect!

Download my example files in the assignment dropbox; keep my font size and formatting structure for your own content; and follow this tutorial that I have prepared for you and you will see how easy it is to earn -- and keep -- your "perfect formatting" Bonus Point.

Bonus point - Journal “Perfect Formatting” Instructions

Download the example journal from your "Assignment" drop box.
Substitute your first name and the first initial of your last name in the top header line.
Make sure your class name is accurate (1^st month and year you began this course)
Make sure the Journal number is correct (Is this J#1, J#2, or J#3?)
Include page numbers (very important for me giving you feedback)
RENAME YOUR FILE - Use steps 1-3 -- and NO extra characters -- and substitute your file name for the default “blank journal” file name. NOTE the default file name (“May2011J#1 blank journal”) will not be accepted.
Submit your single best journal entry in ONE file properly named as described above (e.g., JessicaM Sep2011 J#1)
Submit to VISTA Assignments as an attachment (only .doc, .docx, .rtf, and “Mac-Pages” will be accepted).
Make sure page numbers are on each page
Substitute your header title for each “entry title” so that the header appears on the top of each page.
Substitute your journal entry text instead of “insert text here”
Double spaced text
Font size 12-13 (smaller font will not be read)
each entry must be at minimum 4 pages in length
each entry must be at maximum 5 pages in length (I print out only 5 pages)

Submit your journal with steps 1-13 completed perfectly to earn one grade point for perfect formatting. Submit ALL three journals with perfect formatting and you get to keep your Bonus Point.

Note there are no partial points -- only 1=perfect-formatting or 0=not-perfect-formatting

Good Luck!

Can ads change your stereotyped thinking?

2011-10-14T00:01:00.000-07:00

This week I have a treat for your ears: CBC radio host, Jian Ghomeshi, interviews Remona Aly who is trying to change stereotypes -- one ad at a time. Specifically, Ms Aly wants to change the negative stereotypes that many people have of Muslims and Islamics. I recommend you give this interview a listen and ask yourself if YOUR views and stereotypes could be changed by similar ad campaigns.

CBC.ca | Q | Has an ad campaign ever changed your beliefs or behaviours?

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The Gender Companion, copyright 2011 – Dr. Jessica Motherwell McFarlane, Ph.D. This blog is a companion site for the Psychology of Gender Online, UBC. Creative commons attribution, non-commercial sharing only (translation: feel free to quote me in context or use this entry but please always credit me for my work, thanks.)http://thegendercompanion.blogspot.com/ See also Psyc 320 course description: http://ctlt.ubc.ca/distance-learning/courses/psyc/psyc320/

follow your heart

2011-10-07T00:01:00.001-07:00

...follow your heart
even when it leads off the well worn path
and that makes all the difference ...

Steve Jobs

I have pushed aside my planned post today to take a moment to share with you this speech by Steve Jobs. I am inspired by his charge to us that we do what we love and follow our hearts. I send my heart-felt condolences to his family and friends.

Sep2011 class bonus point

2011-10-06T12:15:00.000-07:00

Hello Sep2011 Class,

New Reply and Say "Hi" bonus point: Because verbal feedback and verbal messaging is so important to this course, I will give 1 point (1%) to every student who replies (within the specified time) to my verbal message (to be sent on Friday, 14 Oct 2011).

The rules: 1) Only replying with the WIMBA Voice Mail tool to my "Reply and Say Hi" message can earn a point. (Email replies will not qualify for a point)

2) You will only be able to earn this one point AFTER I send the "Reply and Say Hi" voice mail this Friday May 20, 2011 and BEFORE Wednesday, 12Oct2011 at noon. After 12:00-noon on that Wednesday no more points will awarded.

3) You only need to state your name and say "Hi" but you are welcome to say more if you feel like chatting. I'd love to hear how you are doing so far in the course.

Note: You will only be able to reply if you have a working email in your PROFILE page. Everyone should pre-test their email (especially those who got notified of a problem last week). Simply choose: WIMBA Tools -Voice Email - Select the fourth option (choose from people in this course - UNCLICK DEFAULT FIRST OPTION) and then Browse for your name and send yourself a test message. It's easy! Here is a tutorial showing you how:

If you have technical difficulties and do not receive an email with your test message, then contact the Helpdesk and ask for help. Keep working on it until you receive your own test message in your email inbox.

I look forward to receiving a "hi" from everyone.

good luck with your pre-test messages

cheers

Jessica

Shake up your story

2011-09-30T00:01:00.000-07:00

I can't wait until I can write "shake-up books for children and adults to show the many stories and endless possibilities of gender, sexuality, race, and culture. Listen to this excellent and delightful TED talk presentation by Raghava KK to see something very cool.

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The Gender Companion, copyright 2011 – Dr. Jessica Motherwell McFarlane, Ph.D. This blog is a companion site for the Psychology of Gender Online, UBC. Creative commons attribution, non-commercial sharing only (translation: feel free to quote me in context or use this entry but please always credit me for my work, thanks.)http://thegendercompanion.blogspot.com/ See also Psyc 320 course description: http://ctlt.ubc.ca/distance-learning/courses/psyc/psyc320/

"you punch like a girl..."

2011-09-23T00:01:00.000-07:00

This week I am sharing a TV show episode from Men with Brooms: Season 1: Episode 8: Wedding Knells. The writers of this show know how to have fun with stereotypes and celebrate the quirky streaks in their characters. If you feel in the mood for some off beat comedy and you have a spare tooney, then watch this episode and chat up your friends and classmates about the three subplots: (a) the bar owner's purchase of a punching machine, (b) Pramesh who thinks he needs a temper tune-up, and (c) the need-a-date story. Would the comedy have worked if we switched the roles of the men and women in each of the skits? What is your reaction to the "girl" insults?

I hope you enjoy the episode (it costs $1.99 in the iTunes Store) and have fun thinking about these gender issues.
Wedding Knells

Episode synopsis (ReleasedNov 29, 2010)

April needs a date for an upcoming wedding and Gary, always scared of even a hint of commitment, does his best to avoid going. Bill buys a punching bag machine for the bar that seems bent on humiliating him. And Pramesh tries to get his "famous temper" under control.

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The Gender Companion, copyright 2011 – Dr. Jessica Motherwell McFarlane, Ph.D. This blog is a companion site for the Psychology of Gender Online, UBC. Creative commons attribution, non-commercial sharing only (translation: feel free to quote me in context or use this entry but please always credit me for my work, thanks.)http://thegendercompanion.blogspot.com/ See also Psyc 320 course description: http://ctlt.ubc.ca/distance-learning/courses/psyc/psyc320/

Chaz Bono on DWTS Sep 19, 2011

2011-09-16T00:01:00.001-07:00

This week Chaz Bono, a transgendered man, is facing a backlash for his scheduled appearance on Dancing With The Stars. Here is a link to the ABC news report.
watch and read ABC news for the Chaz story

working out very hard to learn the dance routines

If you wish you can participate in this Facebook page to organize Chaz-on DWTS watching parties. And read more about the support campaign here

Also here is a link to my previous post on Chaz's interview with CBC radio talk show host Jian Ghomeshi, http://thegendercompanion.blogspot.com/2011/06/feeling-at-home-with-himself.html

I am sure I am one amoung many who are cheering him on - Go Chaz! Dance your heart out and enjoy your dancing debut!

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The Gender Companion, copyright 2011 – Dr. Jessica Motherwell McFarlane, Ph.D. This blog is a companion site for the Psychology of Gender Online, UBC. Creative commons attribution, non-commercial sharing only (translation: feel free to quote me in context or use this entry but please always credit me for my work, thanks.)http://thegendercompanion.blogspot.com/ See also Psyc 320 course description: http://ctlt.ubc.ca/distance-learning/courses/psyc/psyc320/

Sugar Ray Leonard on Q

2011-09-09T21:51:00.000-07:00

I'll be honest, I have many criticisms of boxing and, from my point of view, there is nothing "sporting" about it -- it is ritualized violence. I know many will disagree with me, but that is my opinion. Given my strong bias, I did not expect to be moved by this interview that Sugar Ray Leonard had with Jian Ghomeshi on CBC radio's "Q" program.

Sugar Ray Leonard speaks frankly about not only his difficulties in his family relationships and with addictions, but also the consequences of abuse he suffered as a teen. In the interview, this renowned boxer steps out of his Invincible Male role to talk about his complex, painful, and vulnerable feelings that he has experienced in his life as a Real Man. I respect Mr. Leonard's modelling for others that it is important to drop the unattainable male stereotypes in order to be real and speak the truth of one's lived experience.

I recommend you give this interview a listen.

CBC.ca | Q | Q Blog - Sugar Ray Leonard

Thursday July 14, 2011

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The Gender Companion, copyright 2011 – Dr. Jessica Motherwell McFarlane, Ph.D. This blog is a companion site for the Psychology of Gender Online, UBC. Creative commons attribution, non-commercial sharing only (translation: feel free to quote me in context or use this entry but please always credit me for my work, thanks.)http://thegendercompanion.blogspot.com/ See also Psyc 320 course description: http://ctlt.ubc.ca/distance-learning/courses/psyc/psyc320/

Being Single

2011-09-02T00:01:00.000-07:00

Today I am sharing this link about stereotypes around being single. Over the twenty years I have read student journals, this topic of how being single is disparaged by oneself, family, and friends come up frequently. Why do we pressure ourselves or others to rush into relationships so we can "escape the curse of being single?" How do you feel when you meet someone who consciously choses to remain single? Do you celebrate her or his singleness or feel pity? Is the single issue different for the females and males in your life?

Give this great interview on CBC radios' "The Current."

CBC.ca | The Current

"More and more Canadians are choosing to stay single ... to grow old on their own and on their own terms. But the stereotypes of aging spinsters and sad-sack bachelors have stuck with us. Tina and Kim Pittaway explore the disconnect in their documentary, Single File." (aired on Friday December 24, 2010)
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The Gender Companion, copyright 2011 – Dr. Jessica Motherwell McFarlane, Ph.D. This blog is a companion site for the Psychology of Gender Online, UBC. Creative commons attribution, non-commercial sharing only (translation: feel free to quote me in context or use this entry but please always credit me for my work, thanks.)http://thegendercompanion.blogspot.com/ See also Psyc 320 course description: http://ctlt.ubc.ca/distance-learning/courses/psyc/psyc320/

Is anatomy destiny?

2011-08-26T00:01:00.000-07:00

I have Courtney over at Feministing (see her post Ambiguous Sex or Ambivalent Society?) to thank for finding this PERFECT talk for our course. Hurry on over to TED -- or click below -- and watch Alice Dreger's discussion of how anatomical commonality NOT anatomical differences should be the basis for fair social policy.

Credits and more info: Alice Dreger's TEDtalk and Feministing Courtnet asks Ambiguous-sex-or-ambivalent-society/
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The Gender Companion, copyright 2011 – Dr. Jessica Motherwell McFarlane, Ph.D. This blog is a companion site for the Psychology of Gender Online, UBC. Creative commons attribution, non-commercial sharing only (translation: feel free to quote me in context or use this entry but please always credit me for my work, thanks.)http://thegendercompanion.blogspot.com/ See also Psyc 320 course description: http://ctlt.ubc.ca/distance-learning/courses/psyc/psyc320/

Inspiring! "I am: Trans people speak"

2011-08-19T00:01:00.000-07:00

One night, at the end of a tiring day, I watched this short message from a Female-to-Male trans man. By the end of his talk I felt awe and hope -- like good things have happened over the years as we struggle to bring fairness and dignity to all people.

I hope this video clip uplifts you at the end of your day as it did me.

Gender wage gap for Faculty at UBC

2011-08-12T00:01:00.000-07:00

UBC faculty women earning on average $14,332.20 less than men...

In our Psychology of Gender course, we all make significant efforts to research and learn about gender gaps "out there" in the world. But what about the gender gaps in our own backyard? This month the UBC Faculty Association published a detailed report on the analyses of wages for Faculty at UBC (not including Faculty in Medicine, nor Sessional Faculty who are a majority of women because these data were not collected or ready for inclusion in the analyses). The results? At UBC, the women on faculty earn on average $14,332.20 less than the men each year!

With the release of the Gender Pay Gap report, the University Administration faces a number of tasks to address what is a human rights issue under the B.C. Human Rights Code. (page 9 of the report)

Read the full details of the report at the link below. How do you think UBC Administration should address this long-term pay inequity between women and men on faculty? What changes would you recommend be made to ensure gender fair employment and wage practices in the future at UBC?

Read the full Gender Pay Gap at UBC July 2011 report here

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Photo: from UBC Faculty Association July 2011 Newsletter

A must see movie: XXY

2011-08-05T00:01:00.000-07:00

I have just finished watching "XXY" a poignant, complex movie about a teen who has ambiguous sexual anatomy. The movie was recommended to us by Dana D. In the May2011 class -- thank you! The film makers consider multiple points of view in the complex issues around if -- or which sex -- this teen will choose. My understanding of the sexual continuum and the mystery and beauty of gender fluidity increased as a result of watching this movie. I believe every student of gender, or any person who would like to deepen their understanding of gender should see this movie. Excellent!

Here is the movie synopsis by Stephen Holden from the New York Times:

How must the world appear to someone who has been treated as an exotic clinical specimen from birth? The moody, surreal “XXY” explores the world of Alex (Inés Efron), an intersex teenager — born with both male and female sex organs — navigating the treacherous emotional and hormonal rapids of uncertain gender. more...

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Photo: Inés Efron, Valeria Bertuccelli and Ailín Salas in "XXY. from the New York Times, May 2, 2008.

The Man Box

2011-07-29T00:01:00.000-07:00

At TEDWomen, Tony Porter makes a call to men everywhere: Don't "act like a man." Telling powerful stories from his own life, he shows how this mentality, drummed into so many men and boys, can lead men to disrespect, mistreat and abuse women and each other. His solution: Break free of the "man box."

I agree, gender roles are boxes. Boxes others try to fit us into. Boxes that we try to think others into. Boxes stack nicely, stay where we are put them, and can be labeled and stored for easy management and recovery. We all know that people are not boxes nor can they ever be easily contained in the mental boxes called stereotypes. But that does not stop us from limiting our careful observations about what people actually do by relying on our stereotype "boxes" to help us guess -- frequently incorrectly -- what they will do.

Watch this excellent TEDtalk by Tony Porter and see what you think of his discussion of "The Man Box."

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Link: Tony Porter: A call to men | Video on TED.com

The Happy Homemaker - Part 2

2011-07-22T00:01:00.000-07:00

Afraid I left you dangling without the conclusion to the Happy Homemaker Part 2? Be afraid no longer. Here is the second half of Terry O'Reilly's Age of Persuasion broadcast each week on CBC radio and downloadable as a podcast from this link:

Age of Persuasion the-happy-homemaker-part 2

I hope you enjoy the historical anecdotes!

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Credits: Photo from CBC webiste - the Age of Persuasion blog at the link above

Psyc of Gender Alumni hosts Pride Week show

2011-07-18T00:01:00.000-07:00

One of our own Psychology of Gender Alumni, Joey Spitale, is part of a local Gay Monologues show on Wednesday, July 27th 8pm (preview), Thursday, July 28th 8pm, Saturday, July 30th 8pm at St Paul’s Anglican Church Labyrinth (1130 Jervis St, Vancouver).

Here's the show description:

True stories of individuals in our LGBT community, set with an artistic backdrop that will make the audience both laugh and cry. We have so many incredible individuals living right here. Many of these individuals have been such an inspiration to so many people. While it’s impossible to represent our entire community in one show, this is pretty close. It’s got an artistic, edgy, and fresh backdrop with a short documentary, dancing, live music, a drag performance and more. Let us entertain you and lift your spirits in the heart of our Village.

Joey says he is also Tweeting @gaymonologues a new gender/sexuality issue everyday until closing night of the show. For more information go to Gay Monologues

"Break a Leg" Joey!

Anobbmo - for sex and gender questions

2011-07-15T00:01:00.001-07:00

What is anobbmo you ask? I have been inspired by Ella Fitzgerald to create the acronym, anobbmo, which is short for: "Ain't NObody's Business But My Own." No doubt, it will be a challenge to slip "anobbmo" into my everyday conversation (though it would look pretty snazzy on a text message). But I intend that this new, indispensable acronym should be used mainly in the sex and gender drop-down menus that are nearly universally used in web-based business registration forms.

I hereby request that anobbmo be added to every you-must-fill-out-this-info-before-you-can-join-our-website data form. Whenever I am forced to choose between only two menu options for sex and gender questions, I feel my personalized, wide -- and wild --definitions for both sex and gender are unacknowledged and my actual identifications are unimportant.

I suppose I could have chosen an acronym derived from, "I Prefer Not To Say," but IPNTS is difficult to pronounce (it sounds like a sneeze!) and it's message does not reflect back to the business owners that they -- in many instances -- have no business asking me about my private identifications when it comes to sex and gender, and that our mutual business together can be satisfactorily conducted without trespassing on my privacy. So, from now on I am taking my new word, anobbmo, to the internet and will use it when I can determine which business owners do NOT need to know my sex and gender in order to complete our business together.

I believe company owners should not be asking about anyone's sex and gender (not to mention other personal facts) unless they can certify that their ability to deliver services of equal quality to all people is somehow compromised by not knowing this information. To help promote important sex- and gender-fair business practices, I have composed a letter (see below) to any company owner who requests private information about sex and gender from their clients.

But before you see more of my suggestions, my blog-friends, here are two questions I have for you: What is YOUR experience when you encounter the two-choice sex and gender questions? And how would YOU design drop-down menus to improve your experience when registering with web-based companies? See how your thoughts compare with mine in my letter to Business Owners below.

P.S. The next word I want to add to my vocabulary is quattruornovemgintillion (pronounced) which would NOT look snazzy in a text message but would be awesome to use in conversations! (see below for an explanation...)

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Dear Business Owner,

In our diverse social world the meanings of sex and gender are complex. Creating an information gathering technique that satisfies your need to have information, while at the same time reflects the true diversity found in your clientele IS possible if you: avoid the two-choice (e.g., female/male) sex and gender questions and allow for greater sex and gender expressions and identifications. Here are some suggestions that might help you find your way through these important sex and gender language issues.
First, I would like to clarify, once and for all, if you need to ask about gender, then "female" and "male" may not be among the choices you offer because these terms refer to biological sex, not gender. Many academic and popular voices alike are unequivocal: sex and gender are not interchangeable words and your mixing them up not only confounds and weakens your data, but also, may irritate your clients who understand the difference between these terms.

Second, if you need to ask about biological sex, then "female" and "male" may be among your choices (see "Sex" checkboxes above). If you need to ask about gender, however, then "feminine" and "masculine" may be among your choices (see "Gender" checkboxes below).

At this stage in our academic, as well as, popular evolutions in the definitions for sex and gender, company owners who force clients to choose between only two options risk collecting misleading statistics as their clients may only choose, willy-nilly, one of two ill-fitting options when they do not see a more applicable choice available.

Third, it is important to ask yourself: "Do I really need to ask about sex or gender?" "Are your clients' sex and gender -- per se -- part of YOUR business?" For example, some owners might claim they need to ask for this information so owners can use the correct pronouns, she or he, when writing about the client. In that case, if pronoun usage is the only instance when your delivery of a business service might be compromised by not knowing someone's sex or gender, why not simply ask the client which pronouns are preferred? English speakers are well aware of English pronoun language limitations, so why not give a choice to your clients about how they would like to be addressed? (see example below).
Still other business owners may believe they need to know the biological sex of their clients in order to maximize company profits by focusing on biological sex when creating ads. But given that clients are becoming more conscious of the greater meanings and diversity of their sex and gender and, also, are becoming more knowledgable about their internet privacy rights, business owners who continue to use forced, two-choice sex and gender drop-down menus and unnecessarily refer to the biological sex of their clients, will increasingly drive potential clients away with irritating and out-dated web-based registration practices long before a sale -- and profits -- can be made.

Of course, if you need to collect data on sex and gender (e.g., because you are providing a dating service, or offering a sexually-related healthcare protocol, etc.) and want to provide your clients with the very best and most diverse sex and gender checklist, you can do no better than to go to Yay genderform! and have your clients complete the 947 options, that -- as the Yay genderform! folks claim -- will give you a total of 1.1896×10285 or 1.1 quattruornovemgintillion possible combinations and ways to identify and describe your clients' sex and gender. In fact, YOUR filling out this form would be a great way to help you realize how much the out-dated, forced, two-choice sex and gender options are limiting, inaccurate, and inappropriate.

In conclusion, if you do these three things: (a) routinely ask yourself why -- or if -- you need sex and gender information; (b) respect the different -- and diverse -- meanings of sex and gender; and (c) offer checkbox options that allow for accurate -- as opposed to forced and only approximate -- responses from your clients, then you will be well on your way to collecting accurate and useful data, demonstrating your understanding of your clients' diversity, and respecting their need for privacy. By following these three guidelines YOU can be a business leader who sets the bar high for accurate, respectful, and restrained (need-to-know only) collection of personal information about sex and gender.

I hope these suggestions help you in designing your data collection forms. I wish you every business success.
Yours sincerely,
Dr. Jessica Motherwell McFarlane
Instructor, Psychology of Gender
University of British Columbia
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The Gender Companion, copyright 2011 – Dr. Jessica Motherwell McFarlane, Ph.D. This blog is a companion site for the Psychology of Gender Online, UBC. Creative commons attribution, non-commercial sharing only (translation: feel free to quote me in context or use this entry but please always credit me for my work, thanks.)http://thegendercompanion.blogspot.com/ See also Psyc 320 course description: http://ctlt.ubc.ca/distance-learning/courses/psyc/psyc320/

The Happy Homemaker - Part 1

2011-07-08T00:01:00.000-07:00

The Happy Homemaker:

How Advertising Invented The Housewife.

One of my favourite radio program creators, CBC's Age of Persuasion's Terry O'Reilly, is doing a two-part feature on the history of the "Happy Housewife" in advertising.

Click here to listen to Part 1 of 2:
how-advertising-invented-the-housewife-part-one-1/

Here is an old ad Terry draws our attention to:

I am looking forward to Part 2 next week! I hope this podcast duo will spark lively discussions with your friends and family.

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Credits: Photo from CBC webiste: Maidenform bra ad see full ad on the Age of Persuasion blog:

click here and scroll down to see full ad

"We are more"

2011-07-01T00:01:00.000-07:00

Happy Canada Day to our Psychology of Gender Community! I have chosen one of my favourite spoken word performances to help us celebrate "being more." Enjoy!

antidote to age-ism

2011-06-24T00:01:00.000-07:00

Does anyone else feel like cheering after watching this ad advocating financial planning. The focus on plannig aside, I love this woman's life path and adventures. Finally an antidote to age-iem. Enjoy!

The Gender Companion, copyright 2011 – Dr. Jessica Motherwell McFarlane, Ph.D. This blog is a companion site for the Psychology of Gender Online, UBC. Creative commons attribution, non-commercial sharing only (translation: feel free to quote me in context or use this entry but please always credit me for my work, thanks.)http://thegendercompanion.blogspot.com/ See also Psyc 320 course description: http://ctlt.ubc.ca/distance-learning/courses/psyc/psyc320/

Feeling "at home" with himself

2011-06-17T00:01:00.000-07:00

I was so inspired listening to Chaz Bono tell his story of finally coming home to his true self as he journey through female-to-male gender reassignment.

I heartily recommend this interview by CBC radio host Jian Ghomeshi.

Click here to listen: CBC.ca | Q | Chaz Bono on Q

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how-to format journal - Bonus Point

2011-06-13T22:40:00.000-07:00

Re: Journal #1 due July 17, 2011

The May2011 Class is invited to earn a bonus point for using PERFECT formatting for all journal submissions. If ALL journals meet the formatting criteria below, then the student earns a bonus point. If one journal is improperly formatted the bonus point will be lost and cannot be re-earned.

It's Easy to be perfect!
Download my example files; keep my font size and formatting structure for your own content; and follow this tutorial that I have prepared for you and you will see how easy it is to earn -- and keep -- your "perfect formatting" Bonus Point.
Good Luck!

Bonus point - Journal “Perfect Formatting” Instructions

Download the example journal from your "Assignment" drop box.
Substitute your first name and the first initial of your last name in the top header line.
Make sure your class name is accurate (1^st month and year you began this course)
Make sure the Journal number is correct (Is this J#1, J#2, or J#3?)
RENAME YOUR FILE - Use steps 1-3 -- and NO extra characters -- and substitute your file name for the default “blank journal” file name. NOTE the default file name (“May2011J#1 blank journal”) will not be accepted.
All Journal entries are submitted in ONE file (not multiple files)
Submit to VISTA Assignments as an attachment (only .doc, .docx, .rtf, and “Mac-Pages” will be accepted).
Make sure page numbers are on each page
Substitute your title for each “entry title”
Substitute your text instead of “insert text here”
Double spaced text
Font size 12-13 (smaller font will not be read)
each entry must be at minimum 4 pages in length
each entry must be at maximum 5 pages in length

Submit your journal with steps 1-13 completed perfectly to earn one grade point for perfect formatting. Submit ALL three journals with perfect formatting and you get to keep your Bonus Point.

Note there are no partial points -- only 1=perfect-formatting or 0=not-perfect-formatting

Protesting abortion - both sides in Ontario

2011-06-10T00:01:00.000-07:00

Michael Enright interviewed abortion protestor, Linda Gibbons who has been in jail for 9 years because she will not heed injunctions against protesting at an Ontario Women's Health Clinic. Her case will be in front of the Supreme Court of Canada. The CBC radio reporter asked, "Is it a case of free speech in jeopardy or is it a matter of harassment of women attending an abortion clinic?" The complex issues for the protestor, clinic health providers, women who depend on the clinic services, and the lawyers are discussed in the beginning of the second hour of the radio program.

I encourage you to listen to this interview and notice YOUR reaction to each side of this precident setting case. First go to:
CBC Sunday Edition - Protesting abortion in Ontario

Then scroll down and click on "Listen to Hour Two."

Also you can go to the following link to read what Charles Lewis (Jul 30, 2010) wrote in the National Post on this subject:
nationalpost.com/2010/07/30/fighting-abortion-one-arrest-at-a-time/

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Image credit: Richard Johnson/National Post (see link above for original image)

gender interviews on the street

2011-06-03T00:01:00.000-07:00

Here is an intriguing short video by Vox Pop asking Chicago pedestrians questions on gender. How would you answer these questions. And what questions would you have asked if you were the director?

Gender: A Vox Pop from Jordan Nelson on Vimeo.

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Link: Go to Vimeo to see related materials and commentary:

Vimeo "What is Gender" by Vox Pop