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Not Rude, Not Passive: The Everyday Power of Assertive Communication
For years I believed speaking up made me difficult. Whether it was telling someone I couldn’t take on another responsibility or letting a friend know that a joke hurt my feelings, I would rehearse what to say for hours and then say nothing at all. I didn’t want to be rude or cause a scene, and I didn’t want to be called “too sensitive.” Photo courtesy: Freepik (photo by storyset) I know I’m not alone in this. Many people, especially women, struggle with assertiveness. Be too quiet and you’re ignored. Be too direct and you’re judged for speaking up. Assertive communication is expressing your needs, opinions or boundaries clearly and…
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Rewriting the Strong Female Character in Media
We all know her. She’s the action hero who never cries. The emotionally detached detective. The girlboss who works 80-hour weeks, outruns trauma and definitely doesn’t need help from anyone. She’s the “strong female character” we’ve seen a hundred times, and she’s become more trope than truth. In the early 2000s and 2010s, female characters like Lara Croft, Katniss Everdeen and Olivia Pope were hailed as feminist icons. They were smart, stoic, and fiercely independent. But over time, many of these portrayals have flattened into one-dimensional figures who equate strength with emotional suppression. Lara Croft in Tomb Raider: The Legend of Lara Croft, for instance, captures the classic “strong female…
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Redefining Strength through Social Change
When we think of activism, we often picture loud protests, viral hashtags or headline‑grabbing rallies. But what if powerful change doesn’t always have to happen in the streets or across social media? What if strength also lives in quiet, behind‑the‑scenes moments – in listening, nurturing and building the trust needed for deep, lasting transformation? Photo courtesy: Pexels (photo by Joshua Santos) Throughout Ontario, a quieter form of activism is reshaping communities, creating spaces where compassion, accountability and belonging carry as much weight as any protest sign. This quieter activism doesn’t always seek to dominate or confront. Instead, it creates space for dialogue, mutual support and healing. And its impact can…