Health
-
Knix: Revolutionizing the undergarment game
The underwear brand empowering women, destigmatizing periods and giving back to the community *This Interview has been edited for length and clarity Before 2013, those who menstruate had to decide, on a monthly basis, whether to wash and wear stained underwear that had succumbed to the dreaded and inevitable ‘period leak,’ or to simply throw out yet another pair of perfectly good knickers. Enter Joanna Griffiths, Queen’s University alum and female entrepreneur aiming to revolutionize the underwear game and destigmatize menstruation. Griffiths mandate was to challenge the conventional design and function of women’s intimates, such as those advertised by brands like Victoria’s Secret or La Senza. Her solution was Knix:…
-
The wellness trap
Rethinking what it means to be healthy in the age of content creators Musician Lorde was burning sage and cleansing crystals in her “Mood Ring” music video that premiered in August 2021. Throughout the satirical pop song, Lorde comments on wellness culture by pointing out the great lengths women—particularly privileged white women—go to feel well. In an interview with Genius, Lorde explained the meaning behind the lyrics in “Mood Ring.” In the lines, “I’m tryna get well from the inside / Plants and celebrity news / All the vitamins I consume,” the hypocrisy of digital wellness culture is revealed. “I had a moment of realizing like I’m trying to eat…
-
Mental health: The most important player on the court
Courtesy of Valentin Balan
-
Roe V. Wade: Why Ontarians should care
How the U.S. decision to ban abortion could impact you. In the aftermath of the U.S. Supreme Court (USSC) decision to void half a century of precedent and overturn the landmark 1973 ruling, Roe v. Wade, many Ontarians find themselves experiencing a wide range of emotions. From heartbreak, re-traumatization, and powerlessness to confusion, curiosity, and concern, many may wonder if the ruling impacts us here in Canada. “I’ve had a pit in my stomach all day after reading about this. As much as someone can argue this doesn’t affect Canadians, it does. It shifts what is acceptable to even debate,” says Sarah Pinch, 21, a recent graduate from the University…
-
Your guide to understanding breast cancer
Approximately one in eight women are diagnosed with breast cancer each year in Canada. Ontario alone sees just under 11,000 cases annually, according to the Canadian Breast Cancer Network (CBCN). CBCN offers information and education to assist Canadians diagnosed with breast cancer. That also raises awareness on issues affecting patients, according to Rebecca Armstrong, CBCN’s Manager of Patient Education Programs. It is important for women to understand what breast cancer looks like and how to treat it. Diagnosis and treatment options can be overwhelming. In an effort to reduce that stress, Armstrong helped Women Quest create a guide to better understand the disease. Identifying breast cancer Women Quest: What…
-
Living with endometriosis: Meet the illness no one is talking about
When Cassandra Earle was 13, she woke up with excruciating pain in her abdomen that left her unable to move. When this started happening every month, Earle went to see a general practitioner to get help. However, her doctor said she was “just having bad periods,” she recalled. Earle missed out on many school and social events as a teenager. She struggled to explain to her friends what she was going through. After years of misdiagnoses and frustration with the medical system, Earle received laparoscopic surgery. At age 17, she finally got an official diagnosis of endometriosis. Endometriosis is a condition where tissue — similar to the tissue inside the…
-
Period poverty: The physical and financial struggle
Menstruation can be an uncomfortable and painful week for many. For others, it’s also a financial struggle due to the high cost of menstrual products. Period poverty refers to the lack of access to menstrual products due to monetary or geographical reasons. More than one in three Canadian women have reported sacrificing something in their budget to afford sanitary products. To bring awareness to the issue, a number of organizations in Ontario are dedicated to making hygiene products more accessible. Hygiene4her is a London-based organization led by co-presidents Michelle Pham and Helia Hatam Tehrani. Both women are advocates for reducing period poverty. The organization works to provide people with essential…
-
The shadow pandemic: COVID-19 highlights need for victim support services
Although Canada’s COVID-19 case counts are dropping, the number of domestic violence cases remains the same. A woman in Canada is killed by her intimate partner approximately every six days, according to the Canadian Women’s Foundation. More than 6,000 women and children stay in shelters on any given night because it isn’t safe at home. This was the case even before the pandemic. Since March 2020, that number has increased. In The Impacts of COVID-19 on Canadian Victim Services Statistics Canada report, 54 per cent of the surveyed victim services noticed an increase in the number of domestic violence victims they served between mid-March and early July 2020. As a result, women’s…
-
Meal prep tips for the girl on the go
Meal prepping — putting together the week’s meals ahead of time — has been a popular planning method for several years. According to Canada’s Food Guide, it’s an effective way to save time, reduce portion size and help reach nutrition goals. It can also help save money and reduce food waste. Start small When it comes to meal prepping, it is important to start small. Don’t overwhelm yourself. Cooking breakfast, lunch and dinner for an entire week at once can be intimidating at first. The Food Guide said, “There is no right or wrong way to plan meals. You can plan for the whole week ahead, or you can plan…
