Lifestyle & Family
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Celebrating women in the literary arts
Ontarian women who have made waves in the literary arts. Courtesy of ksenia chernaya Ontario is a fertile ground for cultivating literary brilliance. Throughout history, women in Ontario have played pivotal roles in shaping the literary arts scene and making important contributions to literature and poetry. From literary pioneers to contemporary trailblazers, Ontario’s literary landscape has been enriched by the creative genius of these exceptional women. Women in Ontario have not only made their mark as individual writers but have also contributed to the establishment of literary organizations and initiatives that empower aspiring writers. Organizations like the Ontario Writers’ Conference and the Toronto International Festival of Authors have provided platforms…
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You don’t have to go through it alone
Resources in Ontario to support single mothers. Courtesy of any lane It’s safe to say that the majority of women probably do not choose to become single mothers but rather, it is something that they have to suddenly face head-on. Parenting children within a partnership is hard enough, but doing it solo can be an entirely new world. According to Statistics Canada in 2016, 81.3 per cent of children in a single-parent household were living with their mothers whereas only 18.7 per cent of children were living with their fathers. Below are some resources meant to support and aid women in their journey of single motherhood. You don’t have to…
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Going solo
Tips for women who want to safely travel alone Courtesy of vlada karpovich Travelling alone as a woman can be scary because of all of the safety precautions recommended to take, but it’s not as difficult as many make it out to be. It can be very intimidating at first and used to be an extremely controversial idea, but the world is ever-evolving. Women who travel solo around the world have built a growing community over the years and it has become beneficial to their personal growth. It has the power to help inspire women long term. The nature of confidence is that it only comes after you take the…
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The manosphere
The Manosphere has come about in a new and shifting political climate. It is important for women to know about it and understand how they are impacted by it. Courtesy of Filippo Peisino In the shifting political climate, we have seen a rise in misogynistic hate speech within communities of young men on the internet. Misogyny and the dehumanization of women is something that is far from new, but within the past year, the bolstering of alt-right and “conservative” online personalities has given misogyny a fresh face. It is important for women to be aware of the faces that misogyny is taking on in the modern world. Identifying misogyny and…
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My apologies: The habit of saying sorry
Two women discuss over-apologizing and how to stop Sorry! Oh, that was a tree. Elizabeth Shaw is a Toronto-based administrative professional and mother who struggles with a nasty habit that bothers her from time to time: Being overly polite and apologetic. Shaw believes her habit partly stems from her client-facing career. She says she will apologize even when a mistake is someone else’s to make the other person more comfortable. Often, she will apologize when clients fail to understand her explanation of something. It’s not just Shaw who feels the need to be overly accommodating and apologetic. Other women, like stay-at-home mom Jenni McGuire of Toronto, feel the same way. McGuire…
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Three life lessons from Ontario’s Celina Caesar-Chavannes’ memoir
Hear what advice Whitby, Ontario’s, MP has to share. Mother, wife, business owner, student, friend and change-maker are only a few ways to describe Celina-Caesar Chavannes. In 2019, Member of Parliament was added to that list, and as of 2021, so was published author. In her memoir, Can You Hear Me Now?, Caesar-Chavannes recounts her life, her mistakes, her triumphs and everything in-between prior to and following her role as a Member of Parliament for the riding of Whitby, Ont. Throughout her memoir, she intertwines her experiences and hardships with life lessons she learned along the way. Lesson #1: Stories are sticky Historically, storytelling has been a cherished means of…
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Gaslight, Gatekeep, but most importantly, Girlboss
Why the ‘Girlboss’ phenomenon is problematic and slowly fading “Girlboss” is a new term popularized by Nasty Gal Founder and Executive Chairman Sophia Amoruso, an American entrepreneur who channelled her notoriety from the rise of her multi-million-dollar fashion business, into a best-selling book. According to Amoruso, a “Girlboss” is a woman “whose success is defined in opposition to the masculine business world in which she swims upstream.” The “Girlboss” was originally a term for feminist empowerment, referring to women who put professional (i.e. financial) success above all by adopting a relentless cut-throat yet feminine persona to get there. It’s been codified in popular culture through figures such as Miranda Priestly…
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Solo dates: Fall in love with yourself
The benefits of venturing out on your own, and ideas for solo dates. Recently, the practice of taking oneself out on a date has been growing in popularity. It may seem strange, but whether you have a significant other or not, taking yourself on solo dates can be a great way to connect with yourself, gain independence and experience things you might have missed out on otherwise. At first, taking yourself out might feel lonely, awkward and maybe even embarrassing. However, many women who go on solo dates have reported learning some pretty life-changing lessons. Take for example, Natalie Lusinski. Lusinki is an online blogger that decided to travel the…
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On-screen female relationships: The good, the bad and the ugly
A look at positive female friendships in the media and why they matter. Media can have an incredible influence, especially on young, impressionable minds. TV shows and movies teach young people what to wear, how to flirt, how to be funny and how to be in relationships of all kinds. The influence that TV and movies have on this susceptible demographic is remarkable, but potentially harmful. Consider, for example, the types of platonic female relationships we’ve seen on screen in the recent past and the fact that young girls subconsciously absorb the dynamics that are normalized in the media. In the media, female friendships have long been depicted as shallow,…