Men need to stop assuming women appreciate their advances, especially at work Some days, the news we read, see and hear makes it impossible not to end up asking “What on earth is wrong with these men?” (Please note we’re saying “these men” and definitely not “all men.”) The guy who exposes himself in [...]
It’s important to remember who starts the violence Let’s be clear: We’re not necessarily saying it’s a good idea to point fingers and blame others for things. But sometimes as a society we’re so concerned about being fair that we don’t place responsibility where it belongs. And in the case of women who are [...]
Amy’s Next Step Housing in Fenelon Falls has been an important part of our services for many years. The eight-unit complex offered women with or without children a safe, affordable place to live for a year or more as they rebuilt their lives after leaving an abuser. Although we’ve sold the building to Kawartha-Lakes [...]
When people visit Kawartha Lakes, they see its natural beauty, clean air, neat farms and pretty towns and villages. Those are all great reasons to live here and to move here. But living in the country or in a small community can make it even harder for women to escape an abusive situation, and [...]
Sometimes the official terms hide the outrageous reality. When we talk about human trafficking, we’re nearly always talking about this: forcing teenagers and young adults into something best described as sexual slavery. The most common form this crime takes is a man singling out a teenaged girl and making her feel special, showering her [...]
It’s always interesting to get a glimpse behind the scenes of a complex operation, and that’s definitely true of Vicky’s Values, the “unique boutique” that raises money for Women’s Resources by offering gently used clothing and housewares at low prices. Volunteers carefully sort donations by type, style, size, season and more, putting the Valentine’s [...]
When you think of great Canadian women, who comes to mind? What women’s stories from our past do you wish everyone knew about? There are so many to choose from, but what’s striking about these heroines is both how long they’ve been shaking off sexism and misogyny to achieve greatness, and how recent some [...]
Words matter, so let’s ditch the ones that denigrate women Many of us remember a time when the only acceptable way to refer to a married woman was by her husband’s name: Mrs. John Smith. Lots of us probably shudder to recall patronizing terms such as “authoress” and “lady realtor,” and applaud the rise [...]
Whether you’ve seen the post floating around social media or not, it’s worth taking time to ponder its wisdom. (Yes, I said “wisdom.” It’s not completely absent from social media.) It was a list of simple responses you can use when someone has just said something racist, misogynist or otherwise hateful. Because let’s face [...]
Too many women know what it feels like to be harassed at the place they work. It could be as obvious as an unwanted sexual proposition, a degrading comment or an uninvited touch. It could be more subtle, like comments that draw attention to a woman’s body or physical appearance. It could involve male [...]
