The Body Politic

To understand sexual assault, we still need to listen to Donald Trump

LuciaLorenzi — Wed, 26 Oct 2016 22:20:13 +0000

By now, I've heard "grab them by the pussy" so many times that I've lost count, and it seems that we're busy declaring, yet again, another so-called watershed moment in our national and international conversations on sexual violence. It's a shame that in order to do so, we have to listen to yet another powerful political and cultural figure openly denigrating women -- "nasty" women, to use his own parlance. I've been wondering: why was it only after the release of the Trump's 2005 Access Hollywood tape that we started really listening to women? And why are Trump's words the ones that get the most airtime, instead of those of the women who have bravely come forth to talk about their experiences?

Campus sexual assault is the educational experience I never wanted

LuciaLorenzi — Tue, 21 Jun 2016 05:42:38 +0000

The University of British Columbia University Sexual Assault Panel's report, which provides recommendations for both the university's stand-alone policy as well as their sexual assault action plan, goes to President Martha Piper today, and it will have its public release at a date soon to be determined.

Stranger sexual assaults are only part of the constant threat of sexual violence

LuciaLorenzi — Sun, 20 Mar 2016 06:46:58 +0000

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Four ways to deal with coverage of the Jian Ghomeshi trial

LuciaLorenzi — Sun, 31 Jan 2016 10:23:12 +0000

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One year after Ghomeshi watershed moment, the labour of healing still falls on women

LuciaLorenzi — Thu, 12 Nov 2015 09:04:23 +0000

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To the Conservatives who voted down a national plan to end violence against women

LuciaLorenzi — Sun, 31 May 2015 20:31:23 +0000

To the members of the Conservative caucus who voted against M-444, the National Action Plan to End Violence against Women,

There's no doubt that you've heard, in the past year, about the numerous incidents of sexual violence and harassment faced by women in this country. You've heard about former CBC radio host Jian Ghomeshi, who has now been charged with several counts of sexual and physical assault. You've heard about the misogynist Facebook group started by thirteen male students of the 2015 Dalhousie Dentistry class.

In Canadian literary culture, breaking barriers must go beyond the books themselves

LuciaLorenzi — Fri, 20 Mar 2015 05:35:21 +0000

"What is the one book to break barriers?"

This was the question posed during this year's Canada Reads competition, CBC's annual "literary title fight." After four days of passionate debate about "books that can change perspectives, challenge stereotypes, and illuminate issues" -- including some palpably shocking eliminations -- the five celebrity panelists ultimately selected Kim Thúy's Ru (translated by Sheila Fischman) as this year's winner.

Law and Order SVU's GamerGate-inspired episode: Are real-life victims fair game?

LuciaLorenzi — Thu, 12 Feb 2015 07:49:28 +0000

[Content warning: descriptions of sexual and physical violence.]

UOttawa lawsuit reminds us who pays the price of sexual violence

LuciaLorenzi — Thu, 15 Jan 2015 07:54:01 +0000

What is the cost of sexual violence? For players from the University of Ottawa men's varsity hockey team, it's about six million dollars. Sought through a class-action lawsuit against the university and its president, Allan Rock, the players are seeking damages, alleging that their reputations and athletic careers were harmed by the cancellation of this year’s hockey season.

Codes of misconduct: Rape culture destroys victims' faith in the system

LuciaLorenzi — Tue, 06 Jan 2015 23:04:37 +0000

It's easy to believe that life on college and university campuses is some sort of haven of mutual inquiry and shared values. From the glossy admissions catalogues filled with photographs of laughing students, to the collective cheers of cap-throwing graduates, academia often seems fairly idyllic. Campuses are advertised to be places where there can be heated debates, divergent political opinions, and fierce rivalries, but where students and faculty nevertheless gather -- wrapped in their bold school colours, with Latin mottos about change and inspiration ringing in their ears -- to learn how to make the world a better place together.

Are educational spaces in Canada safe for women? On December 6 and academic life

LuciaLorenzi — Fri, 05 Dec 2014 20:29:11 +0000

This week, as I mourn the lives of 14 women who were murdered simply because they were female students rightly enjoying educational space and opportunities, I am pausing to think about what it means to be both a scholar and a woman. For me, the two cannot be separated: my scholarship, my teaching, and the interactions I have in the academy are deeply intertwined with being a woman, and a racialized woman in particular. Yet, all too often, I realize and observe that "female scholar" continues to be a deeply contested identity, no matter the department or faculty.

On holding student journalism accountable: The Western Gazette gaffe

LuciaLorenzi — Wed, 27 Aug 2014 18:10:29 +0000

Editors' note: After the publication of this article, The Gazette, issued an apology and retraction for its "Frosh" issue which contains the below-mentioned "So you want to date your TA" article.