Gender Neutrality

by Wendy J. Miller

Why is pink used by manufacturers to represent items that are targeted at women?  Do we only like pink or purple?  Did anyone ever think that it might be an actual product that we want to buy and if it only comes in pink – oh well – but women aren’t necessarily buying the item because it’s pink.

It’s already old news that BIC has developed pink and purple pens for women called “for Her.”  “Beautifull smooth with an easy glide,” the pens are described in the technical specs as being "designed to fit comfortably in a woman's hand" with an "attractive barrel design available in pink and purple."  To think we’ve been using man pens for all this time – and without any instructions. 

It is new, however, that Honda has manufactured a vehicle called “Honda Fit She’s” – available in the predictable pink, OR – here’s a new one – “eyeliner brown.”  Currently it’s only being sold in Japan, but the features designed to attract women include a “Plasmacluster” climate control system that is claimed to “improve skin quality,” a windshield “that prevents wrinkles,” a pink interior stitching, “tutti-frutti-hued” chrome bezels, and a little heart shape instead of an apostrophe in the word “She’s.”

What about toys being manufactured as gender neutral so anyone can play with whatever appeals to them?  Currently, McKenna Pope, a 13-year-old girl from New Jersey has written to Hasbro (the manufacturers of the Easy Bake oven) to ask them why the toy is available only in pink.  You see, her little brother wants to be a chef and she is challenging the notion – as traditional as the little oven itself – that cooking is a female domain.  More than 18,000 people have already signed a petition in support of her initiative.

 

Lego developed some “girly” products – one with a hair salon, a rehearsal stage with dressing room furnishings, a pet salon, and a city pool – all in pinks and purples.  Games are also  being developed (like Hasbro’s “Guess Who”) that has fewer female characters than male ones, thereby giving anyone who picked a woman for the guessing game a clear disadvantage.

What kind of message do gender-specific products send? How can we change the minds of manufacturers to make their products more gender neutral? Let’s hear from you...

Blue and Gold!

By Wendy J. Miller

So the magic day is here!  For those of us who have been waiting for years for IKEA to open a store in Winnipeg, November 28, 2012 is historic.

As an advertiser, I am grateful that IKEA is supporting Winnipeg's industry by purchasing lots of media and being publicly visible. As a citizen, I appreciate IKEA "speaking" to Winnipeggers - calling us by name and welcoming us to their new 395,671 square feet of home furnishings. As a consumer, I love that IKEA is inclusive and accessible and that they distributed their catalogue right to my door. Normally novel or valuable things don't get delivered to the part of town where I live.

Will I be one of the first to use their 1,619 parking spaces, 800 shopping carts, 40 check-out lanes or to sit in their 651 seat restaurant? No. I think I'll let the first rush move through from opening until the end of the year. The store will never be "quiet" and without significant volumes of consumers. IKEA stores around the world attest to that. I will go, however, when I get a day off work and can wander around at my comfortable speed, taking as long as I like to look and touch and buy.

I do appreciate you being here, IKEA.  Good things do come to those who wait.

Women in Advertising - The Real Story (Part 2)

By Wendy J. Miller

1977 and Onward! Milestones for Women...

• 1977 - Caroline Jones became the first black female VP at a major ad agency (BBDO)
• 1981 - Rochelle Udell heads Calvin Klein's in-house agency and creates the "You Know What Comes Between Me and My Calvins?" campaign
• 1992 - Charlotte Beers became the chairman and chief executive of global ad agency Ogilvy & Mather Worldwide in 1992.  Charlotte Beers was adept at combining her business acumen with a little Southern Texas charm and was highly successful in the extremely competitive of advertising.  Exceptionally hard working, she carved out successes for her company and herself at a string of jobs.  First as a market researcher for Uncle Ben's, next as an account executive at J. Walter Thompson, where she became the first female VP in the firm's 106-year history. Disappointed when she was denied further promotion, she left Thompson for Tatham-Laird & Kudner where she worked 100-hour weeks for two years to turn around the firm's low morale and shaky finances. Beers became CEO, and under her reign over the next decade increased profit margins to double the industry average, tripled billings to $325 million, and lured in major new business accounts. She resigned in 1992 and was heavily courted by several firms, before accepting a position with the $5.4 billion, 8,000 employee Ogilvy & Mather.  She stayed at Ogilvy & Mather for four years, increasing billings by $2 billion, before passing the reins to Shelly Lazarus, a long-time Ogilvy employee.  In October, 2001, Beers joined US Secretary of State, Colin Powell as Under Secretary for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs, where she introduced modern marketing and communication techniques to jump-start dialogue with areas of the world where the US faced silence or hostility. Ms. Beers held this position until 2003. 
• 1997 - Linda Kaplan-Thaler began her career at J. Walter Thompson, but she left JWT to start her own agency: The Kaplan-Thaler Group - known for the "duck" campaign created for insurance company, Aflac.
• 2004 - Janet Kestin and Nancy Vonk, with client Silvia Lagnado caused a stir when they used real women, not models, in Dove's "Campaign for Real Beauty." The now legendary campaign was shot by another female legend, photographer Annie Leibovitz.
• 2008 - Nancy Hill is appointed the first female CEO of the 4As (American Association of Advertising Agency) - a national trade association founded in 1917 that represents American industry.
• 2012 - the American Advertising Hall of Fame has inducted thirteen women into its fold as of this date - the earliest being Erma Perham Proetz in 1952, and the most recent, Tere. A. Zubizarreta, aka Tere Zubi, in 2012.

Other notable women in advertising include:

• Andrea Alstrup - retired as corporate vice president, advertising, Johnson & Johnson; her 37-year career began in 1964.
• Laurel Cutler - first woman to be honoured as "Man of the Year" in 1995, her career in advertising spanned over three decades.
• Jo Foxworth - began work as a copywriter at McCann-Erickson in 1955, and broke through barriers against women with her work for Westinghouse, Buick, Exxon, Hilton Hotels and Coca Cola.
• Katharine Graham - chairman and CEO of the Washington Post Co., and publisher of the Washington Post, Ms. Graham was the first women to head a Fortune 500 company, first to serve as director of the Associated Press, and the first female director of the American Newspaper Publishers Association. She received a Pulitzer Prize for her 1997 memoir, chronicling her remarkable life and career.
• Geraldine Laybourne - founded Oxygen Media, LLC, and launched Oxygen in 2000 to fill a void in the television landscape by creating a network targeted to younger women.
• Patricia Martin - the first woman chair of the American Advertising Federation, Ms. Martin championed and exemplified the ethics of advertising, serving as a role model to many in the industry.
• Tere Zubizarreta (Tere Zubi) - displaced from Cuba by the Castro revolution, Ms. Z. arrived in the US in 1959 and has been instrumental in helping shift perceptions about Hispanics and Latinos to the dynamic reality of multi-faceted consumer segments.
• Helen Landsdowne Resor, Mary Wells Lawrence, Shirley Polykoff, Phyllis K.Robinson, Jane Trahey, Charlotte Beers, Bernice Fitz-Gibbon, and Peggy Charren have also been included in Advertising Age's Top 100 Advertising People of All Time list.

Oh Canada, Oh Boy...It is very encouraging that these women were trail blazers in the industry and that they opened many doors for other women in advertising. It is also quite revealing and disturbing that there are extensive sources for advertising women and women in advertising, but that all sources lead to the US.  From all sources, it appears that women have never existed or participated in the Canadian advertising industry!

Women in Advertising - The Real Story (Part 1)

By Wendy J. Miller

Who said it wasn't until the 1960s?

For those TV viewers who think, as a result of watching the series Madmen, that women weren't involved in advertising until the 1960s, here's the real story.

The first ad woman (or Mad Woman) on record was Mathilde C. Weil. In 1870 she moved from Germany to New York, and not long after her husband died, leaving her with no means of support.  Ms. Weil thus began her career in advertising by booking magazine space for a friend, eventually starting her own agency - The M.C. Weil Agency in 1880.

What follows, is a list of other important historical dates relating to women in advertising. There is inconsistency  in documentation of dates, but the general time frames are in keeping with public records:

• 1907 - Helen Landsdowne was hired by Stanley Resor as a copywriter for a small Cincinnati agency
• 1916 - Helen Landsdowne become Creative Director of J. Walter Thompson (JWT, New York)
• 1917 - Helen Landsdowne Resor (now married to Stanley Resor), formed the JWT Women's Editorial Department, a creative group comprised solely of women - soon these women were overseeing 75% of the agency's billing of what was America's largest agency
• 1917 - Helen Landsdowne Resor created famous Woodbury's Facial Soap ad, using sex appeal to sell the product: "A skin you love to touch."
• 1926 - Nedda McGrath became the first female art director
• 1936 - copywriter, Dorothy Dignam, launched the Ford V-8 "complete style plan" for female consumers
• 1940s - Bernice Fitz-Gibbon specialized in retail advertising and became the highest paid women in advertising, earning over $50K ($800K in today's dollars); she did groundbreaking work for Macy's and Gimbel's, later publishing a book about her colourful career: Macy's, Gimbel's and Me
• 1946 - Jean Wade Rindlaub became BBDO's first female VP
• 1949 - Phyllis Robinson was hired by Bill Bernbach when he started his agency, and he named her Copy Chief. It would turn out to be the most influential agency of all time, called Doyle Bane Bernbach (DDB).  Robinson supervised some of the best and toughest admen of the era (1950s and 1960s).  Their "Think Small" campaign for Volkswagen revolutionized the ad industry.
• 1950 - Mary Wells started as a copywriter at DDB. In 1966, she created her own award-winning agency, Wells Rich Green, where she masterminded the timeless phrase, "Try it, You'll like it."  She also created the renowned "I Love New York" campaign, and introduced the 60 second television commercial (mini movies). In 1969, Wells was the highest paid ad executive.
• 1952 - copywriter, Erma Perham Proetz is the first woman inductee into the Advertising Hall of Fame.
• 1955 - Shirley Polykoff started her career in magazine and retail ad sales before taking a position at Foote, Cone & Belding where she created Clairol's famous "Does she...or doesn't she? Only her hairdresser knows for sure." campaign, earning her a place in the Advertising Hall of Fame.
• 1960s - Peggy Charren created Action for Children's Television to lobby reform on children's TV, which she felt was exploiting youngsters and using insensitive and over-commercialized TV shows to target children. By 1971, Charren's works had sensitized advertising to excessive violence, as well as inappropriate cereal, toy and fast-food spots.  In 1990, the Children's Television Act, setting standards for child-oriented programming, merchandising and advertising, was passed.
• 1968 - Jane Trahey launches the campaign, "What becomes a legend most?" for Blackglama. She went on to become the first woman in advertising to earn $1million a year.
• 1970 - Barbara Proctor opens Proctor & Gardner Advertising and is the first woman of colour to own and manage an ad agency

(to be continued...1977 and Onward!)

Eternal Summer

By Pam Hadder

It's happening, like the flip of a switch -- one morning you get up and there's a slight chill in the air, the sun is rising later, wasps are swarming and a faint scent of autumn is lingering on the breeze.  As we near the midpoint of August, there are still a few days (perhaps weeks, if we are lucky) of summer to enjoy, evidenced by delightfully scant traffic queues on the daily commute.

Living on the Canadian prairie, we learn early on in life to savour each hour of summer sunshine, because the hot days are limited and the winters have a history of being way too long and inhumanely cold.  I freely admit to my personal dream of eternal summer -- if only winter was just one month long, that would be perfect; ideally around the holiday season with just a light dusting of snow to light our way through our darkest hours. Sound good to you too?

It can be challenging to break from our cloud watching, bubble blowing, easy, dreamy summer phase and get back into the working groove for the final quarter of the calendar year.  But shifting gears is essential, particularly with the speed of transition and change in our world. We really cannot afford to be sluggish or disconnected from our living reality.  There is simply less fat on the bone and less time allowed to respond, making efficiency a vital component of our personal and working lives.

There's no need to panic if you are feeling a bit out of sorts and resistant to the changes around you. The summer to fall shift is not the only change you are up against -- our lives are layered with personal, professional and environmental changes.  There really are just two main components needed to manage these speed bumps: cultivated awareness and forward vision.

Cultivated awareness is an interesting animal because it marries the personal and professional pieces of our lives with our personality -- it requires identifying what aligns with our values and then working within that harmonious slipstream. The front-end effort is very worthwhile, as cultivated awareness is a pathway to a more efficient lifestyle. Increased efficiency, in turn, reduces stress and increases productivity.

Forward vision is a bit more complex for most of us -- we may not be accustomed to looking to far down the road, and may even be afraid to do so!  Within traditional business models, the vision comes from the top and trickles down. Individuals are not solicited to contribute to that vision, and are not encouraged to develop unique POVs. However, forward vision is the magic ingredient that makes life sparkle with appeal.

Put in simple terms, vision comes with the knowledge that opportunities and options, like change, are constant. We each shape our results with our choices and contributions, and there is an essential sense of excitement, of anticipation that is stirred up when forward vision activities are implemented. Perhaps you've met those rare individuals who share how they love their vocation so much that it doesn't feel like work?  Know that forward vision is not just for corporate moguls or political bigwigs -- it's for all of us, and the ability lies within each of us to excel within our areas of interest.

Imagine... looking forward to each new day, harnessing change like a new, wild power source; excited by the options for growth and transformation. So, maybe eternal summer is more achievable than we first thought?

Living & Giving

By Pam Hadder

We've all seen it -- in fact, sometimes we feel bombarded by it.  No matter where you look there is the contrast of need versus greed. Sometimes overt, sometimes barely discernible, the gap between the haves and the have-nots, in business and in everyday life, is growing.

On the subtler side we see large retail chains hawking products to support the Canadian Olympic team, to put an end to prostate cancer, to support breast cancer research, and so on...  On the surface, it all seems good and right -- we are shopping at Sears, Safeway or Canadian Tire anyway; sure we'll give a buck or two (or ten!), or buy a couple of cartons of something "for the cause."  Piggybacking sales on a charitable cause has become so commonplace that very few of us question the ethics of it; including just how much of the money actually reaches those in need, and how much cash is eaten up by administration and marketing. Thus we are gently misled into thinking we are making a positive difference in our communities.

Perhaps you've been wondering what happened to corporate social responsibility?  If a business is making a profit, shouldn't they give back to the markets that provided fertile conditions for their success?  Why should customers have to purchase a product before corporate donations are given? Isn't it really the customer that is giving in this instance, and not the corporation?

If your heart is shouting out "YES!" then you are onto the ruse -- yes, it is the customer and not the corporation that is giving when a product is purchased to support a charity.  For the corporation, the benefits are increased sales and PR -- see what a great company we are?  The corporations achieve all of this by giving nothing -- they just increase markups on the charitable products.  By paying the higher prices on the merchandise, the consumer allows for the charitable "donations" to happen without a cent of profit being relinquished by the corporation. If big business really cares about our future Olympians, or cancer, or poor kids, or any other worthy cause, they could just quietly write a nice fat cheque, and save all the hoopla!

What's the answer? From a consumer perspective -- give directly to the charity.  Choose an amount that works for your budget and select a cause or causes that are near and dear to you.  Low on dough?  Consider volunteering for a favourite charity -- just a few hours a month will make a big difference.  Sharing your time and expertise is not only valuable to the charity, it can be very rewarding for the volunteer as well.

From the corporate viewpoint, it's even easier to address charitable work -- simply give, give, give!  As with personal giving, add the charitable amounts to your budget and select causes that are important to you.  Profits too slim?  Don't forget that corporations can volunteer too.  Maybe your staff can donate cold treats for a day care or youth drop-in on a hot day, or serve at a soup kitchen once a month, or help the neighbourhood green team with litter clean up.

The most important thing to remember with corporate giving... NEVER guilt or manipulate staff or customers into buying your product or service because of a charitable cause -- it's unethical. Keep charitable fundraising separate from the daily business.  It's one thing to hang a poster for a charity event, or have a few handouts in your reception area, but beware the shame game!

The ultimate shame game example is likely pinkwashing.  Haven't heard of it? Pinkwashing was coined to describe the exploitation of the breast cancer cause by big business.  It has become very popular for corporations to slap pink ribbons on merchandise, but how much actually reaches the charities?  Even more heinous is the issue that some of these companies actually produce items that may jeopardize women's health -- so consumers really need to do their homework!

Breast cancer has become a billion dollar industry and has such high profile on the public agenda that many of us don't realize that breast cancer is not the number one health concern for women -- heart disease is.  But maybe breasts have more sex appeal; are more salesy?   By no means do I wish to devalue the serious health threat that breast cancer presents -- my sister is a survivor, I have lost two friends to the disease, and I have two other friends living with breast cancer.  The outrage is not with the cause, but with the exploitation and manipulation of the breast cancer cause by big business for their own profit and PR building.

Personally or corporately, GIVE generously because it matters, give because you can, give without thought of material gain - just please give for goodness sake.

Here are some links you may wish to explore:
http://thinkbeforeyoupink.org/?page_id=13
http://www.pinkwashing.org/pinkribbon/welcome/welcome.html
http://www.canadahelps.org/
http://www.whrfcinc.com/
http://sarasvati.ca/
http://www.unpac.ca/

Adventures with NEATO XV-11

By Wendy J. Miller

"My battery needs to be charged."

NEATO continues to get himself into compromising situations and today was no different.  When I got home in the evening, I was surprised to find my little buddy stuck between the wall and one of the legs of my "creeping the 'hood" full-size telescope!

He delighted me with a new message for this conundrum: "My bumper is stuck.  Please free it."  More than the bumper was stuck, let it be known... the sturdy telescope tripod had NEATO in a full leg lock: telescope - 1; NEATO - 0.

Of course, NEATO had spent the day as a captive, and his battery was run down. So I had to carry him back to his docking station. Seems to me that he likes getting carried around, even though he always ask to be down on the floor. 

Like most interactions today, I don't know if he's even listening, and, although NEATO has lots to say, only once has he said, "thank you."

So far, his messages have included:

"Please check my dirt bin an filter. Empty them as needed."
"Please put by dirt bin back."
"Thank you for cleaning my dirt bin and filter."
"Finished. I'm returning to my base station."
"Please dust me off so that I can see."
"I am unable to navigate. Please clear my path."

And... my favourite message of all, "Cleaning house."  Way to go, NEATO!  That's exactly why I got you.  Maybe one day I'll get the message, "Here's your martini" from some bot-ty else ;)

The End

MORE... Adventures with NEATO XV-11

By Wendy J. Miller

"Please put me down on the floor."


The other day when I got home, NEATO was AWOL -- the docking station was empty. I searched for him in the living room, the kitchen, the bathroom, the bedroom and the studio. 

He wasn't visible anywhere -- I was mystified. And he's supposed to return to the docking station when his battery gets low. I admit I was in a bit of a panic - what could have happened?  I promptly went into CSI mode, flashlight in hand...

Crawling on my hands and knees, I peered into every nook and cranny; in the process noting that NEATO was doing really great work!  Even though his jobs sucks, he was getting around and under all furniture and keeping my floors dust-free.

The final stop was the entertainment unit in the studio.  Aha!  There he was lurking in the shadows under the unit!  NEATO had latched onto a power bar cord and had no intention of letting go.  Either that or the power cord was enamored with my robot buddy - he's pretty darn cute, after all... Desperate to free him, I enlisted my former dust collector -- the SWIFFER, and was able to hook the underside of NEATO and I pulled him carefully toward me.

He is pretty heavy and was really hooked up tightly with his new power bar friend, but at last I was able to get to him.   His battery had depleted to the point where he couldn't have made it back to the docking station.  I picked him up and as I carried him down the hall, his message to me was not "thanks" or "I really appreciate your help" -- his read out said "Please put me down on the floor"!  I replied aloud, "Sure, you've got no juice and when I put you down how will you manage"?  NEATO responded, "My battery needs to be charged".  No kidding!

I placed NEATO at his docking station and once again emptied his dust bin -- but this time I washed it out and cleaned his filter with soap and hot water. In the morning, after everything was dry, I replaced the bin and filter; NEATO's message: "Replace my dirt bin". Hey.... who's the boss here?

To be continued...

Adventures With NEATO XV-11

By Wendy J. Miller

"Thank you for cleaning my dirt bin and filter."

NEATO XV-11 arrived in a shiny box with a carry handle and weighed in at 13 kg.  A big baby, yes, but included were a docking station, instruction booklet and a special magnetic strip to control what area of the house was to be cleaned. I eagerly studied the instruction book so that my robot would know that I paid attention to detail and cared enough to set everything up properly. 

First of all, I set HIS clock (the idea of a guy helping with the chores was appealing to me), and then I set HIS cleaning days and hours. He had a big backlog of dust to tackle, so I wanted him to get right at it as soon as he was fully charged!  It only takes two to three hours to fully charge NEATO, and when his battery gets low he makes a bee-line to the docking station to recharge.

I couldn't wait!  Monday. 7:00 a.m.!  I staked out the living room sofa waiting for him to back out of the docking station for the first time.  Right on time, with a whirring sound, NEATO was on the move.  I watched him scope out the living room, buzzing along, butting his sturdy body on the furniture and rearranging some floor decor items: NEATO was here!

It was great fun watching him work thoroughly throughout the living room, and then suddenly he veered off down the long hallway.  It was like watching your firstborn leave for kindergarten for the first time!  Off he went, unaware of the adventures in dust and debris that lay ahead.  I followed him at a slight distance for a bit - to see how he would do.  Then, I thought better of it, or I'd be late for work!  I would check in on things when I got home that evening.

And check in I did!  The kitchen throw rug's tassels were all askew; it was flipped over on the corners with its underlay exposed.  A book and stuffed animal in the back studio were turned on end and NEATO had encouraged a few chairs out of his path.  I checked his dustbin and was not surprised that it was half full, and its filter coated in dust.  I emptied the bin, cleaned the filter and gave NEATO a day off.

Two days later, he was back in action, powering his way around furniture with finesse.  He seemed to be doing so well - then I heard the loud noises of altercation...dashing down the hall, I found NEATO had a run-in with an extension cord, and had actually succeeded in unplugging a lamp!  NEATO: 1; extension cord: 0. Lesson learned - move all cords out of his path.

There is always something new with NEATO.  He seems to have made peace with the kitchen throw rug, but he still likes to ruffle its fringes.

To be continued...

Adventures with NEATO XV-11

By Wendy J. Miller

"House cleaning PAUSED"

I love technology - and although sometimes it baffles me, I appreciate the brilliance that goes into its development.

Robotics are a particular area of interest for me. I dream of the day when I will have a robot servant who (notice how I've already humanized it) brings me my slippers and a cocktail at the end of a hectic day. For years I've longed for one of the Star Trek food replicators - the magical gizmo that will instantaneously prepare any food or beverage you desire!

About eight or nine years ago I purchased a robotic lawnmower.  It had a very stylish shape and was bright yellow, but it required getting down on your hands and knees to carefully lay out a thin perimeter wire so that the robot would not go AWOL. As most of the area I wanted cut was grass layered over rock bed, it was almost impossible to set the work area.

Just as I was reaching my peak of frustration, I found out that the robot only wanted to communicate in Hebrew!  The mower had been manufactured in Israel and did not have an English language option.  Alas, it proved to be a huge OY VEY and I gave it to an auction house to sell.  I don't think anyone ever "bot" it...

For the past few years I have been intrigued by robotic vacuums.  Different makes and models appeared and became locally available.  I continued watching flyers, hoping that I would develop an actual NEED for this machine; not just a "WOW! That would be cool!" inkling.

Last month I couldn't wait any longer.  A new model, the  NEATO XV-11, was on the market - with better suction (the size of my dust bunnies required an engine akin to that used for an A320 Airbus), improved manoeuvrability, and with more clever design to tackle corners!  And online purchasing with free delivery would have it in my hands within five days.  My dust had been waiting for weeks - another five days would be no problem.

to be continued...

May Day!

By Pam Hadder

Have you noticed that much of the world is on code red - or at least code orange - most of the time? Fiscal constraints, fickle world economies and frenetic electronic communication have combined to mold human behaviours: trigger-happy, indecisive, judgemental, cynical, and aggressive have replaced careful planning and grander visions. Of course, one could argue that the world has always been short of visionaries and high on conflict. 

Imbalances of power, most often erroneously based on gender and cultural elements, have left a legacy of real human carnage.  The message: if you are stronger, faster and more persuasive you can grab more than your share of the global bounty - sound familiar?  What has changed, however, is the speed at which human actions can alter the earthscape.

Within the science of anthropology, culture is accepted as the main advantage which allowed Homo sapiens to evolve into the dominant Earth species, surpassing other primates with the ability to learn and to share knowledge with new generations. In fact, humans have been so successful, that we pose the single greatest threat to survival for every other plant and animal species. This holds true within our own species - without a doubt, humankind is the greatest enemy to humankind.

In marketing, we recognize the power of words, the impact of actions, and the accountability that is innate in our creative works. We also wonder if the frenzy and knee-jerk decision making will self-destruct any time soon! Will quality be appreciated again? Will time be allowed to rest and rejuvenate; will time be restored to simply "be"; to ponder, and perhaps to dream?

May 1 is May Day, traditionally a labour holiday established to welcome spring and to celebrate the renewal of living things. However, every coin has a flip side, and "may day!" is also a radio operator's cry for help: "may day, may day, may day!" - the words broadcast three times to prevent misunderstanding.

It appears the choice is ours, and inherent in our decision-making is the one thing we fear - responsibility, responsibility, responsibility!

Women 101

By Pam Hadder
2012 marks the 101st anniversary of International Women's Week (IWW), and the occasion is marked worldwide with events, seminars, and peaceful demonstrations, all in support of gender equality. Although much has been achieved in the past 101 years, there are still many inequities in society, and females are subjected to ongoing sexual oppression -- the problems vary in degree and context from country to country, but that these type of issues are endemic and global cannot be refuted. North American women often think that women are only exploited and marginalized in other countries -- in fact, we are constantly coached about how fortunate we are to live in the western world. The problem with this disillusionment is that by comparing our issues to others that may seem more dire/extreme, we under-value the life impact of our own gender equity issues.

For example, North American medical research is most often based on male population groups, with complete disregard for feminine biology and experience. Did you know that Aboriginal women in Canada do not have the same property rights as non-aboriginal women? When living in reserve communities, they can be ousted from their homes when a marital relationship dissolves. And consider that women continue to be relegated to lower paying jobs with less decision-making power, and despite having equal education and experience, women do not receive equal pay for the same work. And what about the all-too-common mini-skirted server we see in popular restaurants today, being sexually harassed by men old enough to be her grandfather, and having to "smile and bear it" to get her tip money.

Yes, we've heard about honour killings in India, female castration in Muslim countries and sexual slavery in Thailand, but these are rare in North America, right? That's what we would like to believe, but like many forms of oppression, the victims are afraid to speak out for fear of further violence against them or their loved ones. This makes it even more important for men and women who are aware of gender equality issues to take action, and to offer support however they are able. What is a particular concern is the lack of activism among North American women. If we as women are complacent about our rights and freedoms, and if we turn a blind eye to sexual oppression of our gender, haven't we given up our power to evoke positive change?

The math is very simple -- complacent behaviour in the face of oppression gives the aggressor power. So, why don't we see more women involved in governing bodies, and why aren't women equally represented in decisions affecting the status of women? Why aren't the streets full of women, girls and their families during International Women's Week? Why doesn't Canada have a federal IWW holiday? (btw, many other countries do!)

Part of the problem is that feminism often gets a bad rap -- it is wrongly stereotyped as man-hating or as a niche area of concern, relevant only to lesbians. This erroneous view is simply "bad press" to diffuse, downgrade and mask the real issues. Feminism benefits both genders, as it focuses on equal opportunity and fair treatment for both genders. All of humanity has to co-exist; if not, we would be in a state of gender apartheid, leading to our eventual extinction. No matter what your gender is, your culture, your education, your age, your interests, or your personality -- the female experience is interwoven to your own. In fact, many characteristics that have traditionally been categorized as feminine or masculine are not actually based on gender, but on cultural norms. These include things like a love of athletics, colour preferences, and clothing styles.

Gender equality progress has been very slow, and some academics have theorized that it will take another 200 years for gender equality to be achieved on a worldwide basis. However, the global gender equality movement persists, working diligently to achieve a state of true harmony and balance. It is interesting that newer feminist scholars are establishing connections between militarism and globalization and gender oppression.

American author, actor and activist, Maya Angelou once said, "I've learned that you shouldn't go through life with a catcher's mitt on both hands; you need to be able to throw some things back." The ball is in our hands; we just need to know that we can hold it, or we can take careful aim and throw it - throw it anywhere, at any time, and to an unlimited distance.
Looking for a way to participate in IWW 2012?
Check out: http://sarasvati.ca/season/iww-monologues/

Getting What You Need?

By Pam Hadder

As a small kid living in northern Manitoba, our Childcraft Encyclopedia series was a vital part of play time. From those magical volumes, we not only learned about the outside world, we read stories and prose, and kept ourselves occupied with a wide variety of crafts and role play activities. (This was pre-Internet, of course, but not quite prehistoric!)

I remember an excercise in entrepreneurship that facinated me at age seven - you had to choose businesses to create a vital community. Would it be the bakeshop, a fruit stand, or a shoe repair shop - which was more important and in which order would you select them? I used to love imagining my ideal village where everything would be "just so!"

In recent weeks, I have had the opportunity to work in rural Manitoba, and it has been interesting to survey the types of enterprises that comprise small town business districts these days. I was pleased to find a local bakeshop with wonderful "fresh daily" goods that also sold homemade sandwiches and soup for take-out. But an ATV shop - how can you make a living in a tiny community by solely selling and servicing ATVs?

Our cityscape is equally interesting - you can't drive more than a couple of blocks without seeing all of the following: tattoo parlour, nail salon, yoga studio, and sushi take-out; oh, there's another tattoo place! And, those businesses weren't included in the Childcraft selections, by the way...

Something is definitely afoot - either what we need has dramatically changed since I was a little kid building my imaginary model community, or everyone eats Japanese three times weekly with fake nails, full tattoo sleeves; in the lotus pose. Many urban environments suffer from what is called "sprawl", and the result is a dilution of services like access to public transit, door-to-door mail delivery, and proximity to food retailers and other requirements for daily living. As a result, suburbanites rely on the use of motor vehicles in order to work, shop, and participate in community activities.

Rural people are accustomed to driving a distance for work, for activities and for shopping - consider how much additional time and effort each rural child spends justs to get to school five days a week! Nonetheless, many rural communities are seeking to diversify, keep up with the times and offer local alternatives to city bound pilgrimages - that's how the fried chicken/bus depot/post office/laudromat/small appliance repair centres come into being!

Services typically arise as a result of need - no matter if you live in a small hamlet or in the midst of a metropolis. It is interesting, however, that many of us move to urban centres for convenience - to access education, employment, health services and so on. But then we drive hundreds of kilometres per week, all within our "convenient" environment. It's a funny kind of progress if you think about it.

Your Voice, Your Way

By Pam Hadder

Social media - can you imagine a day without it? Have you thought about how much social media has changed the way we interact and communicate? The impact has been massive and global, crossing cultures and borders - all within a very short period of time!


Yes, there have been well-documented ups and downs and pros and cons in the fast forward evolution of the social media scene's fab four: Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and LinkedIn. But social media is here to stay, and positive feedback has far out-weighed the negative.

Hot on the heels of these new media icons, many other online apps and services have arisen - some have been of the "flash in the pan" variety, but others are gathering steam to rival the social media big guns. There is no doubt that the growth of social media and related products and services is nowhere near the saturation point; like the famed Energizer Bunny, it just keeps going and going -and growing! Interestingly, the fastest growing demographic in the Facebook community is currently the age 55+group - some see this as a seal of legitimacy or rite of passage; like a nod of approval from an older, wiser mentor.

Good or bad, necessary or trendy, the majority of us have welcomed one or more social media applications into our lives. Many of us keep in touch with friends, family on Facebook, or follow our favourite celebrities and topics on Twitter. Even if social media has not seeped into your personal lifestyle, you likely have had to acquaint yourself with it to some extent in order to be up-to-date in the workplace - because you know that being out of touch in our technically-fuelled world is a shortcut to professional obsolescence!

But what is the greatest impact of social media? Whether you love it or hate it, social media has enabled each of us to have our say, and to express ourselves when, where and how we choose. Sometimes the voice is part of a carefully planned and executed business campaign, or in support of a cause. Sometimes it is simply random self expression, or connecting with like minds. Sometimes inane, sometimes profound, sometimes enlightening, sometimes disheartening or disturbing - social media is your voice, your way, in the moment.

We are in a time of immediacy - we think it, we create it and we share it almost instantaneously. Choose your actions and words wisely - they now have far greater potential to become a very big deal.