The F-Word

Punk Star Wars Ninja Barbie, Pregnant Barbie, I’m-Not-Necessarily-Oppressed Barbie: this was the welcoming scene at the inaugural F-Word Symposium held at the Brantford campus of Wilfrid Laurier University (WLU) on November 18th. Preceding a panel discussion on the relevance of feminism today was a fair where attendees could remake Ken and Barbie dolls to encompass a broad range of identities, abilities, and body types. The process was simple: choose your doll, find a glue gun, and get crafty, but the results ranged far beyond any packaged dolls you’ll see on toy shelves this holiday season. By the end of the afternoon, at least 50 dolls were on display, presenting a striking visual reminder of just how narrow commercial conceptions of Barbie can be compared to the lived reality of humans around the world.

After Ken and Barbie were de-constructed and re-constructed, over 150 students, professors, and members of the community gathered in an auditorium for a panel discussion that openly addressed the stigmas, shapes, and relevancy of feminism today. Moderator Kate Rossiter, a professor at WLU Brantford, prefaced the discussion by explaining how the F-Word Symposium came into being as a result of nation-wide cuts to social programs that focus on women’s issues. Offices for the Status of Women in Canada have closed, and last spring Women’s Studies departments in many Canadian universities were forced to downsize or close. Not only do these cuts endanger the practical efforts and support provided by such groups, but they also tend to stifle the discussion of women’s issues and feminism.

It was news of the challenges faced by Women’s Studies programs in Canada that recently sparked discussion at UTP Higher Education of the course book needs for Women’s Studies classes, and led to the recent acquisition of a book project by Victoria Bromley at Carleton University. The project will address many of the questions raised at the F-Word Symposium and is intended to support students and professors in introductory courses in their attempts to unravel the complexities of gender and feminist thinking in a real and tangible way. It was our work on this book project and our interest in the issue that led us to attend the F-Word Symposium, where one of our current authors, James Cairns, sits on the newly-formed F-Word committee.

In the F-Word committee’s own words: “What is it about the term ‘feminism’ that causes some to cheer, others to squirm, and leave others unsure of what to do? What does feminism mean, anyway? These questions go to the heart of our communities and personal lives. They cross gender lines, occupations, academic disciplines, and political perspectives. So let’s talk about feminism…”

And we did. The four panellists included award-winning broadcaster Lyla Miklos, part-time student Bryn Ossington who studies Philosophy and Women’s Studies and is on the board of the Hanging with the Boys program in Waterloo Region, student Alicia Sayers who has volunteered in many capacities with groups focused on Indigenous communities, and WLU’s only full-time Women’s Studies Professor, Margaret Toye.

Whatever the question at hand, the discussion returned again and again to the topic of what it means to adopt the identity of “feminist.” The panellists spoke candidly about their experiences of adopting or resisting the label, reactions they receive when making the statement “I am a feminist” in various social settings, and what the term feminist can mean.

As the conversation shifted from the panel to questions from the audience, one recent graduate asked about the current shape of Women’s Studies at Brantford. She expressed frustration at trying to obtain a minor in Women’s Studies and having few course options on campus. To obtain the necessary credits, she had to take online courses or travel to the main Waterloo campus. In response to this comment, it became clear that the majority of the students in attendance would welcome the formation of a Women’s Studies program at WLU Brantford.

What emerged at the end of the day was not a clear idea of what feminism is or a certainty about the status of Women’s Studies programs in Canada, but rather what feminisms can look like and the kind of changes they are capable of creating. With a recent article by Katrina Onstad in the Globe and Mail, Thinness – and female unhappiness – is big business, it’s clear that feminism is still relevant and needed. What if Barbies were pregnant or differently abled or available in different shapes, sizes, and ages? How far-reaching would the implications be on female body image?

The F-Word Symposium created a space to have this conversation, and audience reactions clearly indicated that thinking about feminism is not passé and that there is a value to continuing the conversation and considering the possibilities this dialogue might achieve.

So, let’s talk about feminism…

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