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Author Topic: This Award Wasn't Designed for Him
kimi
rabble publisher
Babbler # 4299

posted 07 November 2008 02:34 PM      Profile for kimi   Author's Homepage     Send New Private Message      Edit/Delete Post  Reply With Quote 
We just got this news release in. Based on the below, giving this award to Barry really makes no sense, except as a slap in the face to women's groups. I figure babblers could share some insight.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

November 7, 2008

"This Award Wasn't Designed for Him": Women's Groups Concerned that Status of Women Canada awarded Historic Feminist Honour to Male Fashion Entrepreneur

Women's organizations across Canada are expressing concern upon learning that this year's Governor General's Award in Commemoration of the Persons Case designated for a youth has gone to Ben Barry, CEO of the Ben Barry Agency Inc., a Toronto model agency.

Mr. Barry is the first man to receive the honour since the Awards were established in 1979 (the Youth Award was introduced in 2000).

The Awards mark the historic fight of the "Famous Five" to have Canadian women legally declared persons. Nellie McClung, Irene Parlby, Louise McKinney, Emily Murphy and Henrietta Muir Edwards won a decisive victory for women's rights in 1929 when the highest court in the land stated: "to those who would ask why the word 'person' should include females, the obvious answer is, why should it not?" The Person's Case is celebrated by Canadian feminists as paving the way for important equality rights, such as the rights to vote and hold public office.

For this reason, many question the decision of the Status of Women Canada Selection Committee to include Mr. Barry with the women activists who received the Award this year. One objection is that Mr. Barry's work does not advance women's equality in the sense that the Person's Award is intended to honour. According to the call for nominations, the Awards are supposed to "recognize those that work tirelessly to promote the equality of girls and women in Canada." "The word 'equality' did not factor into his conversation," said Bonnie Diamond, past Award recipient, of an interview that Mr. Barry gave to the CBC following the announcement.

"I have yet to hear a woman receive this award and not talk about the history of the Person's Case and the larger struggle for women's rights."

Another concern voiced is that the Selection Committee has ignored young women activists in favour of Mr. Barry. "What about the founders of [women's history in high-school education advocacy group] Miss G.?" asked Susan Russell of the Canadian Federation of University Women. Pamela Harrison of the Transition House Association of Nova Scotia agreed. "I find it extremely difficult to believe that there are not hundreds, perhaps even thousands of young women who have made outstanding contributions to the advancement of women in Canada."

Mr. Barry's selection may be linked to the changes in Status of Women Canada made by the anti-feminist Conservative government under Stephen Harper. In 2006, Harper's government outraged women across Canada by removing the word "equality" from the agency's mandate and replacing

it with "participation in society." To many women, Mr. Barry's selection is yet another example of how Status of Women Canada has been undermined by the Harper cuts: a decision which gives the lie to Harper's claim to have bridged the gender gap in the last election.

"This is less about commemorating the Person's Case and more about advancing the agenda of the Harper government to try to make women's inequality invisible and deny feminism a future," said Aalya Ahmad of the Ad Hoc Coalition for Women's Equality and Human Rights, an umbrella organization of women's groups that was formed in opposition to the cuts.

"We don't dispute the principle that a man can work for women's equality. But this award was not designed for the purpose to which Harper's New Status of Women Canada is trying to bend it. Mr. Barry has justly received much recognition for his work elsewhere. This particular recognition really doesn't suit him."

Ad Hoc Coalition for Women's Equality and Human Rights

[ 07 November 2008: Message edited by: kimi ]

[ 07 November 2008: Message edited by: kimi ]


From: on the move | Registered: Jul 2003  |  IP: Logged
martin dufresne
rabble-rouser
Babbler # 11463

posted 07 November 2008 02:41 PM      Profile for martin dufresne   Author's Homepage     Send New Private Message      Edit/Delete Post  Reply With Quote 
From the government press release:
quote:
(...)Youth Award recipient Ben Barry, of Ottawa, Ontario, is an international modeling consultant, women's health advocate and author of the Canadian bestseller Fashioning Reality.
Very embarrassing for pro-feminists! Almost designed to split people along pro-men and pro-woman lines.

From: "Words Matter" (Mackinnon) | Registered: Dec 2005  |  IP: Logged
remind
rabble-rouser
Babbler # 6289

posted 07 November 2008 02:57 PM      Profile for remind     Send New Private Message      Edit/Delete Post  Reply With Quote 
Thanks Kimi, it is an absolute slap and I am writing letters, and indeed to Barry himself, asking him to return said award. And I encourage others to as well. Then if he does not, I would suggest actions targeting him directly, by way of continual letters to the editor about him and his acceptance of such an award being a slap in the face to women's groups across Canada, boycotting his actions and endeavors, and perhaps even picketing his place of operations.

It boggles the mind that he accpeted it, and he would have given himself more credence and support from women had he correctly and publically refused it.


From: "watching the tide roll away" | Registered: Jun 2004  |  IP: Logged
laine lowe
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posted 07 November 2008 05:33 PM      Profile for laine lowe     Send New Private Message      Edit/Delete Post  Reply With Quote 
quote:
Originally posted by remind:

It boggles the mind that he accpeted it, and he would have given himself more credence and support from women had he correctly and publically refused it.

Absolutely. If he really is pro-feminist, he would have recognized how unsuitable his nomination and subsequent award was. Thanks kimi for flagging this. Harper and his ilk just keep twisting the knives in their relentless attack to bury feminist voices in this country.


From: north of 50 | Registered: Dec 2006  |  IP: Logged
janfromthebruce
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Babbler # 14090

posted 07 November 2008 09:12 PM      Profile for janfromthebruce     Send New Private Message      Edit/Delete Post  Reply With Quote 
yap, a knife. Listen women don't you love fashion and don't you think it is fitting then that a man wins the award for "fashion" thus encouraging retail therapy.
Time to throw-up.

From: cow country | Registered: Apr 2007  |  IP: Logged
Michelle
Moderator
Babbler # 560

posted 07 November 2008 10:56 PM      Profile for Michelle   Author's Homepage     Send New Private Message      Edit/Delete Post  Reply With Quote 
The guy runs a fucking MODELING AGENCY? An industry that causes eating disorders in a huge number of the women who work for it, and make the rest of women in society feel like shit about themselves?

A modeling agency???

Jesus H. Q. Bloody Christ.

[ 07 November 2008: Message edited by: Michelle ]


From: I've got a fever, and the only prescription is more cowbell. | Registered: May 2001  |  IP: Logged
remind
rabble-rouser
Babbler # 6289

posted 07 November 2008 11:24 PM      Profile for remind     Send New Private Message      Edit/Delete Post  Reply With Quote 
That he owns a modelling agency, was most likely the reason why he was chosen, it suits the mentality, and the ugly nature of Harper and his minions, when they want to deliver what they think is a hilarious slap!
From: "watching the tide roll away" | Registered: Jun 2004  |  IP: Logged
bigcitygal
Volunteer Moderator
Babbler # 8938

posted 08 November 2008 03:54 AM      Profile for bigcitygal     Send New Private Message      Edit/Delete Post  Reply With Quote 
kimi, thanks for posting this.

I have a bunch of question, some of which won't ever be made public, and I'm looking at the front end, ie. the selection process, since Barry never would have received the award if he first hadn't been considered, then chosen.

Who is on the selection committee? Who else was on the long- and short-lists for consideration? What are the criteria for award recipients? Has there been turnover recently on the board or the committee? Is there a cash award associated with winning?

A quick search of the Status of Women Canada's website reveals the criteria, so here's one of my questions answered:

quote:

Criteria for the Awards

Candidates for the Governor General's Awards in Commemoration of the Persons Case must be Canadian citizens. To be eligible for nomination, candidates must be over 30 years of age. Youth awards nominees are ages 15-30 years.

The Awards honour outstanding contributions that have promoted the equality of girls and women in Canada, demonstrated by leadership and excellence in any field, in either a paid or unpaid capacity.

Candidates whose effectiveness and courage have advanced the cause of equality for girls and women in significant and substantial ways that have enriched their communities will be considered. For example, they may have identified needs for change and found innovative solutions in sectors relating to women; lobbied for groups and services; initiated public education and information activities; or through their lives, made outstanding creative achievements or otherwise advanced equality for girls and women.

Five awards are given annually to candidates chosen from across Canada, in addition to one Youth award.


It does not take "courage" to open a modelling agency. And in no universe that I live do modelling agencies directly, or indirectly, promote the equality of girls and women or demonstrate leadership and excellence.

In terms of this being the Youth Award, yes, The Miss G. Project, and the creators of Shameless Magazine are just two worthy potential recipients, and that's just from my Toronto-centric brain.

The five women who won awards this year:

quote:

Shelagh Day, of Vancouver, British Columbia, is an international authority on women's human rights and the founding President of LEAF (Women's Legal Education and Action Fund).

Frances Ennis, of St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador, is a social activist, educator, author and rug-hooking artist who has devoted her life to advancing equality for women.

Beverley Jacobs, of Ohsweken, Ontario, is an inspired leader and devoted advocate for equal opportunity and human rights for Aboriginal women and girls.

Maureen A. McTeer, of Ottawa, Ontario, is a lawyer, author and expert on issues of women's rights and health and those of law, science and public policy.

Mair Verthuy, of Montréal, Quebec, is a researcher, activist and distinguished academic who co-founded Concordia University's Simone de Beauvoir Institute, home of Canada's first women's studies program.


Hey, Maureen McTeer! I know she's a Con. Wait. Could the Cons be using these awards to promote a larger political agenda? How could that be?? [Extreme sarcasm alert]

So, all potential recipients have to be nominated. Here's the SoWC's website:

Person's Case Awards


From: It's difficult to work in a group when you're omnipotent - Q | Registered: Apr 2005  |  IP: Logged
Michelle
Moderator
Babbler # 560

posted 08 November 2008 05:09 AM      Profile for Michelle   Author's Homepage     Send New Private Message      Edit/Delete Post  Reply With Quote 
Well, a mitigating factor (but not by much) is that this guy runs a modeling agency that has all sizes and shapes (well, all sizes up to 14, which is only one size above the North American female average, which is size 12), and he was apparently behind the "campaign for real beauty".

But I'm sorry, that doesn't make this guy one of the top five feminists in Canada!


From: I've got a fever, and the only prescription is more cowbell. | Registered: May 2001  |  IP: Logged
lagatta
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Babbler # 2534

posted 08 November 2008 07:10 AM      Profile for lagatta     Send New Private Message      Edit/Delete Post  Reply With Quote 
I think the guy might well merit some kind of award for departing somewhat from the Auschwitz look, but it should be a business award, not a feminist award.
From: Se non ora, quando? | Registered: Apr 2002  |  IP: Logged

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