I'm a guy and I'm a feminist

According to the handy-dandy Merriam Webster dictionary, feminism is “the belief that men and women should have equal rights and opportunities.” In no way does it mean that men should be lower in status than women; the overall goal of feminism is to simply have both sexes be equal.

Unfortunately, today’s Canadian society as a whole is still not accepting feminism. Canada is known to be welcoming of any religion, race, culture, and supposedly gender equality as well. Below is the 2014 Global Gender Gap Index by the World Economic Forum.  

North America is not in the top ten countries that are close to attaining gender equality. There are many factors (and it won’t be a surprise when given) as to why this is.

As a guy, there are certain expectations of me that come from my guy friends regarding the whole issue of gender equality, and one of them is about the Twitter Page, @TheMeninist. This Twitter page does say that their tweets uses sarcasm, but the tweets still convey messages that is not very good for females around the world. As a “man”, I’m expected to support and follow this page, but I don’t. I’m not going to lie and say I haven’t seen or even laughed at some of the tweets (I know some of you have done the same), but I know how to separate these jokes from my beliefs.

Another trending concept regarding women these days is the term “hoe” being used to generalize women. I’m sure you’ve heard of the line “These hoes ain’t loyal” at some point or another. This term is literally demeaning towards women, and I don’t get why people use it so much. Is the word woman or female or girl so hard to use? What’s worse is social media and pop culture are filled with these types of terms and ideas, that younger generations are exposed to these and it is making them think it’s okay to think that way. Dehumanizing women is just being passed down generation after generation if social media and pop culture do not change.

I’ve been exposed to strong women all my life. My mom raised me as a single parent with help from female nannies (who were very influential in my life); I grew up in a country where we had a woman president (Philippines). It’s safe to say that these factors helped build my feminist attitude. I sincerely hope that in the near future we wholly accept feminism because there is literally no justifiable reason as to why we cannot. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again:  I’m a guy and I’m a feminist

Guest Blogger: Paulo Castro
Reprinted from http://www.hercampus.com/author/paulo-castro

Paulo is a first-year English Major from the University of Windsor. He graduated from Vincent Massey Secondary School, and will always be a proud Mustang. 

Compassion and Wisdom in Place of School Suspensions. Does it Work?

Between 2001 and 2007 a zero tolerance policy instituted by the Ontario Government was in place. In the year following the introduction of the zero tolerance policy,  the number of suspensions in Ontario schools increased by almost 50,000 to 157,436, according to an article in the March 19, 2015 edition of the Globe and Mail.  This article talks about how some schools took action to reduce the number of these harsh punishments.  Principal Mark Daly and staff of St. Jean de Brebeuf Catholic Secondary School in Hamilton have transformed an overcrowded and troubled institution into happy place where behavior problems are infrequent. This has happened despite the large number of students who are from low income families, have disabilities, or are immigrants. Suspensions have decreased from up to three a day to two or three a month. Frequent police visits to break up fights or remove drug dealers are a thing of the past. No longer is St. Jean de Brebeuf a “rough” school engendering fear in students. Lisa Gondo, student council vice president states that now it is a place where students really care about one another and about their school.

The Hamilton Catholic School Board introduced alternative forms of discipline, such as restorative justice.  The faith-based curriculum teaches forgiveness and reconciliation. Lessons in emotional literacy, social skills and self-regulation were added to the curriculum.  The school focused on preventing negative behavior through cultivating positive relationships and spiritual values rather than relying on suspensions and expulsions to control behaviour. Distributing lockers of senior students throughout the school and tasking the seniors with mentoring reduced harassment of younger students. The physical environment was improved by cleaning up an abandoned courtyard, refurbishing the gym, displaying student art, posters on racial equality and rights of LGBT students.  he Principal and vice-principals frequent the halls during times when students move about the school, greeting the students by name and showing interest in their activities. A breakfast program for hungry students was introduced and attention was paid to the social needs of students, for example, by adding more clubs for students.

We live in a time of social upheaval which has resulted in challenges for school administrators, staff, and students. Often we are told of schools beset by problems with drugs, violence, poor attendance, drop-outs, and low academic success.  St. Jean de Brebeuf School is a remarkable story of how visionary policies, changes in disciplinary practices, training teachers in emotional intelligence and using alternative forms of managing behavior problems can transform a troubled school within the space of a few years. Perhaps the leadership of a school board and principal in uniting staff members around a core of spiritual values in the common purpose of educating and nurturing students accounts for much of the transformation. This factor may be an advantage for St. Jean de Brebeuf Secondary School or for the exemplary Islamic school in London’s Muslim Mosque; however, excellence is not the sole prerogative of a faith-based school.  Perhaps you have a story to share about an inspiring change you have seen happen in a school where you live.

Pat McKeon, CSJ    

From Lent to Easter and Winter to Spring: The Journey of Hope and Promise

We are journeying through the Easter Triduum. We are looking forward to Easter and spring with all the hope that accompanies the liturgical season and the natural season – both times during which we celebrate resurrection and new life. The Paschal Mystery celebrated in our churches and reflected so clearly in the “nature of things” – of all created life, reminds us of continuity and wholeness:  cross AND resurrection, winter AND spring.

This Lent I have been reflecting on (and trying to practice) some ways in which our traditional Lenten practices have been “greened” in churches.  Four years ago, for example, parts of the Anglican Church proposed that rather than fasting from usual things like chocolate or other favourite food items, members consider participating in a carbon fast. Examples included carpooling or taking public transport or being more careful with the use of electricity, shopping for local produce and resisting items from far away requiring long-distance transportation to our supermarkets. All of these practices were recommended in light of the urgent call to Christians to respond to the devastating consequences of climate change.

The following Lent, the Roman Catholic bishops of England and Wales recommended a return to Friday fast and abstinence. This was not solely about the externals of a former “Catholic identity” but was closely linked to current environmental considerations. In particular, the conference of bishops suggested that abstinence from meat at least one day each week during Lent as well as being a “spiritual discipline” reminds us that the over-consumption, especially in wealthier countries, of red meat leads to environmentally problematic farming practices and a reduction in grain so necessary to feed the hungry worldwide. 

What was of special interest in the Catholic bishops’ recommendations was the proposal that the practice of Friday fast and abstinence be continued beyond Lent. The Lenten practices were about forming new habits spiritually, or conversion, that could be linked closely to ongoing contributions to wellbeing in the world. So rather than putting a “damper” on our Easter celebrations perhaps some reflection on traditional Lenten practices might lead us to a “green conversion” that will truly allow us and the world to rejoice in new life. What if my prayer became a contemplative prayer of thanksgiving and rejoicing in the gift creation? What if my lifestyle were such that my “fasting” from some things becomes “almsgiving” for the wellbeing of the environment and my poorer neighbours? This truly would be a celebration of resurrection:  Lent into Easter, winter into spring, love for life!

Mary Rowell, CSJ

Here we are, moving through the last week of Lent. How the time has flown!

We realize that Lent is a special time to reflect. I hope you managed to build into your day some quiet space to just “be” and listen to your deep self and to your God. The readings from the Christian scriptures, up until now, would lead us to see that these four weeks have been all about us – God inviting us to a change of heart, mind, and soul. Four weeks ago, we were invited to fast, pray, give alms and learn to empty ourselves of some gratifications, some excesses, so as to have more space for new life.

This fifth week and into Easter is all about Jesus and His faith-filled response to Abba, Father.

I am struck by the steadiness and stability of Jesus’ focus as He moves toward Calvary. In my quiet time one morning recently, I learned some helpful lessons from nature. As I looked out our large window onto the river nearby, I thought about the stability of nature. The sun comes up always, the moon and stars appear at regular times, the trees and bushes can be counted on to be in their places. These are symbols of our God who can be counted on, no matter what. God’s power is the power of love.

As Jesus climbs the hill of Calvary and sees the cross, we too can sense the power of this coming week as we live it with Him. We ask, like the kids on a family trip, “Are we there yet?”  No, we are not, because the graces of this week are a work in progress. Our vulnerability is caught up in Jesus’, but we know we are the Beloved of God, cherished far beyond our understanding. And so I pray the Way of the Cross, asking for the grace to appreciate more deeply the surrender of Jesus to His mission on behalf of me.

Elizabeth Berrigan, CSJ

The Place Where We Find Courage

As we journey through the mysteries of Holy Week, ritualizing the greatest model of service in the washing of feet, journeying with the Suffering Servant in his steps to Golgotha, waiting in the middle time until the new fire is lit and the Gloria peals out and the Eucharist gathers us once more around the festive table. That indeed is our liturgical ebb and flow of time. And our hearts, where might they be?

Perhaps we find ourselves aching over the horrors of the world situation, where brutality is as real as the crucifixion of Jesus. Perhaps we are holding in our hearts the care of the refugee whose journey has been a trek through desert land, hilly crag, and flooded plain, whose feet are bruised and aching with the struggle to arrive in a place of freedom. Perhaps we are empty in the face of absence of loved ones, stunned by the lure of radicalization of our youth. Perhaps our hearts are heavy with the strain of all that haunts our hope for world peace.

And then the new fire is lit and the Gloria peals out and the Eucharist is broken and shared. Small fragments – fruit of the earth, genteel sips of the fruit of the vine. We taste and hold dearly in our hearts the mystery of Presence, of Divine Goodness, of Hope for the future, where death and pain no longer hold court. This is what sustains us – that death is no more; that Christ-life is vibrant in the community assembled; that the reign of God enables us all to live as sisters and brothers.

It is difficult to hold out that hope in the midst of our fragile world, yet we sing “When our hearts are wintry, grieving or in pain, Your touch can call us back to life again, Fields of our hearts that dead and bare have been; Love is come again like wheat arising green.” (CBW 403) This beautiful Easter text captures the middle time of buried seed in the dark earth groaning to sprout its new life. The text then leaps in verse 3 to the brilliance of the Easter Rising. The hymn weds a traditional Christmas tune, Noel Nouvelet, with this poignant Easter text, proclaiming in melody, the passionate in-breaking of God into our earthly reality, and in text, the passionate love of Christ drawing us into the heart of God. In this single hymn Christmas and Easter are united and together call us deeper into the mystery of God’s reconciling love!

This is where we find the courage to live through these times. We have not been left alone adrift on this ever evolving planet Earth. The Christ, Love made visible draws us into the heart of God, teaching us to be about creating Easter, about living fully God’s mercy, compassion and inclusive love.  It is a tall order, but it is the covenant that God makes with us and us with God. In the midst of turmoil and chaos, we are called to stand open to the next possibility that unfolds the revelation of the Risen Christ to the world.

May this Eastertide provide graced awareness to each of you – an awareness that urges us to hold strong the promise that “All shall be one.”

Loretta Manzara, CSJ