People First Media program archive
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Is there a need for more men’s centres?

May 24th, 2012 | Posted by pfmarchive in uncategorized - (0 Comments)

A proposal to establish the first-ever men’s centre at Simon Fraser University brings attention, discussion, and analysis

The Simon Fraser University Student Society has approved $30,000 to start a men’s centre at SFU’s Burnaby campus. The proposal generated a round of articles and discussions, and raised questions such as: Are gender-based ‘safe spaces’ needed? Are equality issues being overlooked? Some students took a directly oppositional approach, compiling their objections into a YouTube video. (more…)

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Women and girls invited to create herArt

May 17th, 2012 | Posted by pfmarchive in uncategorized - (0 Comments)

Art project for women builds community spirit while raising awareness about women’s issues

Nanaimo Women’s Centre, with the help of artists from the community, offered women and girls the opportunity to create art in a project called herArt. The purpose of the project was to build community connections—among and between girls and women—through access to art education and creative expression.

Workshops took place during the last weeks of April and into the beginning of May 2012. The Nanaimo Women’s Centre provided the materials, space, and participants, and local artists volunteered to give workshops using their own particular methods and approaches. (more…)

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What lies beyond the macho man?

February 9th, 2012 | Posted by pfmarchive in uncategorized - (0 Comments)

The all-powerful protector and provider stereotype pressures men to conform, powerless to face modern social challenges

From first-ever university courses to academic conferences,an increasing interest in the concept of “men’s studies” is being fueled by the fact that race and class have made historical power formulas far more complex—and that patriarchal models of understanding are being gradually replaced by the irrelevance of gender in postmodern times.

Marc Lafrance, who teaches about men and masculinity as part of several courses on gender and sexuality, believes we need to look beyond the power and destructiveness of masculinity—and see that masculinity “as a structure, as a lived experience, can also be fundamentally disempowering to men.” (more…)

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Who benefits from prostitution laws?

January 19th, 2012 | Posted by pfmarchive in uncategorized - (0 Comments)

John Lowman challenges government to cut hypocrisy and determine what prostitution law and policy should accomplish

Prostitution is legal in Canada, while soliciting is not, exemplifying the hypocrisy present in our society’s responses to it, according to John Lowman, a professor at Simon Fraser University and prostitution policy expert. Prof. Lowman was an expert witness at the Pickton inquiry, which is examining the disappearance of women from Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside. Dr. Lowman has proposed four goals in a decriminalization process. (more…)

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What do men need from counseling?

November 17th, 2011 | Posted by pfmarchive in uncategorized - (Comments Off on What do men need from counseling?)

Women are more likely to request counseling, but when men do seek help, they tend to have difficulty with the process

Dr. Wray Pascoe, a family therapist and human systems consultant from Manitoba, says research has found that women request counseling on a five to one ratio over men and that practitioners say men are more difficult to engage and more likely to terminate treatment early. Men, in general, have difficulty with the psychotherapeutic process, he says.

Wray Pascoe will be in Nanaimo later this month at the invitation of Nanaimo Men’s Resource Centre. Workshops will be offered on November 24, 25 and 26, 2011, on the topics of “Counseling Men Effectively” and “Exploring Male Sexuality.” (more…)

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Advocates praise sex trade strategy

September 22nd, 2011 | Posted by pfmarchive in uncategorized - (Comments Off on Advocates praise sex trade strategy)

PACE Society is pleased that the City of Vancouver has finally taken a position and steps toward a sex trade policy

A new strategy on the sex trade developed by the City of Vancouver [opens to PDF] is intended to provide a comprehensive framework and action plan to address sexual exploitation and the negative effects of sex work. The strategy is considered to be part of Vancouver’s Urban Health Initiative, which works to take a comprehensive approach to difficult social issues including homelessness, drug addiction and mental illness. (more…)

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