Horror of Horrors

Let's begin by establishing this: people come in aaaaalllll different colours, shapes and sizes! Variation and diversity are normal. These are good things. Pretty elementary information, no?

Unfortunately, we live in a world that a. equates beauty with whiteness (and operates on heavily Eurocentric discourse) and b. supports economic systems that rely heavily on commodification. Not surprisingly, then, there are countless products and services that exist at the crux of these facts: skin lightening creams and eyelid surgery are two perfect examples. None of this surprises me anymore (though it does make me shudder).

Today, I received a link that did surprise me. My New Pink Button: a "Simple to use Genital Cosmetic Colorant that restores the 'Pink' back to a Woman's Genitals". For the price of approximately $30USD you can purchase your choice of "Bettie", "Ginger", "Aubry" or "Marilyn" and enjoy a pink-tinted vulva for 48-72 hours.

Honestly? Seriously? Is this for real? VULVA DYE?

Obviously this product and its entire marketing campaign is founded upon horrendously racist, ageist (etc. etc. etc.!!!!! !! !!!) discourse and assumptions. I need to state my disgust at their use of the term "restoration" -- the marketing of a return to better, pinker times (eyeroll). Establishing The Pink not only as something to aspire to but as something that we all once had and should strive to re-attain. Vulvas come in all shapes, sizes and colours. Pink is not the "natural" pigment. Some are never pink. Some are. Some are, then aren't. Most vulvas change with time. This is not a bad thing.

I could go on, but I'll let you check it all out for yourselves.

A relevant video can be found here

- Vivian

Tammy Rae Carland

Untitled (Lesbian Bed #11)

I discovered Tammy Rae Cartland today, coming upon her Lesbian Beds photo project and loving it for so many reasons. It inspired a curiosity in me that was repeated and multiplied as I browsed her various projects. Her work is at once intimate, aggressive, endearing and powerful.

Check her out...

http://tammyraecarland.com/

- Vivian

2010 Student Research Symposium

Urban Youth & the Determinants of Sexual Health Urban Interest Group

The Centre for Urban Health Initiatives (CUHI), along with the Native Youth Sexual Health Network, Planned Parenthood Toronto, Gendering Adolescent AIDS Prevention (GAAP), Ontario HIV Treatment Network, Centre for REACH “Universities without walls training initiative”, Toronto Public Health, Indigenous Education Network, Ontario Institute for Studies in Education’s Adult Education & Community Development Graduate Program and others invite you to join us for the...

2010 “URBAN YOUTH AND THE DETERMINANTS OF SEXUAL HEALTH”

STUDENT RESEARCH SYMPOSIUM

This is a FREE symposium that will be held on THURSDAY, MARCH 25, 2010

Submissions are welcomed from Students interested in youth sexual health across Canada.

The goal of the symposium is to bring together university students to share their research and artistic pieces on youth sexual health and to engage and network with other students, academics, policy makers, and community members interested in Urban Youth and the Determinants of Sexual Health.

**DEADLINE FOR ALL ABSTRACTS IS FEBRUARY 3, 2010!**

WE ARE CALLING FOR SUBMISSIONS--research-focused or artistically-focused

(ie. film, photography, theatre, music, spoken word, etc.) on any of the following areas:

• Aboriginal sexual health and/or Indigenous methodologies and cultural

relevancies to sex education

• HIV/AIDS prevention, sexual health and harm reduction

• Intersectional approaches to equity and the social determinants of

adolescent sexual health

• Exploring the impact of sexual diversity on health

• Improving youth access to sexual health services and education

• Participatory methodologies that promote youth involvement,

leadership and community development

• Leveraging youth media for sexual health promotion

Three awards will be granted to students in categories of oral, poster, and artistic presentation.

The final deadline for abstract submissions is WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 03, 2010

For more information please find attached a detailed description of the Symposium, and a registration form or contact cuhi.admin@utoronto.ca

Underground Garage Sale

WASH will be tabelling zines and handmade crafts at this years Underground Garage Sale in Mississauga.

2800 Erin Centre Blvd, Erin Meadows Community Centre, Mississauga, ON

Saturday, January 16th - 12PM - 5PM.

Come and say hi!

Facebook event here.

- Evy

Happy new year!

This is a great time to start charting your menstrual cycle. Charting your cycle can help you to better understand your body and how it works. Here's a chart that I found online and edited (Click here to see the original). You can print it out or save it and use a program like paint to add in your information.

Here's some helpful information on how a menstrual cycle works. I found it here http://iheartguts.com/uterus

Happy menstruation everyone!

- Alice

Help Save the Toronto Women's Bookstore!

For those of you who don't already know, the Toronto Women's Bookstore is on the verge of closing down. Being one of the only non-profit feminist bookstores in North America, they are a vital resource. They are not only a bookstore, but a safe space for the people who use it. They host tons of events, workshops, and provide plenty of community resources. Please help keep them around. You can purchase something from the TWB or you can donate. Anything and everything helps. Donation information can be found on their website, www.womensbookstore.com.

You can follow their fund raising events here, http://www.facebook.com/#/event.php?eid=224659239047&index=1

Thanks so much. Happy new year!

Let's Talk About Sex

Nobody warned me about the noises

Call for Submissions

WASH is in the process of putting together a new zine issue! (Currently we have
two issues out which you can get more information about here)

We want this issue to be filled by experience-based pieces about the funny/awkward/odd parts of sex that nobody talks about (and by sex, of course, we are referring to any and all of its gazillion variations and definitions). Among other things, this was inspired by something a mortified friend said to one of us shortly after she began having sex with a partner: "NOBODY WARNED ME ABOUT THE NOISES!!!!"

I think that sums up a lot about what we want to do with this.

Anyway, basically we want to discuss all the cringing and sloppiness and flopping and awkwardness that really plays a part of any kind of sex. As we mentioned, this zine is going to be largely based on personal/experience pieces and so, we are looking for you to submit stories, poetry, art, anything that you feel is relevant and you feel comfortable sharing. We welcome anonymous entries - please specify whether you want your name/information disclosed with your submission.

Please send submissions, inquiries, anything to:
w_a_s_h_@hotmail.com

If you don't feel comfortable using your own e-mail address, feel free to access our anonymous e-mail account and send your submission through there:
id: washanonymous@hotmail.com
password: secret

*Please type "Submission: nobody warned me" in the subject field.

- Vivian

Sexsomnia, not a threat?!?!

Man with sexsomnia not a threat

I don't think I will ever understand the massive lack in systems of accountability when it comes to cases of sexual assault.

- Vivian

On priorities

Something to think about....

Swine & Dandy: What if we did as much to prevent rape as we do to prevent H1N1?

- Vivian

This is not Okay

Watching this made me cringe completely:

Heteronormativity Epitomized

This link was submitted to us with the following comment:

"A high school voted that the title of cutest couple in their yearbook should be given to two lesbian teens. I think this is personally awesome, but watch what Fox News had to say about this, and lesbian sexuality. Pretty sure somebody needs to wash their mouths with soap after saying the things the host of Fox News said (among them being that the kids voted for them in order to cause mischief aka the vote wasn't "sincere"). It's horrible to think people have on strict view of what is "proper" sexuality still." - Natalie

I can't move past the nature of the discourse used in this discussion as one that is utterly homophobic, heteronormative, and ultimately oppressive beyond belief. I am also disturbed at O'Reilly's shameless interruptions and condescending manner of speaking. One can always count on FOX for this type of garbage! Definitely disheartening.

- Vivian

That's Gay

That's Gay is a recurring segment on infoMania, addressing clueless/negative/horrifying media portrayals of gay and lesbian identities in a way that is simplified, insightful, and super funny. I find this a really interesting medium to disperse information about important issues and to allow people to question their own biases and reproduction of oppressive ideas. It's the sort of thing that makes you laugh and think at the same time, making is accessible and easy to engage with.

I love you Bryan Safi!

- Vivian

Sex gender body

A friend of mine sent me a link to http://sexgenderbody.com/

"a direct, honest and respectful conversation about sex, gender & body".

There are some really great articles to read. Check it out!

Create Community Expore Research Build Change

Research with Pride is taking place on October 2nd! For any of you interested in participating, go over to the website and register as it will likely fill up soon.

"The Research with Pride Forum provides the opportunity for community members, academics, and students to come together to explore community-based research (CBR) with regards to wellness and health among lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, transsexual, two-spirited, and queer people and communities (LGBTT2Q, henceforth referred to as the "Queer" community). Research with Pride is about exploring the potential of CBR to transform our communities and create positive change."

- Vivian :)

Sexual Health & Pleasure Article in Macleans Magazine

Interesting article about sexual health and pleasure education.

Enjoy!

Woman complains about being assaulted

I found this article on hollabacktoronto called Sex Assualt Charge Follows Subway Attack.

Did anyone else notice that the victim of assault was repeatedly refered to as the complainant? God forbid a woman should COMPLAIN about being sexually assaulted! I guess the writer of the article felt that a good woman knows her place, so to speak and so she should just keep quiet. It's as if they're likening the act of speaking up against sexual assault to a grumpy old neighbour complaining about the kids next door who always step on their grass. Sexual assault just doesn't seem to be taken seriously. Furthermore, it paints the actor of assault in a passive voice, as if he was doing something normal/natural and this woman was just being difficult.


It's amazing how the language one uses can alter how one perceives a situation.

Ladyfest seeks volunteers!

Ladyfest Toronto 2009 is a celebration of arts, feminism, and community featuring the work of women and trans- people in Toronto and beyond. This year's festival will take place November 4-8 in various locations in Toronto! Our festival is completely wheelchair accessible and we are working towards putting together an entirely free festival.

New Dates!
Ladyfest 2009 will kick off November 4th with Grannyboots at the Gladstone Hotel Ballroom! We are still organizing the rest of the events for the weekend following.

Volunteer with Ladyfest

We are always looking for people to organize with us! The first meetings for potential committee volunteers will take place near the beginning of September. All committee meetings will take place at free and wheelchair accessible spaces. If you are interested in joining a committe (such as arts, music, film, fundraising), or you want a smaller commitment, email your name, interest, and availability to ladyfestvolunteer@gmail.com

Check out their blog here

Kinky secret

I found this on post secret today and I had to share it with the WASH world.

Marshall Miller and Dorian Slot

I came across Marshal Miller and Dorian Slot's website the other day and their workshop on female orgasm seems really interesting. I'm going to contact them to see if they'll be in Toronto anytime this school year and perhaps they could come and do a workshop for us!

Check out the page for this particular workshop here.

Event: Orgasm for Peace!

I came across this group on facebook called orgasm for peace.

Click here to be directed to the group.

I think that it's a great idea. My only criticism of the group/event description is that it was said that war is about "men trying impress their potential mates". I think that ideas of masculinity and femininity are central to militarism and war, but I think that it's much more complicated than men and their alleged "mating habits". Regardless, I hope that many of you will be having an orgasm on the first day of winter (December 21st) and thinking of peace.