Volume 50, Issue 21

Voyeurism Postgraduation Crochet Club

On February 22, students at all University of Toronto (U of T) campuses received a mass email indicating new reports of voyeurism at New College on the university’s St. George campus. An arrest related to accounts of voyeurism in campus restrooms already occurred earlier this year.

>> read more on page 4

You don’t know what lies ahead, all you can do is make the decision in front of you, even though that may be the decision that determines the rest of your life. Sounds familiar? That is what our soon-to-be graduates are going through right now.

>> read more on page 13

Looking to express your creative side? From yarn to painting, art for a cause or art for yourself, the University of Toronto Mississauga’s (UTM) vibrant artists and artisans are all around campus. The Medium took a closer look at UofT’s art community by speaking with Sophia Alonzi, co-president and founder of the UTM Crochet Club.

>> read more on page 15

BEATRIZ SIMAS / THE MEDIUM

Editor

Humanitarian conditions worsen in Gaza with Ramadan right around the corner

Talks of a potential ceasefire are underway after negotiators from the US, Egypt, and Qatar work together to settle a truce.

Maryam Lela Staff Writer

Thestakes for a ceasefire in Gaza are higher than ever as the Islamic holy month of Ramadan quickly approaches. Israel’s assault on the region has killed more than 30,000 people since October 7 and “obliterated large swaths of the urban landscape,” according to a report by CityNews Toronto. As a result, more than half of Gaza’s population of 2.3 million is now homeless—raising an urgent concern for how Gazans will spend Ramadan this year.

According to the World Food Programme, “If nothing changes, a famine is imminent in northern Gaza.” Currently, almost the entirety of Gaza’s population requires food aid.

Ashraf al-Qidra, Gaza’s Health Ministry spokesman, says that infant mortality rates in Gaza “threaten to surge,” according to CTV News. Four children in northern Gaza’s Kamal Adwan Hospital have died due to dehydration and malnutrition. The same hospital said it was discontinuing operations as it had run out of fuel. Aid agencies say that Gaza’s humanitarian crisis is most dire in the North, as humanitarian aid has been almost completely cut off.

On February 27, negotiators from the US, Egypt, and Qatar collaborated on a ceasefire negotiation that would call for the freedom of some of the hostages captured by Hamas in exchange for Palestinian prisoners in the West Bank. It would also entail a six-week pause in fighting, and an increase in aid entering Gaza.

One anonymous senior official from Egypt stated to PBS NewsHour that the deal includes Hamas “releasing up to 40 women and older hostages,” in exchange for up to 300 Palestinian prisoners, most of whom would be women, children, and older people.

On the other hand, Ahmad Abdel-Hadi, a Hamas official, stated that “optimism on a deal was premature.” Hamas’s demand for Israel to end the war under all circumstances is something Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called delusional earlier this month.

Israeli officials stated that, if a deal isn’t reached by the beginning of Ramadan this year, they will “launch an offensive against Hamas’s last stronghold in Gaza—the city of Rafah.” Ramadan, expected to start on March 10, is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar, during which Muslims around the world fast from dawn to dusk. Egypt, the US, and Qatar warned Israel against such an invasion, stating that it would “endanger the negotiations” currently taking place between Hamas and Israel.

Yara Ayoub, a displaced person in Rafah, told The New Arab, that the upcoming month of Ramadan is “worrying and stressful.” According to Ayoub, “We’ve always said ‘It won’t be long till Ramadan,’ but now it seems inevitable.”

Ayoub, who is a 23-year-old woman from Gaza says that Rafah is “completely different” from anywhere else in Gaza. “People are crowded here, and even if food and goods are available, they’re at ridiculously high prices.”

During a stop at an ice cream parlour in New York City, US President Joe Biden commented on talks of when a ceasefire would occur. “I hope by the end of the weekend. My national security advisor tells me that we’re close, we’re close, we’re not done yet. My hope is by next Monday we’ll have a ceasefire,” he told reporters.

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Nutrition and Food Literacy Canada to host meeting at U of T’s Hart House discussing health equity and nutrition

Founder Dr. Leanne De Souza-Kenney explains why younger groups need to be aware of social justice and social determinants of health in their communities.

May Alsaigh News Editor

This March, the education initiative Nutrition and Food Literacy Canada will host a junior meeting with racialized elementary school students at the University of Toronto’s Hart House to discuss health equity, nutrition, and food literacy in Canada. The Medium spoke with the initiative’s founder, Dr. Leanne De Souza-Kenney, to gain further insight into what this meeting hopes to accomplish.

Dr. De Souza-Kenney is an assistant professor of global and public health in the human biology and health studies programs at U of T and is cross-appointed to the Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work at the university. “My mission is to bring people along with me on this journey—individuals who are passionate, groups of people, and other organizations [who] work toward food justice and health equity,” stated Dr. De Souza-Kenney.

Nutrition and Food Literacy Canada first started in Memphis, Tennessee, where Dr. De SouzaKenney examined how American cultural structures and systems impact generational health in the American South. Dr. De Souza-Kenney extended her work to Canada, where she was awarded the Fulbright Community Partnership Alumni Grant to continue the work she first started in Memphis.

“My goal was to leverage those systems that impart structural, social, and cultural impacts on society, such that we can work together to use their resources, strengths, and incredible human talent, to forge a massive cultural paradigm shift for Canadians,” Dr De Souza-Kenney stated.

Dr. De Souza-Kenney emphasizes that access to knowledge plays a key role in people understanding and changing their social circumstances. According to her, “You don’t always know what you don’t know, and that means you don’t necessarily know what and how to ask for what you need when you have never truly [experienced] having what you needed. Get your head around that one.”

According to De Souza-Kenney, Nutrition and Food Literacy Canada is the first national initiative that unites partners across different backgrounds to implement their dual-purpose vision. The first part of their vision is the co-creation of an “interwoven” curriculum for kindergarten to grade 12 (K-12) students on nutrition and food literacy. The curriculum would be woven through existing subjects in the current curriculum and offer in-service teacher training. It will consist of recorded modules, lesson plans, and assessments to support students’ learning of fundamental nutrition and food literacy concepts.

Secondly, the initiative calls for the co-creation of a teacher’s certificate in nutrition and food literacy. The certification would entail completing a set of modules, that, according to Dr. De Souza-Kenney, would be “concise yet robust across all Canadian Teachers’ Colleges.” The goal is to empower and equip teachers with the required knowledge to teach nutrition and food literacy topics to students.

To date, Canada does not offer a robust curriculum in nutrition and food in K-12 education. Dr. De Souza-Kenney argues that it is critical for Canadians to have access to information on eating well, preparing food, and how food environments impact a person’s health.

This coming March, Nutrition and Food Literacy Canada is inviting a class of seventh-grade students from a school in the Greater Toronto Area to share what they want to see in a nutrition and food curriculum. This part of the project is in collaboration with the Joannah & Brian Lawson Center for Child Health and Nutrition at U of T—where Dr. De Souza-Kenney is the Alexander Lawson Distinguished Fellow in Child Health and Nutrition—and with the Equity, Diversity, and Inclusivity (EDI) Committee of U of T’s Human Biology Program where Dr. De Souza-Kenney serves as co-chair.

The event, which is called Sustainable Cities and Junior Charette, will address the barriers students face in their everyday lives that prevent them from optimizing their health.

“When we hold space for groups in our neighbourhoods to access the prestige of our institution, to use the physical spaces and ‘take up space,’ while also supporting authentic EDI conversations between elementary and university students, we begin to do the work of dismantling barriers to access in our cities—those that are both physical barriers as well as deeper systemic and psychological barriers,” Dr. De Souza-Kenney shared.

Currently, Dr. De Souza-Kenney is collaborating with the Peel District School Board to map Ontario’s curriculum and identify gaps where nutrition and food literacy can be integrated into the existing curriculum. In the next stage of Dr. De Souza-Kenney’s work, she will help map the curriculums of other provinces to build opportunities to teach nutrition and food literacy across all schools in Canada. “They say it takes a village,” she concludes, “but in this case, it will take a country.”

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Voyeurism plagues U of T students once again after recent reports in St. George residence washrooms

U of T increases security measures including posting signage, installing security cameras, and upgrading fob systems at residence washrooms to combat incidents of voyeurism.

Jia Bawa Contributor

OnFebruary 22, students at all University of Toronto (U of T) campuses received a mass email indicating new reports of voyeurism at New College on the university’s St. George campus. An arrest related to accounts of voyeurism in campus restrooms already occurred earlier this year.

On February 7, a suspect held an iPhone over an occupied stall in a publicly accessible women’s washroom at New College. A week later, according to the mass email, on February 15, a suspect held an iPhone over an occupied shower stall in Wilson Hall residence—a residence that requires keys for access. The recent incidents mark three total reports of voyeurism since the arrest in January.

On February 21, New College released a statement on their website addressing these concerns. In the statement, the college acknowledges that it has recently been the target of voyeurism since last month’s incidents and assured students that university staff are working with Campus Safety to address these incidents. “The safety and security of our community are of utmost importance. We are committed to finding a swift resolution to these matters.”

U of T has implemented short-term and long-term safety measures to reduce the risk of voyeurism incidents. During reading week, the university called off security presence and installed additional fob locks for the washrooms at Wilson Hall. By February 23, all shower stalls in Wilson Hall bathrooms and the third floor of Wetmore Hall have been altered to feature eye-proofing to guarantee floor-to-ceiling privacy. If these efforts succeed in increasing privacy for students, the university will implement the same changes at New College.

U of T has also installed additional security cameras at each New College perimeter door as well as signs that indicate which areas are being monitored. Signage has also been posted to indicate where voyeurism incidents have occurred.

The Medium spoke with two U of T students about their concerns regarding the ongoing voyeurism incidents.

and enter buildings, including residence halls.

When asked how else to ensure safety, Kher claims walking in groups is the most effective, but recognizes this is not always feasible, especially during the evening when students are returning to residences on their own. Kher feels that “the presence of campus security should be increased in darker and more isolated areas later at night,” specifically pointing to “areas like Queen’s Park benefitting from patrols by campus police.”

To prevent unfamiliar visitors from entering student spaces, Kher believes “the card swipe system could be implemented at more academic buildings to guarantee that they are only accessible by students and instructors, or anyone affiliated with the university.” When it comes to the question of how secure he felt on campus, Kher responded that he did not “particularly feel threatened,” but was quick to add that this sense of safety draws from the fact that he is rarely alone while on campus and residence.

Brenna Dobson, a third-year student at U of T Mississauga completing a major in paleontology, feels otherwise. She believes that U of T is effectively addressing the voyeurism reports and recognizes that these incidents are not “easily preventable.” Dobson, who takes some classes at U of T’s downtown campus stated, “I feel that keeping us updated and aware [of these] situations is the best way to ensure our safety.”

Dobson shared her satisfaction with U of T’s efforts to increase signage as it helps her remain “hyperaware” of her surroundings when using washrooms on campus. “I do not believe [police] who [supervise] bathrooms is an adequate solution,” she added, as she claims it would unfairly affect the LGBTQ2S+ community. When it comes to feeling safe on campus, Dobson emphasizes the need to “be hyper-vigilant when using the washroom at the downtown campus.”

Ayushmaan Aashish Kher, a second-year exchange student studying computer science at U of T’s St. George campus, felt that current safety measures were “not enough to deal with the concerns we are facing right now.” According to Kher, students can easily use their cards to swipe

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UTMSU hosts first in-person event after receiving the 2024 Pillar Sponsorship for its Black Career Pathways

The UTM’s student union has received C$10,000 in funding to better support and equip Black students with the required resources to advance their careers.

Samuel Kamalendran Associate News Editor

The University of Toronto Mississauga Student Union (UTMSU) is the first student-led organization at the University of Toronto Mississauga (UTM) to receiving funding from the 2024 Pillar Sponsorship. The funding will support the UTMSU’s Black Career Pathways project, which seeks to provide career mentorship and development services to Black students with the help of Black University of Toronto (U of T) Alumni.

The Black Career Pathways project applied for the sponsorship in October 2023. It officially launched in November 2023 and intends to run until November 2024.

The Pillar Sponsorship runs annually and is offered by U of T with the support of the university’s affinity partners, Manulife and TD Insurance. The grant is open to U of T alumni, students, and staff who, according to their website, “develop projects, events or initiatives which add value to alumni and students in the University community and embody the sponsor values laid out by [the university’s] affinity partners.”

Aside from providing C$10,000 in funding, the Pillar Sponsorship offers ongoing support from alumni relations, exposure opportunities across the U of T community, sponsorbranded swag, and support with branding and social media practices.

The Black Career Pathways project is run by a multidisciplinary team spanning three university departments and five student groups. The students and staff on the team are led by the UTMSU and committed to addressing and meeting the needs of Black students.

The Medium spoke with Vice President of Equity Ruth Alemayehu to gain first-hand insight into what the project entails and its upcoming plans.

“This project is unique as we spoke directly with Black students regarding their needs for career mentorship,” stated Alemayehu. Following these conversations, UTMSU noted three main needs beginning with navigating law schools and careers in law, navigating careers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM), and building professional development for students. “Black students can expect events that are tailored to their career needs while building their network with Black alumni who can guide them in their future endeavours,” Alemayehu concluded.

The Black Career Pathways project held its first in-person event, sponsored by Pillar, on January 23 at the UTM Student Centre. The event hosted two moderated panels, one consisting of five Black law students and the other consisting of five Black lawyers. The panellists shared their first-hand experiences in the law field to more than 80 participants.

Students could ask their questions before the event, which were then answered throughout the event. According to Alemayehu, “Many questions had an intersectional lens, including questions regarding financial burdens and passion for law as a member [of] the Black community.”

Students also had time to ask questions during the event and network with the panellists. After the event, the panellists’ LinkedIn profiles were emailed to students so that they could connect for future career mentorship opportunities.

Looking forward, the project plans to host two more Pillar-sponsored events. The first is scheduled for June 1, during U of T’s annual Alumni Reunion, in collaboration with UTM’s first Black Alumni Reunion. The event will be open to all Black students and alumni among U of T’s three campuses. “It will be a broad networking event and an opportunity to identify Black alumni who want to continue to engage with Black students through mentorship programs, panel discussions and other networking events,” mentioned Alemayehu.

Another event in November will focus on Black students’ needs in STEM.

Organizers of the Black Career Pathways project encourage students to contact Alemayehu at UTMSU at vpequity@utmsu.ca should they have any inquiries, input for future events, or

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Count it all: fibre arts and feminism

From “craftivism” to “yarn-bombing,” fibre arts are weaved into activism.

Hannah Grace Wang Arts & Entertainment Editor

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For me, being able to create something that a machine cannot was perhaps the most appealing aspect of crochet when I first got into it. With robots and technology taking over pretty much everything, it was comforting to know there was something only a person could do. But crochet is more than a hobby for me. It represents a connection to the past when crochet and fibre arts were solely women’s work. When I crochet, I’m transported away from social media and the 21st century to stillness. The motion of each stitch soothes me, and I feel like I’m out somewhere in a meadow.

Traditionally associated with women and the household, fibre arts are oftentimes brushed aside as an “old ladies’ hobby.” Yet, we’ve seen the power of “yarn-bombing” and crochet graffiti in raising awareness of social justice issues. Fibre arts are more than just a means to make clothing or a pastime. Women have long embraced the femininity of fibre arts and used it as a means of activism, or “craftivism”—the act of protesting with art. This form of colourful protest draws attention to its creator, prompting viewers to ask themselves, “Who made this?” and “How long did it take?” and “Why is it here?” It is precisely this aspect that I find so endearing about fibre art in public spaces. Think about how much a handknitted scarf costs on Etsy, or how long it took your aunt to crochet a headband for you. Now think about all that time someone dedicated to a cause they felt was so worthwhile that they gifted a piece of themselves—their time, design, and energy—to the public.

Perhaps one can argue that fibre art protests, aside from being a lively art installation, are a waste of materials. Sure, that yarn could be used to make clothing. But would we still pay attention to protests if they didn’t make us feel something? The whole point of activism is to stir what’s been stiffened inside us. I can’t help but applaud the first person who took yarn to the streets. With 92 million tonnes of textiles ending up in landfills every year, a colourful yarn-wrapped tree being wasteful shouldn’t be the excuse we use to bypass important causes that people have dedicated their time to supporting nor dissuade us from taking in the powerful

impact of yarn-bombing in public spaces.

In queer and marginalized spaces, crochet and yarn art has also been embraced by the community. For many queer and feminist communities, fibre arts that are traditionally perceived as women’s work “are being re-imagined, not as a return to a conservative past, but rather as a break from that past.” Perhaps there’s something enticing about defying gender stereotypes and pushing the societal boundaries around traditionally deemed “ladies’ jobs.” Giant crochet penises and vulvas for sale at art markets have become statement art pieces for people to celebrate their sexuality and authenticity.

The popularity of crocheted items, thanks to social media, has unfortunately fallen into the grasp of fast fashion. Because each crochet item is handmade, fast fashion brands that sell crocheted tops and accessories are inevitably exploiting a worker’s craft. You can rest assured that these companies are not properly compensating the workers for their work, and that’s a downside to the rise in fibre art popularity. Not only is this a capitalist nightmare for crocheters and designers, but it also undermines the value and time needed to craft a quality piece. Fast fashion companies that sell cheap crochet pieces also directly affect the impact of crochet graffiti or craftivism protests because when people are oblivious to the time and effort it takes to create handmade yarn pieces, then they will also fail to realize and appreciate the significance behind the fibre arts.

So, what can you do? For one thing, if you feel compelled to stand up to conservative gender stereotypes, you can learn to crochet. Take in how you can choose to learn—something not afforded to everyone. It’s something that feminism must still challenge.

Craftivism is unlikely to go away anytime soon. If anything, I think yarn-bombing is here to stay. So, when you come across yarn-bombing, appreciate it. It is a loud statement, not only to the creativity among us but also the dedication we have to causes we find meaningful.

BEATRIZ SIMAS / THE MEDIUM

How to celebrate International Women’s Day

Empower the women in your life through literature, film, and proactive engagement.

Debbie Wong Contributor

International Women’s Day makes its appearance on our calendar as we flip it over to March.

Taking place on March 8, International Women’s Day not only focuses on women’s rights movement but also recognizes them for their achievements, whether they are social, cultural, economic, or political. The holiday serves as a time to reflect on women’s role throughout history, paying tribute to all the amazing things women have done without acknowledgement.

But let’s be honest, how many of us actually make time to celebrate International Women’s Day instead of just acknowledging it?

Literature often carries the power to illuminate one’s perspective. It is said that a woman will die, but not her idea. Through reading literature, we travel back in time, immersing ourselves in the narrator’s thoughts and experiences, bringing words back into life. I remember reading The Diary of a Young Girl by Anne Frank for the first time. Despite it being set during World War II, revolving around daily life of the wartime, there was one thing that I could not help but keep thinking of as I read the book: “Anne Frank was also just a girl.”

At the age of only 15, Frank was able to portray the challenges many women face during their lives within her words. The suppression under male dominance, the wondrous dreams we have about if the patriarchy did not exist, and the life we could have if there was no such thing as misogyny.

Literature of this kind, like Frank’s diary, fosters empathy and allow us to dive into the heartbreaking fact that gender inequality has existed long ago and continues to exist in many forms today, such as access to education, child marriage, and the gender pay gap in workplaces.

On the other hand, in the film industry, women are often portrayed in a stereotypical way, and that is not surprising when the filmmakers are mostly heterosexual men. Of course, they are just as talented and hardworking as the women are, but without firsthand experiences of being a woman, it becomes challenging to convey the women’s perspectives. But fear not, my ladies. Within ourselves, we also have some of the most talented and empowering women directors, such as Greta Gerwig and Sofia Coppola, who changed the way women are being represented in movies. For example, the release of the movie Barbie has marked another milestone in feminist history. Being the feminist icon as she has been since the ’60s, Barbie allows young girls to imagine themselves being anything and anyone they want, not just a pretty doll living for the male gaze.

“To be a woman is to perform.” A sentiment I believe many women can relate to. Despite working hard and doing things solely for themselves, there are still people who see women as inferior, or that everything they do is either less relevant or that they are doing it for the “attention.”

Already watched Barbie when it was first released? Don’t worry, other films like Marie Antoinette and Priscilla are also amazing works realized by female directors for the purpose of combatting to the challenging stereotypes and in affirmation of women’s complexities. They tell a story from a woman’s perspective, showing the heart of the matter of the challenges women deal with on a day-to-day basis. I highly recommend watching any of these movies to open your perspective regarding women’s experiences.

Mere recognition of the problem of gender inequality is not enough. If you are ready to take the next step and make some changes, consider reaching out to organizations dedicated to women’s rights and empowerment. Within the University of Toronto Mississauga (UTM), we have the UTM Women Student Association—an inclusive student group dedicated to fostering a strong community among women students. The association often holds fundraising events to support the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation. It is a perfect opportunity for anyone looking for a fun and easy way to get engaged with and make changes in society.

If you are looking to further expand your network outside of campus, the YWCA Canada is a voluntary organization aimed at providing support to Women of Colour and newcomers to Canada. You can take a small step by donating to charity or by signing up as a volunteer for their events.

Do you have women in your life that you deeply appreciate? Take action today with words of affirmation. Simply put aside a moment to call or text, or even better, say affirmations in person to express your gratitude for having them in your life and for the support they have provided to you.

Many times, we are so used to the idea of having a woman performing the role of a mother, having them do all the tasks around the household without acknowledging them. You can change this on International Women’s Day this year by saying thanks and showing your support to them. Let us continue the celebration, empowerment, and unity that this day is all about by taking action!

AURORA

Feminism beyond the big screen: examining the authenticity of your advocacy

What kind of woman will you fight for?

Tia Cummins Associate Opinion Editor

With the Oscars arriving on March 10, movie-and-TV-show lovers alike sit in anticipation. Fans scour nomination lists across the Internet to get a sense of which of their favourite actors, directors, and other cinematic films have climbed their way to the top of box office charts and critic lists in 2023. Alongside big-name films such as Oppenheimer and Killers of the Flower Moon, motion picture Barbie is up for eight separate Oscars.

The film is nominated for Best Picture, along with actors Ryan Gosling and America Ferrera in line for Best Supporting Actor and Actress, respectively, as well as multiple songs from the film being nominated for Best Original Song. Aside from the film’s multiple opportunities to win an Oscar, lead actress Margot Robbie and director Greta Gerwig are absent from the nominations in their respective roles. Fans of the film are outraged by the absence of nominations for the two women, who are understood to be the biggest contributors to the movie’s success.

With Barbie’s main theme being centered around feminism, the validity of this nomination outrage is easily questioned. While fans openly advocate for Robbie and Gerwig, the same emphasis on feminism isn’t always seen in relation to other global issues. Currently, one of the most important global issues is the genocide taking place in Palestine.

Israeli women who were sexually abused during their capture by the Hamas in October sparked articles and other feminist activist conversations amongst the Western world. And while the sexual abuse allegations against Israeli hostages are unverified and denied by the family of one hostage, UN experts and the World Organization Against Torture ( OMCT ) are documenting reports of rape and sexual abuse within Israeli prisons against Palestinian women and girls, with cases dating back to 2002 and before. So why are these same selfproclaimed “feminists” silent in the fight for Palestinian women?

Mothers in Gaza have been displaced while their children are ripped away from them forever. Pregnant women do not have the resources to keep themselves, let alone the baby they are carrying, healthy or even alive. Young girls and women have no way of managing menstruation, and many girls don’t even have their mothers around to aid them.

What about the mothers in the Congo? Extensive fighting has put women in an even more vulnerable position than they were already in before. Mothers are facing countless incidents of sexual violence after being displaced and separated from their children. Where are the feminist voices of Barbie fans for the rape victims of soldiers in Sudan? Gendered violence has been manipulated into a weapon of war, and oppressed women are the ones facing the repercussions of it.

The truth about the situation is that our security in the Western world distances us from the severity of global conflicts. It is easier to have a strong opinion on the Oscars nomination list because it has more significance in our everyday lives. We watch these movies, and we relate to their characters or songs. The effects of the genocide in Palestine, Congo, Sudan, and other distant countries do not directly impact us on a personal level, making it less obvious that we need to empathize with the female victims.

Although this may be considered an “explanation” as to why many feminist voices are quiet in the fight for marginalized women, it does not justify silence. Being that we are safe and protected, it is our duty as feminists to fight for those who cannot fight alone. We are the ones who have the resources and capital to work toward the liberation of oppressed women, and we must act. You cannot call yourself a feminist if you do not fight for the rights and safety of all women in the world. Feminism is not conditional, and it must be displayed consistently and universally.

AURORA PICCIOTTOLI/THE MEDIUM

The struggle of women-only tech events

The tricky line of trying to promote gender equity in STEM fields.

Mari Khan Contributor

Science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) camps for women are not new. There are so many out there that encourage women to join STEM and give them the resources they need to succeed in learning. Despite these efforts, women in STEM made up less than 25 per cent of the workforce in Canada in 2023. From my perspective, women have the resources to complete their STEM degrees and there is already an abundance of programs dedicated to supporting women through education. The problem is entering the professional field. And once you enter it, there are a lot of other problems.

Organizations and individuals are starting to realize this and there is a demand for more support for women after education. For example, one of Toronto’s largest technology conferences, Collision, offers “Women in Tech” tickets meant exclusively for women. The ticket also comes along with perks: significant discount in ticket price, access to an exclusive lounge, and talks catered specifically to addressing problems women might face in the industry.

I volunteered at this conference and one of my shifts was at registration for the Women in Tech tickets. The main problem we were told to address is, if a man walks up with a Women in Tech ticket, we’re supposed to deny him entry. I struggled with this. What is a man and what is a woman? What if they’re trans? I didn’t want to make a guest feel uncomfortable and there was no proper training for the position, so I felt really lost.

Ultimately, no one was turned away. The next day when strolling past the lounge meant exclusively for women, I noticed that it was not exclusively women. I think that the idea behind the ticket is an amazing initiative by Collision, but there needs to be a vigorous screening and training process for volunteers and other staff involved.

Late in 2023, videos were popping up on my TikTok feed showing men overtaking women in tech events. It’s likely because, right now, the tech industry is experiencing an extreme recession and going through mass layoffs. The once promising and bright industry is quickly souring and leaving thousands without employment. With big names like Google, Microsoft, and TikTok being in the pool of companies having mass layoffs, pessimistic futures are being painted for individuals. Companies are explaining these mass layoffs with “pandemic hiring binge[s], high inflation and weak consumer demand.” While this sounds like an excuse taken from a textbook, it makes sense.

During the pandemic, tech was being painted as a utopian industry that would always have space for you, no matter your experience level. It was a bright speck of hope during such

a depressing time. It makes sense that the industry is massively oversaturated after many individuals set up social media profiles to share their journey into tech and how you could do it, too. Well, someone might want to check up on the tech influencers and see how they’re doing now.

Weak consumer demand also makes sense. Everyone who wanted a tech solution achieved it during the pandemic. At some point, it just becomes excessive. I’m waiting for the Apple iApartment, filled with Apple from the entryway to the balcony. I think the industry blew up too fast and is now adjusting to where it should be.

The problem is that thousands of people must suffer because of this. Enter the Women in Tech events. For some of us, using an opportunity meant for a specific group that you do not identify with is rude. But for others, it is the perfect opportunity in an industry that is throwing you out. Women in Tech events are the opportunity to get your résumé in front of recruiters. Well, why don’t they kick out individuals who self-identify as male? The event would risk facing discrimination allegations. Not a great look for an event focused on providing equity and equality. This leaves women in a place where, once again, they are being shoved aside in the industry—both figuratively and literally.

Recently, I had the opportunity to attend ElleHacks, a women’s only hackathon, as a hacker!

I didn’t win, but I left with free stuff and ate a lot of free food, so I still won. The event did an amazing job of keeping it exclusively for women in terms of hackers. There was a hacker who self-identified as male. He was told that he was welcome to stay for the opening ceremony and observe but could not actively participate in the hackathon. I think the situation was handled with a lot of grace and the event went smoothly.

I overheard a story from someone at the event who worked in the tech industry about how she got passed on for a promotion at work. Understandably, she felt down about it. Then, she heard from someone that no one got the promotion. When she asked her boss about it, he informed her that it was either her getting the promotion, or no one getting the promotion. He decided no one would get the promotion. The sad part is that there are countless stories like this.

I think that the priority for the tech industry is to stabilize and then continue to develop programs that allow for equal opportunity in the workplace. There is only so much that women can do. There needs to be accountability in the workplace from employers, too.

DAANISH ALVI / THE MEDIUM

The underrated phenomenon that is women in STEM

Women in STEM shouldn’t have to face the challenge of imposter syndrome.

Valeria Ramirez Osorio Contributor

I’vepicked up this habit since my first year of undergrad: whenever I walk into a new computer science lecture, I count how many cis-presenting women I can spot. Now I’m in fourth year and the numbers remain the same. Most times I only need one, maybe two hands to count all of them—myself included. It’s become an unconscious tick, but why do I do it? Maybe it’s the need to see myself in others. Maybe it’s just the desire to know I belong.

It’s 2024 and being a “Woman in STEM” is gaining traction, but what does it actually mean? We’re always told to break the glass ceiling, to exceed expectations, to stand out, despite a patriarchal society. But no one ever talks about what internal conflict it can bring or the potential isolation that comes with it. As glamorous and as romanticized as it seems to be a woman in STEM, it’s hard. But we have nothing to complain about, right?

Imposter syndrome is defined as “the persistent inability to believe that one’s success is deserved or has been legitimately achieved as a result of one’s own efforts or skills.” While not exclusive to women, it seems to be our default. It comes from the deep sense of alienation and the fear of making a mistake. An underlying doubt about whether we deserve to belong here or not. It comes with the territory of always hearing “Founding Fathers of Science” and never “Founding Women.” It comes from knowing we’re not the first thought when someone is asked to picture a doctor or engineer. But it doesn’t stop there.

On top of the imposter syndrome and self-doubt, there’s a heavy weight pushing down on our shoulders, a pressure to succeed and to prove that those who came before us were right in fighting for our chance. How can we let down Marie Curie, Mary Jackson, Hedy Lamarr, Ellen Ochoa, all those whose names were not credited, and every other woman that fought for us to have a place in our fields? They had to overcome injustice, violence, and every condescending response when they demanded for the right to exist in these spaces. They had nothing, which in comparison means we have everything.

There’s an unspoken expectation to be strong, perfect, and never need help. We have their legacies to uphold from the moment we choose to follow in their footsteps. However daunting

these thoughts may seem, they’re not part of every story. I am not here to speak for every woman. Some sciences have large communities of women. For others, devoting energy to reflecting on these struggles may feel like a privilege compared to other challenges in their lives. Everyone has their own personal battles, whether fueled by race, background, or gender and sexual identity. There’s a story behind every one of these women in a STEM class.

It’s easy to fall down this rabbit hole of negativity, swallow ourselves in a pity party, but being a woman in STEM, despite its hardships, is a beautiful thing. It is an opportunity to put a voice out into the world and a chance to celebrate. While all women don’t share the same experiences of doubt or mountains to climb, we all share the same pride.

So, let out that breath you’ve been holding in. We’re women in STEM! Cis, trans, non-binary, female-identifying, each and every one of us! We’re doing what was impossible less than a century ago. We’re allowed to sweat, cry, and get frustrated because it is hard. It’s meant to be hard. No one said rocket science was easy. Let’s remind ourselves that we’ve made our place here, where we can struggle, learn, grow, and make every woman that came before us proud by simply just existing. It’s easy to forget your achievements, a common trait in university students, but historically and statistically more prominent in women. But just take a look at the women in our very own university. We have future doctors, engineers, psychologists, mathematicians, and scientists walking among us.

Here’s to all the little girls that took things apart just to put them back together. Who watched How It’s Made videos obsessively. Who debated mercilessly. Who had stars in their eyes when they watched Big Hero 6 for the first time. Who made mixtures of shampoos in the shower. Who walked around a hospital in awe instead of fear. Or even those who had no interest in anything STEM-related until later in life. To all those who built and learnt, and tried and failed, but still got right back up. This one’s for you. Let us continue to prove the ignorant, and history, wrong. Happy International Women’s Day!

BEATRIZ SIMAS / THE MEDIUM

features

Editor | Louis Lam features@themedium.ca

The evolving waves: a feminist journey through time

From ancient protests to modern-day movements, feminism is a relentless pursuit of gender equality and inclusion.

Zainab Khalil Contributor

March

8 marks International Women’s Day, a public holiday that celebrates the political and social achievements of women and feminism around the world. Feminism is the ideology that all genders deserve equal opportunities, whether it be in public or private settings. It focuses on women’s empowerment, identity, and fighting against gender discrimination.

The feminist movement appears to have originated in Ancient Rome, where women organized a protest against a law restricting them from purchasing expensive goods. During the Middle Ages and the Age of Enlightenment, women also protested through literature and took a stance against misogyny and traditional gender roles by advocating for women’s rights.

However, it was not until the 1800s that the first wave of feminism took place. This takes us to the US, where in 1848, during the Seneca Falls convention, a rally was organized by feminists advocating for the right to vote and to not be viewed as property of men. During this time, feminism was connected to the abolitionist movement, a movement created to fight for the end of the transatlantic slave trade and slavery in the country. This gave a voice to various feminists, such as Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Sojourner Truth. Slowly but surely, women started gaining rights to education, work, better wages, and much more, paving the way for the world we live in today.

Around the same time, women around the world were protesting for the same cause—equal rights in both societal and political settings. Women first gained the right to vote in New Zealand, followed by Australia, Finland, and the UK. In Nigeria, women protested a tax imposed on only women. In Ireland, women protested poor conditions where they were paid low wages, working in dangerous settings, and were given limited leave. In the US, during World War I, women were trying to prove that they deserved equal rights. In the 1920s, the amendment giving only white women the right to vote was passed, ignoring the needs of women of colour in the country. Despite these setbacks, women around the world also started working and hence began playing a bigger role in the workplace; however, they were still facing discrimination with lower pay and unequal treatment. During this first wave of feminism, on March 19, the first International Women’s Day was celebrated across Europe in 1911.

After an ongoing battle lasting 112 years, the second wave of feminism began in the 1960s and continued into the ’90s. During this time, women received the right to equal pay in the US and women of colour were finally given the right to vote alongside their white counterparts. Women also started playing new

roles in the workforce that were larger still. This wave put a greater focus on fighting traditional gender roles and norms. The Roe v. Wade case—a case that took place in Texas where a woman sued against an anti-abortion law and fought to pass an equal rights amendment for social equality—emphasized reproductive rights as a main focus of the second wave.

Elsewhere, there were protests against a Miss America Pageant, where women threw objects symbolizing oppression (high heels, undergarments, etc.) into the trash to fight misogynistic attitudes against women and unrealistic beauty standards. Despite all the successes of the second wave, it still neglected the rights of woman immigrants and religious minorities in the US. They continued to face unemployment, racism, and discrimination in multiple settings.

In the ’90s, the third wave was just starting to form, where women embraced their femininity and sexuality. During this wave, advocacy against sexual assault and misogyny was on the rise with the creation of the #metoo movement, a focus on giving women of colour equal pay, and a fight against discrimination. In South Asia, advocacy for women to have access to education was also on the rise with advocates like Malala Yousafzai, while in Saudi Arabia, women gained the right to drive. In 2017, more than five million people marched worldwide advocating for full rights for women the day after Donald Trump was elected president, as he threatened to remove rights to immigration, racial equality, and reproductive rights in the US.

The fourth wave of feminism is now on the rise due to the ongoing inequalities many women are still facing today such as violence, unequal pay, unemployment, public pressure, lack of representation in politics, reproductive rights with the overturning of the Roe v. Wade case, among many other issues. The definition of feminism also started to shift, becoming more inclusive and switching from traditional feminism to modern feminism by including trans women and other genders who are advocating for equal rights.

Feminism has evolved dramatically during the years and is continuing to evolve to address the needs of all women around the world, regardless of be race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, and even religion.

Happy International Women’s Day!

BEATRIZ SIMAS / THE MEDIUM

“Dania’s Cuisine:” how a UTM graduate stepped into the world of TikTok content creation

A glimpse into food blogging with Dania Arwini.

Maryam Lela Staff Writer

The Internet is a great place. It can teach you how to do pretty much anything. How to fix a leaky faucet? Easy. How to drive a car? Sure. How to make the most amazing brown butter chocolate chip cookies you’ve ever had? “Dania’s Cuisine” has got you covered on that one.

In fact, Dania Arwini, founder of the social media account Dania’s Cuisine on Instagram and TikTok, has been educating the world on how to cook for years. The 22-year-old has amassed more than 415,000 followers on Instagram and TikTok combined. She makes recipe tutorials on all kinds of classics, from stir-fry noodles and macarons to chicken noodle soup. And did I mention she’s a recent University of Toronto Mississauga (UTM) graduate?

But how did Arwini get into food blogging in the first place?

“It was an accident really,” Arwini says. “My mom is an excellent cook, and growing up, I watched her make homecooked meals almost daily. I think watching her was a big part of my inspiration to get into cooking.”

Growing up, Arwini experimented with recipes she found in cookbooks, as well as ones she found online. “The Internet was my best friend if I was looking for a specific type of recipe, and I learned traditional Libyan recipes directly from my mom.”

In September 2019, Arwini began her full-time studies at UTM. Alongside pursuing a double major in biology for health sciences and psychology, Arwini continued to cook and bake. “I had a phase where anytime I would bake or cook something, I would share it to my private Instagram account for my friends to see.” Arwini’s friends suggested that she make a specific Instagram account just for food blogging. “They were probably annoyed with the spam,” she laughed.

every day.” The six-episode series consists of recipes like baked salmon filets with sweet potatoes, one-pot orzo, and stuffed peppers with a side of salad and chicken. Despite her two thriving social media accounts, Arwini was still a full-time student who prioritized school over recipe-making and content-creating. “Since Dania’s Cuisine [was] a hobby, I had the freedom to prioritize my university classes over posting,” she explained. “I had times in which I would go even months without posting because of a busy university semester.”

Now, almost four years into food blogging, Arwini admits how much the online world continues to surprise her. “Often, the videos I expect to do horribly are the ones that go viral,” she admitted. One such video is a behind-the-scenes of hosting a dinner party, which garnered more than 2.5 million views on TikTok. “I was procrastinating editing the video for so long because I had little motivation to post it. I really thought it would flop.”

In April 2020, Arwini took her friends’ advice, and Dania’s Cuisine was born on Instagram.

Throughout 2021 and 2022, Dania’s Cuisine gathered more followers and views. In an Instagram reel and TikTok video posted in December 2022, Arwini demonstrated how to make Libyan meat-stuffed potatoes called embattin. As of February 2024, the videos have amassed more than 16.5 million views combined.

“Creating content was a fun stress reliever for me,” Arwini explains. “I scheduled it in just like any other pastime or hobby.”

Occasionally, Arwini includes a new series on Dania’s Cuisine, each related to a specific theme. For example, in 2022, she started a series on her channel called “Full-Time Uni Student Dinners,” where she demonstrated “what a very busy person makes for dinner

The financial aspect of food blogging also surprised Arwini. “I wish I had known earlier how much money there is to be made in content creation,” she says. “Capitalizing was not a motive in creating my page, but I would have created my page a long time ago if I knew I could capitalize off of my hobby from the comfort of my home.”

But along with its highs, content creating comes with its share of mental health challenges. “Whether you realize it or not, the constant comments and direct messages take up mental capacity and can affect your well-being. It’s important not to take them too seriously nor personally,” Arwini explains. She keeps her face out of her videos to “limit unwanted attention.”

In June 2023, Arwini graduated from UTM with an Honours Bachelor of Science with high distinction. She is currently taking a gap year before pursuing further education. She aims for a career in health care. “I’ve wanted to work in health care ever since I was little,” she says. “But as a kid, I also contemplated pastry or culinary school. So it’s amazing that I’m working towards the best of both worlds.”

Aside from cooking and content creation, Arwini volunteers with the Libyan community in Canada during their Eid events. She explains that many people see Dania’s Cuisine as a Libyan representation. “There aren’t many Libyans making Libyan food content in English—I think that’s part of what sets my channel apart,” she says. “I’ve had many Libyans tell me that my channel helped them [when] non-Libyans ask what Libyan food looks like—they finally have a source to refer them to.”

Arwini concludes with a piece of advice for aspiring content creators: “Don’t stress yourself out trying to reach a certain amount of likes, views, or followers,” she says. “Do it out of love—as a hobby.”

DANIA ARWINI/@DANIASCUISINE

Navigating the fog: what life is like postgraduation

Graduation marks the start of a new journey often filled with uncertainty.

Rafiqa Zubair Associate Features Editor

You are walking through a thick forest with nothing but endless trees and pathways. Ahead of you feels like an abyss. A fog builds so thick it is blinding your vision. One path may lead you somewhere and another in a completely different direction. You don’t know what lies ahead, all you can do is make the decision in front of you, even though that may be the decision that determines the rest of your life. Sounds familiar? That is what our soon-to-be graduates are going through right now.

Graduation is often romanticized amongst students with big dreams and high hopes of escaping the struggling student life. However, what most students fail to realize is that the journey begins after you graduate. A journey of discovering who you are without the shadow of being a student for the past twenty-something years.

A syndrome that a lot of students develop during their undergraduate studies and tend to struggle with even after is imposter syndrome—a persistent self-doubt and an irrational sense of intellectual fraudulence despite clear accomplishments. It’s a paradox wherein success and competence coexist with nagging feelings of inadequacy. This makes navigating decisions after graduation even harder.

Often, students find themselves considering their options of entering the working world or continuing further education. According to Urban Institute Graduate Studies, within 10 years of receiving a bachelor’s degree, 40 per cent of those graduates enroll in a graduate school. Students are often not satisfied by the workplace because it doesn’t provide the same high that academic successes and achievements provide. They find themselves looking at programs and wanting to continue their education after graduating even if that was not their initial plan.

Noorma Fatima graduated with a specialist in biology in 2023 from the University of Toronto Mississauga (UTM) and explains this feeling perfectly, “Unfortunately, when I graduated, there was a period where I didn’t know whether I should continue being a student or apply to jobs. I had to figure out my options both in the academic field and in the job market.”

Fatima went on to pursue medical school the following fall at Poznan University of Medical Sciences. Although she had found her passion and next steps, she still describes postgraduate life as difficult to deal with, as you may not know what’s next. “It can get challenging because sometimes you may not understand what you want to do or what your options are. I would recommend being patient and calm during this transition because it is not the easiest one.”

So, if you are struggling to see through that fog, remember that you are not alone. After graduating, you get to decide what you want to do and that can be a daunting decision. It can also be hard to achieve your goal, get into your dream program, or start your own entrepreneurial business.

The advantages that you have with planning for graduate school or your next step in your life are age and experience. Whereas when you chose your undergraduate program, you were no more than a 17- or 18-year-old teenager. Now you are an adult. Plan for the future. Ask the questions and do your research. Take the time to investigate why this specific program will be beneficial to your future and where can it potentially lead you. You have the power to control where you want to go from here.

Another important step for graduates to take is in networking. Talk to alumni and learn from their stories. Do their stories align with your vision? Use resources like LinkedIn, your postgraduate program’s social media pages, and group chats to start connecting with individuals who are also starting with you. These connections will eventually become lifelong friendships or your professional network that play a role in helping you land that job, the people you will seek out to for advice on that entrepreneurial idea, or simply a study partner to share the ups and downs of graduate school with.

And finally, don’t forget to cherish your time in your postgraduate life. As an alumnus myself, I think this is one advice all alumni would give. Students are so eager to complete their undergraduate programs and graduate that they forget to romanticize it. You are finally graduating from young adulthood to full adulthood, where you have the power and freedom to explore who you are and build everything with your own hands.

As daunting as life after graduating can be, remember to take it one day at a time. Don’t compare yourself to your peers who are on their own paths. Everyone is on a different pathway, and they see just as thick of a fog as you do. Take one step at a time and trust yourself in navigating through it. There is something very exciting about trusting the process, putting in the work, and seeing where it eventually leads you.

Congratulations to all the upcoming soon-to-be graduates. We are proud of you.

BEATRIZ SIMAS / THE MEDIUM

Editor | Hannah Wang arts@themedium.ca

Challenging the patriarchy: The power of the gaze

How the female gaze empowers both men and women and changes patriarchal narratives.

Mashiyat Ahmed Associate Opinion Editor

The media—be it books, movies, television, or podcasts—are powerful for their artistically appealing façades and storytelling depth. Written mediums such as literature are spaces where the reader has a unique opportunity to become intimately involved with a character’s consciousness, or as close as possible to their spirit. In visual mediums, this closeness is interfered with by the sensation of visuality, which initially distracts audiences from the characters’ inner lives. Acclaimed writer Donna Tart, author of The Secret History, sums it up perfectly when she says that “in films, we are voyeurs, but in novels, we have the experience of being someone else: knowing another person’s soul from the inside. No other art form does that.”

As such, media, but especially books and novels, are uniquely positioned to powerfully tell stories and impact a person’s identity, perception, and understanding of the real world moving forward. For far too long, our media has been a weapon for perpetuating harmful understandings of the world and the people who live and thrive in it. Mass media, especially, has been a catalyst for reinforcing patriarchy—which is already ubiquitous and suffocating without the help of TV, books, and film—and undermining men, women, and gendernonconforming individuals alike. How we present stories and people determines how they are consumed by audiences, and this greatly shapes the tangible and symbolic world we live in.

In media studies, “the gaze” is a character’s awareness of being perceived through a lens from an outsider’s perspective, one that, historically speaking, has usually been the objectifying perspective of the heterosexual cisgender man or the patriarchal gaze. The idea behind the gaze is that people being gazed at are scrutinized into behaving a certain way that satisfies the gazer’s preferences. Despite the triumphs of feminism and gender equality, which should be celebrated and multiplied, we still live in a world where both men’s and women’s perceptions of self, relationships, and ideas about success are polluted by the subtle yet insidious nature of patriarchy.

I love Martin Scorsese’s films: his grittiness, boldness, and unapologetic showcasing of often troubled male characters prompt necessary societal reflection on ideas of masculinity, crime, depravity, and power. But underneath my veneration for Scorsese’s artistry is a discomfort stemming from his undeniably objectifying portrayal of women in his films. Recently, I watched the comedy After Hours, a 1985 Scorsese film chronicling a series of funny and surreal misadventures of a lowly office worker in New York City. Back in the day, the easiest and most effective way to establish a female character’s personality and purpose was through the camera’s exploration of her body, oftentimes, clothed sexually and for the appetite of the

male viewer. After Hours is no exception, and not much has changed since the ’80s. Part of the recipe for the male gaze is to use a woman’s physicality to reveal her “personality,” an ineffective formula that ends up, at least historically speaking, creating one-dimensional characters, and in the process, attributes a woman’s worth to her body or how effectively she can please men.

Popular films like Blade Runner and mass-consumed books like the Fifty Shades of Grey series or The Great Gatsby (a personal favorite) also have in them scenes or characters that either glamorize or simply brush off instances of patriarchal harm and sexual or physical assault. If the media we regularly consume reflects a loose morality surrounding what constitutes assault, how does that impact our personal and learned understandings of what is normalized? Sadly, sometimes the films and books that are drenched in harmful gazes are the ones that are most popular and cherished.

Men also suffer from the restrictive lens of the male or patriarchal gaze, which sees men and masculinity as the epitome of strength, power, and accomplishment. In another one of Scorsese’s most renowned films, Taxi Driver, the leading character, Travis Bickle (played by Robert DeNiro), progressively spirals into psychosis as his job of being a taxi driver makes him feel menial and unimportant. Travis’s views on women centre around adoring and providing for them solely on the condition that they bolster his ego or make him feel “more like a man.” In other words, Travis is not your typical outright sexist. Instead, he is a man who measures the validity of his masculinity on how well he can either save women from the plight of gritty Americana or how well he can provide for them. In the ending sequences of the film, Travis spirals into psychotic violence due to his loneliness and fractured sense of self, a sense of self heavily rooted in idealized masculinity and a savior complex. For people watching, the political messaging of Scorsese’s film is stark: unhealthy and idealized notions of masculinity, as is perpetuated by the modern male gaze, hurts men and women equally.

The female gaze, on the other hand, focuses greatly on the inherent and valuable subjectivity of its subject, actively choosing to see both men and women as self-directed and emotionally sophisticated identities even if there is a focus on their bodies at some point. The male gaze works to both harm men and women, as demonstrated by the movies and books mentioned above. The female gaze sees women as more than what their bodies can offer and, similarly, this gaze allows space for men to define their masculinity based on ways that are grounded, sensitive, and emotionally cognisant. Popular media and the gazes present in them have the power to shape the culture surrounding politics and human interactions, and this culture is oftentimes what teaches people more than classrooms and parents ever can.

BEATRIZ SIMAS / THE MEDIUM

The not-so glamorous side of the Grammy Awards

The Grammys’ controversies, hidden biases, and on-stage dramas fuel debate in the music industry.

Mariana Dominguez Rodriguez Contributor

Frustrations

about Grammy Award disparities continuously linger within the music industry. Most controversies and public confusion resulting from nominations and winning results are directed toward the voting process and systems of categorization itself. For instance, fans were unimpressed when Macklemore was awarded Best Rap Performance and Ryan Lewis took home Best Rap Song over Kendrick Lamar in 2014, or The Weekend shutting down the Grammys after his critically acclaimed album, After Hours, did not receive any nominations in 2021.

Other Grammy controversies depict showdowns between artists and nominees, which also produce speculation around the motives and conversations that go on behind the scenes of the choices displayed.

One major Grammy controversy was the interruption of Bob Dylan’s set by performance artist Michael Portnoy (Soy Bomb Guy) to embody his disagreement towards Dylan’s “dense nutritional life” and representation of transformational art in 1998. Another mention of controversial interactions on the Grammy stage is the infamous on-stage interruptions made by Kanye West

In 2015, artist Beck won Album of the Year over Beyoncé, which prompted West to interrupt Beck’s award moment by approaching the microphone on stage, quickly deciding against the interruption, and taking his seat. While West did not deliberately interrupt the artist’s award presentation, he later told E! News that “Beck needs to respect artistry and

he should have given his award to Beyoncé.” This altercation happened six years after West deliberately took the microphone from Taylor Swift for winning Album of the Year over Beyoncé as well. Both events sparked comments about respect in the music industry.

The Grammy Awards nomination and award decisions made by the Recording Academy committee have been questioned and criticized, as the public is not made aware of how the voting process for these prestigious awards is conducted and on what grounds the winners are decided. The Grammy Awards process is made up of six official steps, as disclosed by the Recording Academy: submission, screening, nomination, special nominating committees, final voting, and results.

Although this process seems to be straightforward and “fair” as described by the Recording Academy, it is understandable that certain steps in the process, like the peer relations between voters and biased opinions of members within the same field or category, may be considered as loopholes for possible misconception, and create opportunities for tampered and influenced nomination decisions.

Musical controversy persists in the Grammy community. After all, awards seasons are composed of entertainment, showstopping performances, and musical rifts, so controversy is bound to slip in too.

Art at UTM: The Crochet Club

The president of the UTM Crochet Club talks about welcoming new crocheters and plans for the club.

Lourdes Duah Contributor

Looking to express your creative side? From yarn to painting, art for a cause or art for yourself, the University of Toronto Mississauga’s (UTM) vibrant artists and artisans are all around campus. The Medium took a closer look at UofT’s art community by speaking with Sophia Alonzi, co-president and founder of the UTM Crochet Club.

Alonzi knew people had an interest in crochet but understood how complicated it looks to beginners. “People always used to tell me that they’d love to learn how to crochet, but they don’t know where to begin, don’t know what supplies to buy, etcetera,” Alonzi said. So, she started the club to bring crocheters of all skill levels together and provide a low-barrier environment where beginners can learn. The Crochet Club has now grown into a space for people to socialize, trade advice, collaborate with other arts clubs, and grow their skills in a community with other crocheters.

The club has several events that don’t require any crochet experience, such as last semester’s crochet basics workshops. Many first-time crocheters turned out for the recent collaboration with UTM’s Creatives for Change Club, where attendees crocheted roses and lavender for Valentine’s Day. “It was really nice to see the more advanced crocheters help their peers complete their first project,” Alonzi said of the event. Working alongside the UTM Literature is Alive Club, they also hosted a coffee and beginner crochet afternoon with performances by student writers.

More experienced crocheters can bring their current projects to the club’s crochet circles to work alongside other enthusiasts. The Crochet Club also accepts volunteers to teach basic stitches to new crocheters.

Alonzi hopes to continue building UTM’s crochet community in the future. “We hope to start some community projects, like a blanket composed of granny squares made by our members. It would be super rewarding to watch it grow along with the

Lily Gladstone is the first Native American person to be nominated for Best Actress

A discussion of the 2024 Oscars, Lily Gladstone, and the history of Indigenous people in film.

Skyler Piskoroski Contributor

The96th annual Academy Awards are soon approaching, and recent nominations have caused quite the buzz! From sweeps to snubs, people everywhere are discussing their favourite films of the year. One nomination in particular has made headlines, and that is Lily Gladstone’s Best Actress nomination for her role in Killers of the Flower Moon. Not only is this Gladstone’s first Oscar nomination, it also marks the first time a Native American person has been nominated in the category. Regardless of whether Gladstone takes home the Oscar, she has already made history with her Golden Globe win. And all awards aside, her role in Killers of the Flower Moon represents a historic one for Indigenous peoples in and out of the film industry.

In the past, Indigenous people were either left out of films entirely or, when they were represented, they were often portrayed in Western films as antagonistic, in smaller roles, and typically as a conflict for the white hero to overcome. As Gladstone mentioned in her Golden Globe acceptance speech, Indigenous language has historically been denied from mainstream film; instead of speaking their actual language, Indigenous actors were told to say their lines in English and later the recording was played in reverse to “sound” Indigenous. Alternatively, actors were instructed to simply say anything in their native tongue and filmmakers would later add the English subtitles they wanted. This often resulted in Indigenous actors saying rude or comedic things in their language for only other speakers to understand.

peoples from the film industry. Killers of the Flower Moon challenged these typical ways of representing Indigenous language, with Gladstone and other Indigenous actors actively learning and speaking Osage to portray the events of the film properly and respectfully. This portrayal of the language in a mainstream piece of media is an important moment in Indigenous representation in film, as well as in the revitalization and preservation of the endangered Osage language.

Gladstone challenged stereotypical portrayals of Indigenous women, who have historically been exoticized as a princess or daughter of the chief role and who, once again, passively exist for the white hero to save her from some sort of conflict.

Gladstone’s character, despite speaking fairly minimally in comparison to other characters, plays a very active role in the film. She works on her own to hire a private investigator to look into her family’s deaths; she is weary of the new Insulin despite her husband’s insistence on her taking it; and despite being ill, she lobbies in Washington and successfully gains an investigation into

In Canada, specifically, Indigenous language films were not funded for many years as they were not considered official Canadian languages, which only further isolated Indigenous

Gladstone provides an important representation of Indigenous women in her portrayal of an active, strong, and independent Indigenous character, as well as in her speaking of the Osage language. This form of representation is particularly important in a widespread, large-budget, mainstream film such as this, as it is one that has rarely been shown in mainstream media. Gladstone has already made history this awards season, but regardless of the outcome at the Oscars, her role and performance are monumental and will hopefully open the door to further positive Indigenous representation in film!

BEATRIZ SIMAS / THE MEDIUM

The day TikTok went silent

Universal Music Group pulled all of their artists’ music from TikTok over fair compensation and copyright protection.

Karissa Harrypersad Staff Writer

“This sound isn’t available” and “Sound removed due to copyright restrictions” were some messages seen across TikTok on February 1, 2024. More specifically, TikTok videos that carried any song from Universal Music Group (UMG) went completely silent. UMG pulled their artists away from TikTok, which has major implications for individual creators who can no longer use popular music for their content.

This includes music from singers such as Drake, Taylor Swift, Bad Bunny, Ariana Grande, Harry Styles, and thousands of other popular artists. Besides creators, this rift has critical repercussions for the music industry’s relationship with the social media platform.

A day before their licensing contract with TikTok was going to expire, UMG decided to publish an open letter with accusations against the platform. In this letter, the group addressed concerns for its artists and songwriters because TikTok wasn’t fulfilling their promises. The letter includes three major concerns, including “appropriate compensation for our artists and songwriters, protecting human artists from the harmful effects of AI, and online safety for TikTok’s users.” There have been initiatives and growth within these areas, but it is not up to UMG standards because TikTok is compensating artists and songwriters very little. UMG claims that TikTok is not paying a fair value for the music on its platform and is taking advantage of artists’ and songwriters’ hard work.

Another problem that TikTok is facing is AI-generated music. Not only is this platform flooded with AI-generated music, but it also promoted individuals to use AI music, which goes against UMG’s mission statement and what they stand for. Within this letter, the group has also stated how “TikTok’s tactics are obvious: use its platform power to hurt vulnerable artists and try to intimidate us into conceding to a bad deal that undervalues music and shortchanges artists and songwriters as well as their fans.” With TikTok making little effort

to change these vast amounts of flaws on its platform, the largest label company has decided to end its contract with the platform.

UMG’s exit from the social media platform has shifted the landscape for TikTok creators. When the contract ended, there were repercussions on the platform itself as well as the music industry. The feud between UMG and TikTok is still ongoing, with debates about fair compensation and copyright protection in the music industry. TikTok has helped individuals become famous through music—and the music industry has benefited from this too. TikTok is a vital promotional platform for the musicians because it can create hype for future albums and upcoming tours, and popularize hits or glamourize old classics we thought had died. Now, creators are feeling the heat as they are unable to provide content to their viewers using music from UMG without copyright infringement.

The platform’s content was focused on music, dancing, and lip-syncing, but these all have been affected by the pull of artists. The contract ending between TikTok and UMG was a plot twist that TikTok creators did not see coming. For certain creators, this means that their content must change, and creators will have to become super creative or switch up their style to keep their audience alive.

Universal Music’s decision to withdraw its artists from TikTok marks a pivotal moment in the ongoing relationship between major record labels and digital platforms. Creators must adapt and actively engage their audience using other skills while ensuring their voices continue to resonate in an ever-changing digital world.

JAY CHANG/THE MEDIUM

The beauty of your body: a painting in the mirror for every woman

Every gesture in the curve or straightening of the fingers is artistically expressive and gorgeous—so too is the body of a woman.

Sabrina Garcia Contributor

Ipersonally have always been in awe of and adored the anatomy of all bodies. The intricacy of the muscles creates unique contours and depth in the body of every person. Women’s bodies, specifically, have various forms and shapes. Join me as we recognize and appreciate the beauty of women.

Women’s bodies come in various forms and there is no such thing as an “ideal” body shape, regardless of what some may try to tell you. The shape of women has multiple variations, ranging from the classic “hourglass,” “rectangle,” and “triangle,” to many others, like “spoon” and “diamond.” Women cannot be defined by one form.

Each body, like art, is unique and expressive through gestures and clothes. Clothing acts as the color in each art piece, while the body becomes the form of every model. The expression of the hourglass is different from that of the spoon, but neither is more sensual or beautiful than the other. I cannot think of a better example that mirrors this than the expression in hands. Each curve and line of a woman’s body is an expression of herself.

There is also a scientific lens to this line of thinking. People are “naturally attracted to shapes with smooth, flowing curves” as “these shapes create a sense of movement and fluidity that is aesthetically pleasing to the eye.” This is not to say the curvier one is, the prettier the body. Everybody has curved lines through the make-up of their muscles. Regardless of the thinness or pronunciation of one’s curves, the presence of movement and fluidity in the contours of the muscles remain. All variations of women’s bodies thus have a natural beauty to them that is pleasing to the eye.

One could argue the same about men’s bodies, which is perfectly valid and true. Genders of all kinds have beautiful forms that make up their body. However, women’s bodies tend to be objectified and seen through a lens that obscures their beauty. A woman’s beauty becomes sexual, distorting the artistic beauty of anatomy. It is important to appreciate and love one’s body through an artistic lens to fully recognize the uniqueness of the self and the form of shape, without a shaming or embarrassed gaze. Thus, to all women cis, trans, and genderfluid, your body is beautiful. The mirror is your canvas that always shows you a model of art: your body. Express it with pride.

SARA LI /THE MEDIUM

sports & health

The rise of the “pink Pilates princess”

Empowering women through functional health and inclusivity in fitness trends.

Noor Shaikh Contributor

Editor | Omar Khan sports@themedium.ca

Women often find themselves in the crosshairs of an ever-evolving trend landscape, illustrated by the transitions from aesthetics like the “clean girl look” to the recent rise of the “pink Pilates princess” trend. A quick dive into TikTok using the term “Pilates” reveals many videos and tutorials guiding viewers on achieving this particular aesthetic through pink athletic wear and bows.

While the underlying hyper-consumerism of these trends merits a deeper discussion, it’s equally fascinating to explore what fuels the popularity of certain exercises and fitness regimens that promote physical well-being and advocate for a specific aesthetic or lifestyle.

The rise of this Pilates princess trend reflects a growing consciousness among women regarding their distinct physiological needs. A study from the journal Sports Medicine highlights a critical disparity: current exercise guidelines predominantly stem from research conducted by and for men. This male-centric standard in medical treatments and health protocols often leads to misdiagnoses in women and promotes fitness regimens that are misaligned with their specific physiological requirements.

Dr. Alana Ogata, a Pilates instructor at the Recreation, Athletics, and Wellness Centre at the University of Toronto Mississauga and researcher with a lab dedicated to addressing the unmet medical needs of women, shares her personal journey and professional insights into the world of Pilates. “I have grown to love Pilates because of its benefits for your functional health,” she explains.

Developed initially to rehabilitate bedridden prisoners of war and veterans, Pilates has evolved into a comprehensive exercise regimen. “It’s good for your overall health because it is low impact and focuses on strength, flexibility, and breathe, so it’s good for anyone who’s body is under stress—whether from high impact running exercises or from sitting all day,” Dr. Ogata continues.

She highlights the advantages of Pilates, noting its crucial role in strengthening and rehabilitating the body’s powerhouse muscles. This activates the core, leading to improved posture, boosted efficiency in daily activities, and safe and effective performance of various exercises. “We’re trying to correct everything that is destructive about sitting at a desk all day,” she states.

This low-impact workout regimen, emphasizing functional health and strength, is particularly suitable for women dealing with conditions such as polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), endometriosis, or other specific women’s health challenges. PCOS affects approximately eight-13 per cent of reproductive-aged women. In comparison, endometriosis affects almost 10 percent of this population but potentially a lot more, considering it is often misdiagnosed.

While studies show that high-intensity exercise may reduce insulin resistance effectively in people with PCOS, overdoing it can also possibly act as a chronic stressor and disrupt hormonal balance. This disruption can potentially worsen PCOS symptoms due to chronically high levels of cortisol, which might lead to disruptions in the menstrual cycle and other symptoms associated with high cortisol levels like weight gain, fatigue, and mood swings.

As research evolves, it becomes clear that the approach to exercise is highly individualized, with no universal solution. However, as more women suffering from women’s health problems prioritize their unique health needs over general recommendations, the popularity of gentler activities like Pilates, yoga, and walking is unsurprising. These exercises are less likely to trigger cortisol spikes and stress the body. They still promote muscle strengthening and recovery from more strenuous activities, gaining popularity for their balanced approach to physical well-being.

Thus, the rising appeal behind Pilates is more than just about fashion or aesthetics; it’s a response to a systemic issue, creating more inclusive approaches to health and wellness that recognize and address the specific needs of women’s bodies.

However, the popularity of Pilates may also stem from the misconception that it offers a quick and effortless path to achieving a “toned” physique and visible “abs.” This is similar to other fitness trend fads, from Chloe Ting’s YouTube workout series aimed at sculpting abs during lockdown to resistance bands designed to imitate Kim Kardashian’s curves.

Women are continually presented with new methods to attain the currently trending body shape—as if women’s bodies are trends that can be cycled through like the season’s musthave boots.

The goal for workout routines targeted to women should not be how to look better but how to feel better. As seconded by Dr. Ogata, who uses terms such as core instead of abs to focus more on how people feel after Pilates. “I don’t really focus on the physique that it gives you.” She continues, “I do particularly love Pilates for the purpose of empowering women.”

Dr. Ogata takes her role as a Pilates instructor seriously in her pursuit of helping women be their best in whatever they do. “My role as a Pilates instructor is to help all women feel good, whether to help them get stronger or provide an hour of stress-relief, and to empower them to do whatever great things they are going to do next.”

The rise of the Pilates princess trend, reinforced by Dr. Ogata’s expertise, signifies a meaningful shift in the fitness industry—from chasing aesthetic ideals to emphasizing functional health and inclusivity, thereby fostering a culture that values and addresses the unique physiological needs of women.

DAANISH ALVI / THE MEDIUM

Redefining women’s hockey

A fresh sheet of ice for women in hockey.

Daanish Alvi Photos Editor

Following a tumultuous path to worldwide recognition, it seemed that women in hockey would never get the same level of spotlight they rightfully deserved when compared to their male counterparts. Countless attempts were made, but the most notable was with the Premier Hockey Federation (PHF) in March 2015. The Federation sought to allow seven teams from across Canada and the US to face off against each other for the Federation’s crowning achievement—the Lady Isobel Gathorne-Hardy Cup. These seven teams included the Boston Pride, the Buffalo Beauts, the Connecticut Whales, the Metropolitan Riveters, the Minnesota Whitecaps, the Montréal Force, and the Toronto Six.

Out of these teams, the top four in the standings would move on to the PHF playoffs, in which the first-place team would play the team in fourth-place, and the second and third place teams would face each other, respectively. These playoff rounds would be in a bestof-three style, with the winning teams from each round facing each other in the Isobel Cup final series—also a best-of-three.

It was clear that the Federation made its long-overdue mark on the hockey world for young girls everywhere. Shortly after the Toronto Six defeated the Minnesota Whitecaps and were awarded the 2023 Isobel Cup, it was announced that a new Pro Women’s Hockey League (PWHL) would launch in 2024. This meant the lights in the PHF arenas would shut down—but this news was far from unfortunate. The players and the staff of the Federation threw their hands up in celebration knowing that their hard work had paid off, and that the light shining on women in hockey would only grow brighter from this point forward.

Almost a year after this announcement, the PWHL is alive and thriving, with teams in Minnesota, Montréal, Boston, Ottawa, Toronto, and New York. After an explosive New Year’s Day start to their season, raking in 2.9 million viewers in a game between New York and Toronto, the necessity for women’s hockey was only reinforced. Interest has spiked

higher and higher each following week. In a unique collaboration with the MLSE and the NHL, Toronto’s February 16 matchup against Montréal was announced to be held at the Scotiabank Arena, home of the Toronto Maple Leafs. The stands were packed with avid young fans eager to see both teams hash it out. The attendance at this game turned out to be a record-breaking 19,285, the highest attendance of any game played in the history of women’s hockey.

Adding to the buzz around the PWHL, the League made their first-ever announcement regarding its playoff structure earlier this week. It has long been argued amongst viewers of the NHL that predicted playoff matchups from overall league standings in December have almost no change when refreshed in March due to the league’s set format, which makes for an overall dull season. This is why the PWHL’s announcement of their playoff structure enlightened fans.

They vow to keep the entire regular season constantly engaging, as they are taking the top four teams out of the total six to the playoffs and will allow the first-place team a 24-hour window to choose any of the other three teams as their opponent. The fun does not stop there, though—after the top four are decided, the remaining two teams at the bottom of the standings will begin accumulating points toward their draft order in what the PWHL calls its “Gold Plan.” From the time that they are “mathematically eliminated,” meaning they do not have a chance to make their way into the top four in the standings, the bottom teams will fight to still get as many points as possible, with these points determining their position in the PWHL Draft—the higher the points, the higher the position.

After a bombastic start to their first-ever season, the PWHL just continues to show the world how fun the game of hockey can truly be, inspiring young girls just that much more to pick up their very own hockey stick.

DAANISH ALVI / THE MEDIUM