SOCIAL ISSUES READINGS November 2020

We (still) want your opinion! Help us improve your experience with the readings by doing a quick (1-minute) survey.

Gender, Race, Culture & Society Hijab a symbol of empowerment, not oppression, plaintiffs argue at trial of Quebec secularism law Anti-racism advocates 'disheartened' by council's decision against redirecting police funds Why Do We Still Have ‘Girl Stuff’ and ‘Boy Stuff’? Burden to Bear: Calgarians harness power of summer protests to push for racial justice [Long read – Part 1 of a three-part series] Child Care Ottawa signals plans to create Canada-wide child care system, collect digital sales taxes The surprising economic impact of a national child care program [Global TV clip] Universal child care would generate up to $29 billion a year in tax revenues, new report says Alberta introduces bill that would allow for 24-hour childcare under revamped licensing rules Indigenous Issues  Indigenous Mother Calls Out School Assignment That Asked Kids to List Positive Traits of Residential Schools Indigenous policing recognized in Alberta, but need a steady budget to make a real difference RCMP needs structural changes to address racism: MMIWG commissioner Draft fishery deal possibly a ‘historic recognition’ of treaty rights: Mi’kmaq chief Basic Income N.L. takes first step toward basic income as NDP motion passes in legislature  A guaranteed minimum income would be more effective than current government programs [Opinion] Food Banks: A Band-Aid Solution To A Growing Problem: To address food insecurity, we need a radical change [Opinion] Miscellaneous “Today’s capitalism is incompatible with feminism” - An ‘Electrifying’ Economist’s Guide to the Recovery Poland Delays a Near-Total Ban on Abortion Election of Kamala Harris to U.S. vice-presidency 'the beginning of something important,' say women of colour How ‘The Queen’s Gambit’ Started a New Debate About Sexism in Chess Kimberlé Crenshaw: the woman who revolutionised feminism – and landed at the heart of the culture wars [Long read] “[The] rewriting of history that centres the violence black women experience is crucial for taking the black freedom struggle forward.”

The Women's Centre Needs Your Support In a year of disruption and uncertainty, the Women’s Centre’s Holiday Toy Room program - running from Dec 8 to Dec 22 this year - hopes to bring a bit of relief and holiday joy to Calgary women and their families. If you are interested in supporting the Holiday Toy Room we have a few options for you. You can support the Toy Room through donations, organizing a toy drive or donating toys, and/or volunteering. Contact Diane for details on organizing a toy drive, or to sign up as a volunteer. Email: diane@womenscentrecalgary.org, or call 403-264-1155. For more details on how to help, see the Women's Centre's website. Taking Action on Issues Acting to improve access, quality, and affordability of child care in Alberta The Association of Early Childhood Educators of Alberta has been a voice for stronger recognition and support of the profession, and for investments into a system that ensures access to quality, affordable care to all families that need it. To help them in sending the message that "it’s time to invest in a quality early learning and child care system," check out their website. Are you interested in becoming a Basic Income advocate? Basic Income Alberta, a provincial network of advocates, is asking people to become an advocate on social media and/or write your elected representative. More details on how you can help with these on their website.

New reports and resources

Analyzing Changes to Alberta’s Child Care Subsidy – A one-pager from the UoC’s School of Public Policy, looking at recently introduced changes to the subsidy Investing in a Feminist Green COVID-19 Recovery - A report from Oxfam Canada that asks for federal budget 2021 to link economic recovery to poverty reduction in Canada and globally, putting gender equality and feminist leadership at the heart of the response to the pandemic Poverty Pandemic Watch: The Effects of Poverty During COVID-19 – A report from the national advocacy organization Canada Without Poverty Canada’s Forgotten Poor? Putting Singles Living in Deep Poverty on the Policy Radar - summary of the report here, and a podcast conversation on the topic here UoC Webinar recording: The racist violence of “not racism” and the role of “contrarian” academics [YouTube] The recording of "Herstories in Anti-Racism and Decolonial Organizing," a panel conversation co-organized by the Women's Centre in November, is available here. *** For a curated collection of readings on the unequal impacts of the pandemic and recovery proposals centering a feminist approach, check out our website.

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Women's Centre of Calgary www.womenscentrecalgary.org

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