Welcome to 2019! The SSAIC office was closed December 21st at noon through January 1, and our staff have returned to work rested and ready to tackle the challenges the new year will inevitably bring.
As the #MeToo movement continues to roll steady, this year will see Harvey Weinstein and Kevin Spacey on trial; R. Kelly’s past might finally catch up with him, and we are likely to see more victims from various industries join the chorus of voices speaking about experiences with systemic sexual harassment and abuse.
It’s worth remembering that not everyone who is sexually victimized is able to share their story or name their abuser, and the public is especially unlikely to hear the victims from marginalized communities speak out. So many people continue to suffer sexual violence here in Saskatoon, and in the province of Saskatchewan–this is an issue that hits home, especially when we consider that Saskatchewan is the only province without a sexual violence action plan (we are hoping to see one adopted by the Government of Saskatchewan in 2019) and the second-highest rates of sexual violence in the country (Manitoba has the highest).
Stay with us, dear subscriber, as we continue to follow the cultural shift in thinking about sexual harassment, abuse, and assault.
Thank you to everyone who donated to our first ever Holiday Giving campaign! Thanks to the generosity of our subscribers, we received over $1,300 in donations. This money will be used to support SSAIC operations, and we couldn’t have done it without YOU!
Must Read: Brendan Fraser’s #MeToo story is why more male victims don’t speak out
Actor Brendan Fraser went public with an allegation that he was groped by Philip Berk, a one-time president of the powerful Hollywood Foreign Press Association [HFPA]. After a cursory investigation by the HFPA, Berk’s actions were described as a joke, not a sexual advance. In the arena of sexual assault, men are not allowed to get upset but must “play along” or treat the assault as adolescent horse play. The same conspiracy of silence that silences female victims comes into full force with men. It’s no joke – read how society “victim-blames” male victims of sexual assault…
Gillette takes a stand against toxic masculinity in this viral commercial.
We hear a lot about reconciliation but there is still a long way to go. According to an Angus Reid poll, 66% of Canadians still believe Indigenous communities should not have control over their own affairs. Canadians must first acknowledge the facts about our relationships with Indigenous peoples. 2019 should be the year to go beyond the surface and seek approaches to transform Indigenous-Canadian relationships. Read more in this thought provoking article in Macleans…
We are booking shows for the 2019 season of I’m the Boss of Me; Grade 4 classrooms across Saskatoon will be learning about bodily autonomy, how to say NO, and who to tell if they are being abused and need help. Wondering if it will be happening in YOUR child’s Grade 4 room? Ask their teacher!
