[Wamvan] WAM!Van featured in Georgia Straight on feminists countering media misogyny

[Joanna Chiu]

Hi everyone,

Just wanted to draw your attention to this great article by Lauren Friesen,
a student at Guildford Park secondary.

http://www.straight.com/news/438811/young-girls-counter-media-misogyny-education


For new members, the section on WAM! and Lauren's interview with Natalie
gives a good view of what WAM is working for and some of the events we have
coming up:

*Local media group empowers women*

Besides blogging, there are other outlets for the loud-and-proud feminist.
WAM! Women, Action, & the Media is an American organization that started
its first Canadian chapter in Vancouver in 2011. I spoke with Natalie Hill,
a WAM! representative. Her organization—made up of what she calls a “small
but mighty” core of volunteers—works to create a “just” media landscape for
all genders.

WAM! events attract enthusiastic people, according to Hill. The group hosts
affairs such as Media Mutiny Mondays, Fierce Voices gatherings, and an
organization-wide celebration called WAM-It-Yourself week, which encourages
participants to “dive right in” to the cause and start their own WAM!
chapter.

Hill voiced her desire to have “media represent the true spectrum of gender
identity”, and to hear from more diverse voices, faces, and bodies. “Have a
truly open mind, approach issues with curiousity…seek the truth but never
be convinced that you’ve always found it,” Natalie advises young feminists.
“Don’t be afraid to say, ‘What I’m seeing here isn’t okay.’ ”


*Public invited to get involved*
The local WAM! chapter encourages Vancouverites to take part in their
online community, along with upcoming public events such as the Fierce
Voices conference for young women (May 23), co-organized by Women
Transforming Cities and rabble.ca, or WAM!’s workshop on producing social
justice/feminist journalism (May 28). Visit womenactionmedia.org to learn
more.

Being oversexualized and defined from a young age has made many teen girls
from my generation unhealthy, self-conscious, and feeling subordinate in
day-to-day life. But the ability to become informed about why this happens
and what we can do to stop it has empowered us. All we need to do is use
that power.

----

Email us any time at wamvancouver at gmail.com if you have any questions,
feedback or ideas on projects and collaborations.

More info on WAM! can be found here: http://womenactionmedia.org/

And our chapter page with our regular updates and blogs is here:
http://womenactionmedia.org/chapters/vancouver/

Jarrah recently put up a preview of the DOXA film festival feature, GTFO:
Get the F&#% Out <http://gtfothemovie.com/>, a movie about women in gaming,
which screens May 9. Congrats to winners of our ticket giveaways.

http://womenactionmedia.org/events/gtfo-a-film-about-women-in-gaming/

All best wishes,

Joanna

-- 
*Joanna Chiu | [image: Twitter] <http://www.twitter.com/joannachiu> [image:
LinkedIn]
<http://www.linkedin.com/profile/view?id=90180242&authType=name&authToken=PVJq&locale=en_US&pvs=pp&trk=ppro_viewmore>
*
Beijing mobile: +86 17601612801
Skype: joanna.chiu555 | www.joannachiu.com
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