UPDATE (April 25, 2018)听
We have an update on a recent ISON featured activity. Current and former Women鈥檚 Reproductive Health (HSEL 309)听course and听Issues in Women's Health (HSEL 308) students were chosen to represent 捆绑SM社区 in the prestigious social entrepreneurship competition run by Oxford鈥檚 Sa茂d School of Business!
Team Code Red came together to take a stand on an important women鈥檚 health issue: menstrual hygiene management. Samaa Kazerouni, Sreya Belbase, Aidan McLaughlin and Paige Rumelt dedicated the past four months to investigating how Montreal鈥檚 homeless women manage their periods. The team interviewed local shelter owners, advocates and politicians. Their findings show that beyond women鈥檚 struggle to purchase food and shelter, they must also purchase sanitary products each month at a hefty price. Then they struggle simply to access restrooms and the basic privacy needed to care for their menstrual hygiene. Beyond cumulative financial, physical and mental health costs, this reality erodes women鈥檚 sense of dignity one week each month. Team Code Red recognized it simply doesn鈥檛 have to be that way.
They decided to use their voices in political action for women near and far. They are petitioning the federal government to subsidize sanitary products for low-income people, based on a similar initiative taken by the Scottish government. currently has 979 signatures (enough for it to be presented in the House of Commons in August) and is rising steadily! You can contribute to this cause by signing the petition and sharing it widely across your professional, social and personal networks. Meanwhile, the next step for Team Code Red is the national competition in Vancouver at Simon Fraser University on May 4. Best of luck!
Left to Right: Samaa Kazerouni, Sreya Belbase, Aidan McLaughlin, Paige Rumelt
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The Women鈥檚 Reproductive Health (HSEL 309) course and Issues in Women's Health (HSEL 308) students recently led an inspired and inspiring 鈥淲omen and Fertility鈥� panel. Guests included听Dr. Jennifer Fishman, Rebekah Lewis PhD(c) and Martine Guay RN, MScN (c), who shared their expertise on (in)fertility technologies, abortion care, and mothering at an older age, amongst other issues.
Uniquely, this panel served to break down silos to create a forum for open dialogue about some lesser known or stigmatized aspects of women鈥檚 fertility and health care.
Together, panelists and students unpacked assumptions, myths, values and ethics about women鈥檚 fertility and healthcare in contemporary society. The open forum revealed a simple reality: girls and women may find themselves seeking help at any point of care in the fertility spectrum across their lifespan. The take-home message was: we have collective responsibility to dismantle stigma, stereotype and judgement around women鈥檚 reproductive health. Notably, students led the entire event, including hosting a听Twitter event to share insights beyond class boundaries.
(L-R): Cheryl Armistead, Martine Guay, Dr. Jennifer Fishman, Rebekah Lewis, Samaa Kazerouni, Lila Bruynesteyn, Justine Enns, Anthi Tsobou, Yae Eun Lee, Lia Huo, Dennis Yang.
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In a related event, the 捆绑SM社区 Women鈥檚 Health Advocacy Club held its 2nd annual conference on March 13. The Club, founded by a former HSEL 309 student, has a unique women-centred mandate within student initiatives at 捆绑SM社区.听 The 2018 conference was dedicated to women鈥檚 reproductive health in celebration of International Women鈥檚 Day. Conference presenters Cheryl Armistead (HSEL 309 Coordinator), Gary Wang (Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR), former HSEL 309 student) and Dr. Teruko Taketo presented on contemporary issues in women鈥檚 reproductive health, CIHR鈥檚 vision and mandate for sex and gender based analysis, and innovations in infertility research. Ensuing discussion with an engaged audience revealed much cross fertilization amongst diverse contexts.
The Women鈥檚 Health Advocacy Club deserves much credit for their commitment to showcasing why women鈥檚 health matters! This is no small feat in a world of competing interests and notions that women鈥檚 health is an 鈥榓dd-on鈥� perk, when and if more essential matters are satisfied.
We have work to do and these students are up to the challenge.
(L-R): Dr. Teruko Taketo (Professor, Department of Surgery, 捆绑SM社区), Gary Wang (BSc, CIHR), Cheryl Armistead (Faculty Lecturer, Ingram School of Nursing), Alice Shen (Women鈥檚 Health Advocacy Club founder, Co-president), Iris Kim (Women鈥檚 Health Advocacy Club Co-president), Esha Sanyal, Women鈥檚 Health Advocacy Club VP internal)
Finally, current HSEL 309 student Saama Kazerouni is turning her course Op-Ed assignment into action! She is working with team to make menstrual hygiene management (MHM) products more accessible to homeless people in Canada.
Their , supported by NDP MP Irene Mathyssen, calls upon the听Government of Canada听to subsidize MHM products (tampons and pads) by distributing them free of charge to food banks, shelters, and homeless persons experiencing their menstrual period.
The team needs a minimum of 500 signatures for the petition to be presented in the House of Commons, but their goal is to achieve 1,000! Join this political action to preserve basic human rights and dignity. Sign and share the petition widely with colleagues, friends and families: