the movie's you know. The finest example of how women are oppressed and degraded in society is in the media, which has become the new source for the status quo. Films like American Pie, Varsity Blues, and Fight Club— though they are absolutely anti-women—sell millions at the box office every year, and no one seems to question their integrity. Such films paint women as possessions and conquests, and rarely produce a female character who is intelligent enough to question this role. She certainly is easy, though. And she'll probably show you her breasts before the first half. These are the films that we're selling our teenagers. Then there's Britney Spears, Foxy Brown, Lil’ Kim and a majority of our ‘pop sensations’. Sexy broads with nothing important to say certainly don't do anything for the women’s movement. As long as those mes- sages are sent through the media, it's difficult to be articulate and intelligent about things and not put people to sleep. Intellect in women often isn't part of the status quo as issued through media, which has become a perime- ter for which all people live; our new moral code. As long as the ‘thong song’ is causing teenagers everywhere to dance and shout, and as long as Britney Spears and Gwen Stefani are being heard—and on such a major scale— women everywhere have to be a little smarter, or communicate a little more attitude to get noticed. Unless of course they show their breasts. Then they'll get attention. As long as 1 in 6 women are being raped in their lifetime, and the justice system is victimizing them again in the judicial process, we still have a long way to go on the road to equality. As long as dozens of women can be assaulted in Central Park while another dozen (male) police officers are patrolling, and be told “It's noth- ing," we still have a long way to go. Sometimes | think that equality can only be achieved by the evoiution into a completely androgynous society. No sex barriers, and there would be no way of determining dominant/subservient roles. Of course, this isn't a good solution for everyone, so we will continue to ignorantly consider ourselves progressive in our think- ing about women. We will continue to look the other way, or perhaps in the direction of the Middle East or India where patriarchy is practiced on a grand scale, and shake our heads at the primal ideals which are practiced there. It's easy to consider countries such as Afghanistan—where women are not allowed to leave their homes without a male escort—oppressive to women, but this has nothing to do with us, does it? Ignoring the plight of women now and throughout history may be tantamount to ignoring the Holocaust, or ignoring that racism is still an evil that lurks on our street corners and in our businesses, shrouded behind political correctness and major racial integration. Even here in North America, these things are still issues. Not to say that if you want to succeed today, no matier who or what you are, you can't. | will certainly not let my sex be an obstacle in my success, though | will still make it a catalyst for much of my work. I'm not perpetu- ally pissed off about women's issues, but | still think they are issues. Someone has to teach our kids besides Britney Spears. Someone other than Jewel has to offer insight into our world. Someone has to disclose that everything is not just about sex—or admit that perhaps it is—and that there are more important parts of the female anatomy than her breasts. I'm talking about her brain, boys. ant changes Program. udent Loans Canada St an or plan to get one, 800 O CANADA sae www.cantearn.ca 4, 2000 there are import > tready hav the movie's you know. The finest example of how women are oppressed and degraded in society is in the media, which has become the new source for the status quo. Films like American Pie, Varsity Blues, and Fight Club— though they are absolutely anti-women—sell millions at the box office every year, and no one seems to question their integrity. Such films paint women as possessions and conquests, and rarely produce a female character who is intelligent enough to question this role. She certainly is easy, though. And she'll probably show you her breasts before the first half. These are the films that we're selling our teenagers. Then there's Britney Spears, Foxy Brown, Lil! Kim and a majority of our ‘pop sensations’. Sexy broads with nothing important to say certainly don't do anything for the women's movement. As long as those mes- sages are sent through the media, it’s difficult to be articulate and intelligent about things and not put people to sleep. Intellect in women often isn't part of the status quo as issued through media, which has become a perime- ter for which all people live; our new moral code. As long as the ‘thong song’ is causing teenagers everywhere to dance and shout, and as long as Britney Spears and Gwen Stefani are being heard—and on such a major scale— women everywhere have to be a little smarter, or communicate a little more attitude to get noticed. Unless of course they show their breasts. Then they'll get attention. ‘As long as 1 in 6 women are being raped in their lifetime, and the justice system is victimizing them again in the judicial process, we still have a long way to go on the road to equality. As long as dozens of women can be assaulted in Central Park while another dozen (male) police officers are patrolling, and be told “It's noth- ing,” we still have a long way to go. Sometimes | think that equality can only be achieved by the evolution into a completely androgynous society. No sex barriers, and there would be no way of determining domninant/subservient roles. Of course, this isn’t a good solution for everyone, so we will continue to ignorantly consider ourselves progressive in our think= ing about women. We will continue to look the other way, or perhaps in the direction of the Middle East or India where patriarchy is practiced on a grand scale, and shake our heads at the primal ideals which are practiced there. It's easy to consider countries such as Afghanistan—where women are not allowed to leave their homes without a male escort—oppressive to women, but this has nothing to do with us, does it? Ignoring the plight of women now and throughout history may be tantamount to ignoring the Holocaust, or ignoring that racism is stil an evil that lurks on our street corners and in our businesses, shrouded behind political correctness and major racial integration. Even here in North America, these things are stil issues. Not to say that if you want to succeed today, no matter who or what you are, you can't. | will certainly not let my sex be an obstacle in my success, though | will still make it a catalyst for much of my work. I'm not perpetu- ally pissed off about women's issues, but I stil think they are issues. Someone has to teach our kids besides Britney Spears. Someone other than Jewel has to offer insight into our world. Someone has to disclose that ‘everything is not just about sex—or admit that perhaps it is—and that there are more important parts of the female anatomy than her breasts. I'm talking about her brain, boys. Your Cana 2000 there are important changes da Student Loans Program. or plan to get one, of August 1, a to the Cana nada Student Loan ; ion now. \f you already have & C get the latest information no make sure yOu O CANADA no anlearn.ca