The power of #MeToo

If you’re a woman on Facebook, you’re familiar with the #MeToo campaign. The hashtag has been shared in more than 12 million Facebook posts as women bravely tell their stories of sexual harassment and assault in the wake of the Harvey Weinstein revelations. Today in The Conversation Canada, Jessalyn Keller, associate professor of critical media studies at the University of Calgary, writes how #MeToo is not an isolated campaign “but part of a trajectory of digital feminist consciousness-raising that is making rape culture visible within mainstream culture.” Over time, Keller argues, such feminist activism will thankfully result in a more just society.

On Friday, eight companies vying to build Donald Trump’s border wall must complete their prototypes. Andrew Roddick, an associate professor of anthropology at McMaster University, has a compelling piece about the impact not just on human lives but on archaeological and heritage sites along the path of the proposed wall, and how they face certain destruction. What’s more, Roddick argues, Trump’s wall, like most in history, won’t work.

At first blush, it seemed like good news when the federal government announced a program to create 10,000 work placements for undergraduates. But they’re only in business and STEM subjects, says David Peacock, Executive Director Community Service-Learning at the University of Alberta. Dr. Peacock points out the STEM bias unfairly penalizes female students because the science, technology, engineering and mathematics disciplines are still dominated by male students.

As we all begin cranking up our furnaces, today’s story on what’s known as "energy poverty" seems particularly timely. Winter’s just a few weeks away, and some Canadians fear energy companies will cut off service if they can’t pay their bills. Maryam Rezaei of the University of British Columbia has provided us with a comprehensive piece on what needs to be done to end cutoffs and tackle energy poverty.

Lee-Anne Goodman

Politics and Business Editor

Today's Featured Stories

Actress Alyssa Milano ignited the #MeToo campaign, inspiring millions of women to join her. (Shea Walsh / AP Images for SC Johnson)

#MeToo campaign brings conversation of rape to the mainstream

Jessalynn Keller, University of Calgary

Women and girls used the #MeToo hashtag more than 12 million times on Facebook in one day in October. It marked the rise of a new feminist consciousness and solidarity.

In this 2013 photo, a resident of Tijuana, Mexico, holds onto the bars that make up the border wall separating the U.S. and Mexico near San Diego. President Donald Trump is proposing to dramatically expand the wall. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull, File)

How walls like Trump's destroy the past and threaten the future

Andrew Roddick, McMaster University

Donald Trump's proposed border wall will destroy historic and ancient sites, violate the rights of Indigenous populations and cause misery to those seeking a better life. What's more? It won't work.

Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne unveiled her government’s plan to cut electricity bills in March 2017 amid a public uproar about skyrocketing fees driving ratepayers into energy poverty. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Frank Gunn)

How Canada can end energy poverty and winter cut-offs

Maryam Rezaei, University of British Columbia

Energy companies routinely cut off service to vulnerable people who experience energy poverty. Here's how to fix the problem.

If the government expanded the new $73 million Student Work-Integrated Learning program to all students it could help tackle Canada’s most intractable social problems — such as homelessness, reconciliation with Indigenous peoples, affordable housing, social cohesion and intercultural understanding.

Government should expand student placements into social sector

Dr David Peacock, University of Alberta

A new government program will create 10,000 work placements for undergraduates in only business and STEM subjects. Why not fund students to innovate in the social sector too?

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