Women and bylines - not enough says many of us!

I am ticked off today and not for the usual reasons but rather for the one main one being that it is my belief that as women in journalism we have not progressed much.  Our voices are still relegated to the Siberia of arts, style, culture - you know it as "fluff".  And for those of us who choose to explore, seek adventure and excitement we are warned or almost discouraged by our colleagues, both male and female, that bad things may happen to us.  Or, as sadly in my case, denied further opportunities because women just don't do this kind of work or that men wouldn't read it so it would not sell.....wow.  Is that not a limiting statement regarding men or what?

I do not believe that nonsense for one second.  No, I just think there are still those individuals for whatever reason who have this need to protect some status quo and at the expense of those of us who just love our craft.  I call bullshit on your "limitating" of my opportunities based on untrue axioms, the safety one being an insult to both genders.

So what?  Bad things can happen to me in my own city for crying out loud.  Hell, as a woman I know that all too well and the "bad things" take on many forms.

Goes without saying but I will say it anyway - I have done work that many men would never do and no, I did not engage in certain activities to make a point but rather because like other correspondents before me I felt DRIVEN to do so.  My curiosity had to be satisfied and not by proxy.

As well, another belief that is false is that women do not have strong voices like men because we are unsure of ourselves.  Bullshit again.  We have strong voices but we are tired of being called bitches, ball-breakers, aggressive, strident or hysterical because we choose to exude qualities and belief in our work the same way our male colleagues do.

So in saying this RIGHT HERE AND RIGHT FRIGGIN NOW I put forth a challenge to any editors, publishers and producers that since some of you feel that there is a "dearth" of strong female voices and such out there in the wider media diaspora then by all means get in touch with this woman who has worked in BOSNIA, KOSOVO, GUATEMALA (as covering conflicts) and as one who has traveled solo in some dangerous locales, sought adventure, had a great time, has an excellent sense of humour, is a bit of a pirate?

I KNOW that folks will want to read or listen to my opinions for many already have.  I have a fan base.

Today's musings btw?  I owe thanks to the wonderful Michael Enright of CBC Radio who had a panel of publishers and editors today discussing this very topic.  I will be sending notes to one in particular once my blood has stopped boiling.

Stay tuned kids.....this woman is about to toss some pretty strong words out there and no, they will not be in jest.

United Nations and Women's Rights - WTF are you idiots smoking anyway?

Moribund and male-dominated, the United Nations has proved beyond a reasonable doubt just how out of touch with reality that body can be. The decision this past week to have a Women's Board, ostensibly operating as a think-tank of sorts regarding women's rights, and have countries such as the Democratic Republic of the Congo (a country famous for its high instance of Rape) and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (Wahhabist misogynists) be elected to this board has to rank in my eye as probably one of the biggest WHAT THE FUCK moments ever in the history of this agency. And I have seen some real boners pulled off in the name of "humanitarianism".

Canadian writer and muslim feminist Irshad Manji, author of "The Trouble with Islam Today", gives a nice sketch of UN blunders, corruption and manipulation as of late especially regarding women and the political arms of Islam in her recent Globe and Mail article. To Manji this latest action illustrates the loss of integrity in an agency that many of us used to look up to as an example of what we could achieve as a cohesive, caring voice.

I lost faith in the UN years ago when working in the Balkans and it has been downhill from there ever since. Can we say "Rwanda"? I know that some have vilified me for my stance but unlike those professional bureaucrats, some who have become quite adept at kissing ass in order to maintain a particular lifestyle, I do not engage in my profession in order to curry favour or elevate my status. Rather, I do certain things because I seek a set of truths that may or not emerge, based on my observations and interactions with those affected by a myriad of issues, many of which could be easily eradicated if the will was there to do so. And no, I do not travel around on fat expense accounts nor in bullet-proof land Cruisers. I get down and dirty and have never been afraid to open my mouth - not a good quality to possess I suppose if one wants to join the ranks of the foreign service or barring that advance as a professional woman.

It seems that even in the ivory towers of a so-called progressive and proactive agency the agenda of making the lives of women and girls better is nothing but a joke behind certain closed doors.

Seems to me that it is never a good time to get tough on the asshole nations out there who allow Female Genital Mutilation - heaven forbid we offend someone's culture, right? Rape, "honor" killings, kidnapping little girls for sexual services - the list of atrocities committed by men (and some women) against women and girls is increasing and little has been done except the holding of conferences, the writing of position papers and other forms of "lip service" in the name of human rights - the cynic in me calls it JOB CREATION for the well-educated and connected.

This so-called Executive Board is an insult to this woman. This board should be vehemently protested.