Online hate that targets women is a threat to democracy itself
Our Advocacy Work
January 10th, 2023Published in the Ottawa Citizen Women are now being subjected not just to insults and demeaning comments but to vicious lies, doctored images and sexual and violent intimidation. Elon Musk isn’t responsible for how unappealing public life has become for even ambitious women. But the billionaire’s ascension to Twitter’s c-suite and his reinstatement of some […]
read more...Online hate that targets women is a threat to democracy itself“Call out” versus “invite in”
Effective Communication
January 10th, 2023I’m in awe of #GretaThunberg. It was her climate activism that first got my attention, of course. But last week her masterful smackdown of the a**hole kickboxer now arrested on human trafficking charges cemented my hero worship: Her understanding of toxic masculinity…! Her wicked sense of humour…! Her economic use of language…! “yes, please do […]
read more...“Call out” versus “invite in”The “verbal attack” on Chrystia Freeland deters us all
Our Advocacy Work
August 31st, 2022Does watching the video footage of Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland and her female colleagues being verbally attacked by a 250-pound belligerent bully make your heart race? (You’re probably a woman.) Although my own political confrontation with an angry and self-righteous crowd happened more than 20 years ago, and my boss was the object of […]
read more...The “verbal attack” on Chrystia Freeland deters us allIf it can happen to Lisa Laflamme… (and what you can do)
Diversity Belonging + Inclusion and Our Advocacy Work
August 23rd, 2022When Lisa Laflamme’s predecessor Lloyd Robertson signed off CTV’s nightly broadcast, he used to say, “And that’s the kind of day it’s been.” Which — to someone invested in media literacy — seemed inadvertently misleading. Because journalism, even at its best, is still a series of subjective decisions, every one of which is influenced by […]
read more...If it can happen to Lisa Laflamme… (and what you can do)For Charlotte’s sake, say NO to the status quo
Our Advocacy Work
August 9th, 2022Charlotte, light of my life, is 7. Her fearless physicality, fierce devotion to her brothers, and clarity about her artist’s soul… these are just three of the things that make my heart ache when I think about the many ways the world she is inheriting will fail to deliver what she deserves. But one of […]
read more...For Charlotte’s sake, say NO to the status quoRemembering Inspirational Feminist Advocate, Shirley Greenberg
Our Advocacy Work
May 30th, 2022The staff and board of Informed Opinions join all of Ottawa, many thousands of women, and the extended Greenberg family in mourning the passing of Shirley Greenberg. An inspirational feminist advocate, role model and philanthropist, her generosity has made — and continues to make — a profound difference in the lives of countless women. […]
read more...Remembering Inspirational Feminist Advocate, Shirley GreenbergYoung women make waves – and inspire their mentoring peers in the process
Diversity Belonging + Inclusion
April 11th, 2022Greta Thunberg, in just 3 years, has shown the world a new way of doing things, of speaking up, of making a difference. She did what no one was able to do before: at 16 years old, she got the world to talk seriously about the climate crisis. Just weeks after Greta started her Fridays […]
read more...Young women make waves – and inspire their mentoring peers in the processBlocking Online Abuse: Q&A with Toronto Star columnist Heather Mallick
Our Advocacy Work
January 20th, 2022In the context of Informed Opinions’ work to combat the #ToxicHush of online hate, we’re deeply conscious of how much abuse many outspoken women and gender-diverse journalists, bloggers and influencers receive. Noting a recent tweet by longtime feminist columnist, Heather Mallick about blocking words on Twitter, we reached out to learn more… Do you remember […]
read more...Blocking Online Abuse: Q&A with Toronto Star columnist Heather MallickOnline hate targeting politicians threatens democracy
Our Advocacy Work
January 11th, 2022If you’re a woman in Canada who pays any attention to politics, you already know the basic arc and many of the low points of the story below. In fact, you’re likely to have had a visceral experience of the events, even if you only ever saw them reported on the news or discussed on […]
read more...Online hate targeting politicians threatens democracyHow to Use #Ottertime to Fight Online Hate and Disorient Trolls
Our Advocacy Work
December 29th, 2021Esther Choo is a physician who does medical commentary on CNN, MSNBC and BBC. She has more than 192,000 followers. And because she’s a feminist, tweets about gender inequities, and is also Asian American, she gets trolled. But she’s smart and has a sense of humour, too. So here’s what she does when she gets […]
read more...How to Use #Ottertime to Fight Online Hate and Disorient Trolls