TAN – The Afro News

Female Genital Mutilation in a Canadian Context

By Honourable Senator Mobina S.B. Jaffer, Q.C. : Throughout history roughly 114 million women and girls have undergone some form of female genital mutilation. This procedure is practiced in 27 countries in Africa, 7 countries in the Middle East, as well as in several parts of Malaysia, India and Indonesia. Read the full story

Vancouver Fashion Week 2010

By Helena Kaufman The Afro News Vancouver

Fashion forward was clearly the direction as Vancouver Fashion Week 2010’s models took to the event’s runway at The Empire Landmark Hotel. Even when fashion’s future faces and designers looked to ancient cultures for their inspiration the results were fresh, eclectic and at times irreverent.

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CANADA’s GIFTS OF DIVERSITY Photo By KMG

By: Ryan Andrew Mitchell 

As a young university student, Grace Bonifacio knows particular women are responsible for major progress in human rights and great progress in other important sectors including family, and like many other women, she acknowledges specific figures that have touched her. Even with the recognition she has, she is concerned about the appreciation of future generations: Will society continue to appreciate the impact of female figures or take their actions for granted?

“The woman is the backbone of every family.” Wilma Bennett, a mother of two, states the reason why society needs to not only recognise the impact of famous women, but keep in mind the effort of individual woman. “It is important that women feel empowered, they are the nucleus of the family, [communities] need to make them feel aware that they important in order for them to continue with nurturing and providing for the family.”

There are obvious figures in North America that are known for empowering women of all ages and colours. Many have paved the road for women today and others have reached big roles in television and political movements. Thousands of organisations have been founded to inspire young girls to educate themselves and to pursue different careers.

Bonifacio thinks of the double standard women face on the business side “Women have to be more than just talent these days. In order to surpass the standard they have to work a bit [harder] in order to be remembered, if we don’t we will miss the standard.”

Even if it may seem impossible to forget the impact women have made on society, Bennett mentions the huge role single mothers play in society, “I greatly admire women who challenged themselves and progress with what little [support] they had.” Bonifacio agrees it is important for women to feel appreciated, since they play a critical role in humanity as Bonifacio states “It’s already implied, women are known to give life, and that’s just the start.”

Interviewees: Wilma Bennett ,Gracelle Bonifacio