In Salon’s Broadsheet today, there’s an interesting piece about a new security issue: “Along with procedures guarding against explosive breast milk, we now have a new national threat: the underwire bra.”

According to the Associated Press, Lori Plato set off security alarms when trying to enter an Idaho federal courthouse last month: U.S. Marshals Service not only asked Plato to remove her bra but gave her no viable options for doing so with any measure of privacy… “I asked if I could go into the bathroom because they didn’t have a privacy screen and no women security officers were available. They said, ‘No.’”

Have security measures just gone too far with their violation of a person’s (or a woman’s) privacy?

I’ve personally experienced the minor embarrassment of having my underwire set off airport security alarms, and I have tolerated the rigorous pat-down that resulted. But asking a woman to remove her bra infront of a group of US Marshals and numerous strangers seems a little extreme. It sems to be a form of gender-based humiliation, if you ask me:

In 2003 a Northwest Airlines flight attendant sued the Massachusetts Port Authority after her underwire bra triggered an airport metal detector in Logan Airport, and security guards searched her and compelled her to partially undress…In a 2004 story from the Seattle Post-Intelligencer, several women complained of being traumatized by intrusive security searches.

There’s even something called the frequent flyer bra, created by a Japenese company that promises the undergarment won’t set off any bells and whistles when you fly.

If you read the last issue of Shameless Magazine (or if you have boobs) you’ll already know that it can be rather difficult to find a bra without underwire and padding. My solution? Go commando next time you pass a security checkpoint. Or better yet:

(One woman) whose belt was setting off the alarm took her pants off altogether.

This weekend I had the wonderful chance to see an exhibit here in London, England of the art of Lee Miller (1907 - 1977), feminist icon and one of the twentieth century’s greatest photographers.

Born in upstate New York, she actually began her career at 19 as a model for American Vogue - she made history when she appeared in the first advertisement for menstrual products that featured an actual woman in the picture. She was captured on film by some of the world’s greatest photographers, and was considered one of the greatest beauties of her day - her breasts were thought so perfect, champagne glasses were modeled after them.

But so much more than just a pretty face, she was much more passionate about working behind the camera than in front of it.

(more inside…)

Media Democracy Day is being celebrated in cities across Canada from today until Oct. 26. Media activists in Toronto, Montreal and Vancouver have organized speakers, film screenings and alt-media fairs, including a film and panel discussion on Burma and the media at Toronto’s Brunswick Theatre today, and a media democracy and community radio conference at McGill in Montreal (where the amazing Amy Goodman will speak!).

For full event listings, go here.

If you know of any other Media Democracy Day events in your city or town, let us know!

Finally, there’s some research to back up your “Feminists-do-it-better” T-shirt. According to this piece in the Globe and Mail, two academics at Rutgers University set out to bust the stereotype that feminists are “romantically challenged” in heterosexual love and lust.

Make of this what you will, but their study found that women who identify as feminist are more likely than women who don’t to be dating or married, and that “men and women with feminist partners tend to be happier with their relationships and more satisfied with their sex lives.”

Pretty cool study. Also cool to see it on the front page of the Globe‘s Life section — it’s pretty to see the F-word in a headline.

stef lenk and Shannon Gerard‘s “Playing Doctor” exhibition has been pulled from the York University Bookstore window only 7 days after it was installed. The reason? Some higher-ups at the University demanded it’s removal. Apparently a nameless professor who lives on the campus found it offensive and was afraid his son might see it.

The exhibit actually happily hung in Toronto’s Pages Bookstore’s front window for a while, celebrating the dual launch of lenk and Gerrard’s books at a This is Not a Reading Series event back in August.

Richelle at BlogTO reports:

I asked the gallery’s Assistant Curator, Emelie Chhangur to describe what was in the window of the bookstore: “Playing Doctor was comprised of lenk’s operating table and Gerard’s cut out figures of a man and a woman with crocheted boobs and dinks, (the parts of the male/female body affected by cancer). Gerard’s books, and video + small “kits” contain DIY instructions on how to check yourself for testicular and breast cancer. lenk’s operating table brings it home with reference to the children’s game, this time with hand drawn body parts and a hand painted figure on the table. The art work is fantastic, fun, accessible, and educational.”

How a giant board game and information about cancer could taint a child is beyond me.

I was at the TINARS launch in August and was particularily moved by what Gerard was aiming to accomplish with her detection kits. Her honesty regarding her and her partner’s own experiences with “finding a lump” and her bravery in expressing it through her work was inspiring. In my view, the “kits” she had on offer at the event were a real step in the right direction; they opened up an early detection dialogue, and aimed to make people comfortable and aware of their bodies in order to save their lives. Her entire performance (which included a an informative yet hilarious video) humanized and inspired.

Both lenk and Gerard’s work is specific to the female body in an uncommonly non-sexualized way; with their images they point to an empowered awareness and self-ownership, which I would argue is very feminist.

This kind of ridiculous censorship is a disgrace.

“A Howard student is suing the University for negligence and medical malpractice because she said she was raped and denied proper care at GW Hospital because she allegedly appeared intoxicated, according to documents filed in D.C. Superior Court.”

The victim was denied a rape kit at several hospitals after she was given a date-rape drug at an off-campus party:

“Court documents also add that she appeared intoxicated and was therefore denied a rape kit and sent home. It also states she was drifting in and out of consciousness and vomiting.”

On Sunday, October 21st at 10:30 AM I’m going to be on CKLN 88.1 (in Toronto) as part of Radio Cliteracy and the station’s annual fundFEST.

Tune in and listen to me talk about Shameless Magazine and my forthcoming novel. You’ll also have the opportunity to make pledges to support CKLN and the fine work they do.

RadioCliteracy (which is the coolest name for a feminist radio show, evah) is spreading words like wildfire over the waves, taking a feminist twist on women’s health, art, music, sexuality, politics, the media, and beyond.

BU! The Power of Being a Girl Conference

Saturday October 20, 9am to 4pm
North York Civic Centre, 5100 Yonge St., (North York Centre Subway)

Be Anything! Be Everything! Be You! YWCA Toronto Girls’ Council and the Toronto Youth Cabinet present a FREE full day conference by, for and about girls 14-22. For more details or to register, please call 416.961.8100 ext. 358 or email abc@ywcatoronto.org.

YWCA Toronto Girls’ Council
YWCA Toronto Girls Council is a group of ten girls (12-18) from South West Scarborough who volunteer as mentors in their community, assisting the YWCA Girls Center in developing, planning and evaluating programs for girls ages 8-18.

Toronto Youth Cabinet
The Toronto Youth Cabinet (TYC) is a volunteer-based organization that is the official voice for youth at City Hall. The TYC consistently advocates for various youth issues and strives to ensure that there is a focus on youth programs and services. In addition, the TYC promotes youth activism and civic engagement. All TYC members are between the ages of 13-24 and either work, play, go to school or live in the City of Toronto.
Keynote Panel Hosted by: Kris Reyes: Reporter, CityNews and Anchor, CP24
2:30pm Panel Discussion
Theme:
Education, Empowerment & Action: Young women’s vision of a future without violence

Panelists:
Amanda Cain, editor of Yo’ Mama
Saron Ghebressellassie, YWCA Toronto 2007 Young Woman of Distinction
Stacey May Fowles, Publisher, Shameless Magazine(more inside…)

Okay, admittedly this doesn’t have anything to do with Feminism, but I couldn’t resist. Like any good Canadian, I love it when we get a mention.

And for nostalgia, and to bring it back to the point at hand, Colbert’s ingenius Cooking with Feminists after the break.(more inside…)