Special Host Elizabeth Coulson

Toxic Masculinity

From childhood, there is an evident distinction made between the roles, behaviours and appearance of a girl compared to a boy. Whether it's that fact that boys are praised for aggression while girls are expected to be polite or that girls are more often complimented on their appearance while boys are complimented on things like their work ethic. A girl stepping outside of these strict societal boundaries makes her less “feminine” or less “girly”.

These societal expectations continue from childhood into adulthood. We see the effect of these boundaries manifest into adulthood where women are paid less for the same work a man does. It’s frustrating to hear that as a society we have not progressed enough for women to have the same opportunities. Let’s dive deeper into the root of this issue and find out how we can work towards change. 

Accessible education is a human right. For refugee youth, especially girls, this fundamental right is oftentimes compromised because of the intense pressure to help out the family at home or through working. This further puts youth at a risk of being exploited through child labour and serves as a barrier to growth and development that education provides. Education is not only an aid to development, but it acts as the stepping stone to better career opportunities, living situations and autonomy in an individual's life. Let’s explore this further!

The global climate crisis presents a need for urgent responses from institutions in all sectors. When regarding both planetary health and women’s rights, there is a tendency to believe that the two exist in entirely different realms. In reality, however, the two are inextricably linked, prompting the need for policies that address these issues simultaneously. In Episode 9 of SPEAK!, our hosts are joined by Program Lead, Youth Specialist and Advocate Rodayna Abuelwafa, and Youth Advocate Charlotte Peng from Plan International Canada.  

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Commission on the Status of Women Climate Changemakers’ Toolkit: https://plancanada.my.salesforce.com/sfc/p/#f4000001TcoR/a/5G000000NVIU/EaZrpBF2YXABJKy6pIgesnpFzGmNo4t.MUZwIs413Gk 

Plan International Canada’s work on Climate Change: https://plancanada.ca/what-we-do/climate-change 

The SPEAK! podcast is one of the many initiatives of Champions of Change UTM. To learn more about our work, visit https://www.championsofchangeutm.com/   

Podcast Landing Page: https://anchor.fm/championsofchangeutm   

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Advertisements are a significant social communication medium and, as such, they socialize us into developing particular thoughts, beliefs, or ideals. In reinforcing certain ideologies or cultural perspectives, we see that advertising has far-reaching sociological, aesthetic, and philosophical consequences, to the point of actually altering the ways we experience the world around us. In Episode 8 of SPEAK!, we will be exploring how these types of advertising impact our everyday lives, with a focus on how it specifically affects marginalized groups. Joining us, we have Dr. Aidan Moir, who is a Communication and Culture professor at UTM. 

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The SPEAK! podcast is one of the many initiatives of Champions of Change UTM. To learn more about our work, visit https://www.championsofchangeutm.com/ 

Instagram // https://www.instagram.com/championsofchangeutm/

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Episode 7 of SPEAK! centers around the Digital Divide – the gap between demographics and regions that have access to modern information and communications technology, and those that have restricted access. In "Deconstructing the Digital Divide", our hosts, along with our special guest, Dr. Jayne Baker, explore the nuances of the digital divide, its causes and effects, and the role of educational and governmental institutions in addressing this issue, especially as it relates to a Canadian landscape. 

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The SPEAK! podcast is one of the many initiatives of Champions of Change UTM. To learn more about our work, visit https://www.championsofchangeutm.com/ Instagram // https://www.instagram.com/championsofchangeutm/TikTok // https://www.tiktok.com/@championsofchangeutmLinkedIn // https://www.linkedin.com/company/champions-of-change-utm/Facebook // https://www.facebook.com/championsofchangeutm/

In Episode 6 of SPEAK!, members of Champions of Change UTM share their personal tips and trick for not only surviving, but thriving in exam season.   

If you or someone you know is struggling with mental health, here are a few resources to get you started with accessing the help you need:  

Good2Talk Ontario’s post-secondary student helpline: https://good2talk.ca/ 

UTM Health & Counselling Centre Offers personal counselling, group counselling and psychiatric care to assist students experiencing a wide range of challenges: https://www.utm.utoronto.ca/health/health-counselling-centre 

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The SPEAK! podcast is one of the many initiatives of Champions of Change UTM. To learn more about our work, visit https://www.championsofchangeutm.com/ 

Podcast Landing Page: https://anchor.fm/championsofchangeutm 

Instagram // https://www.instagram.com/championsofchangeutm/

TikTok // https://www.tiktok.com/@championsofchangeutm

LinkedIn // https://www.linkedin.com/company/champions-of-change-utm/

Facebook // https://www.facebook.com/championsofchangeutm/

In general, the topic of mental health has obtained much currency in today’s discourse, and it is a prevalent problem facing the global education system. In “Mental Health in the Classroom”, our hosts, along with our special guest, Dr. Carly Prusky, focus specifically on the wellness of students in post-secondary institutions by exploring some of the causes and effects of declining mental health, the role of educators in support and intervention, and the institutional responses we hope to see to address the current mental health crisis.

If you or someone you know is struggling with mental health, here are a few resources to get you started with accessing the help you need:

Good2Talk

Ontario’s post-secondary student helpline: https://good2talk.ca/

UTM Health & Counselling Centre

Offers personal counselling, group counselling and psychiatric care to assist students experiencing a wide range of challenges: https://www.utm.utoronto.ca/health/health-counselling-centre

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The SPEAK! podcast is one of the many initiatives of Champions of Change UTM. To learn more about our work, visit https://www.championsofchangeutm.com/

Instagram // https://www.instagram.com/championsofchangeutm/

TikTok // https://www.tiktok.com/@championsofchangeutm

LinkedIn // https://www.linkedin.com/company/champions-of-change-utm/

Facebook // https://www.facebook.com/championsofchangeutm/