The controversial song, Blurred Lines, topped the charts, rape chants erupted in frosh weeks across Canada, American media lamented the fate of the rapists in the Steubenville case - with little attention to the victim - and a spate of sexual assaults have plagued the UBC campus.
It seems the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender Violence campaign is needed more than ever.
The campaign launched on Nov. 25 (International Day Against Violence Against Women) and ends Dec. 10 (International Human Rights Day), including significant dates in between to link gender violence with human rights.
Three Richmond women's groups joined to co-host the screening of Finding Dawn about the families of the missing and murdered women in the Downtown Eastside tonight (Dec. 4).
A couple of days later, Kwantlen's Richmond campus will hold a vigil for the National Day of Remembrance on Friday (Dec. 6), in honour of the 14 women who were murdered at the L'Ecole Polytechnique in Montreal 24 years ago.
Although cases of assault seem to be emerging at a rapid pace, both the missing women and Montreal massacre attest gender violence is nothing new.
"The media has the power to highlight these issues, which is why people are noticing it now," said Kwantlen sociology professor Seema Ahluwalia. "But it's not just a light that flipped on all of a sudden, these are deep-rooted issues.
"For decades now, pop culture has become increasingly pornified, and sex and violence are becoming increasingly conflated. We've normalized portrayals of violence and degradation."
Rather than looking at Canadian culture as a whole, people are quick to point fingers at specific groups, such as the South Asian community, says Ahluwalia. These biases hinder the discussion about deep-seated issues like gender inequality and an economic system that allows what she calls "a rape culture" to flourish.
"It only seems to capture the imagination of the mainstream when incidents rise within mainstream culture," said Ahluwalia. "The reality is, the most vulnerable have always been struggling. Native women have been talking about these issues for decades. They were holding marches 10 years before the police started investigating the missing women.
"It shouldn't be a surprise these issues are starting to seep into more privileged communities now, especially if you look at pop culture." Ahluwalia points to studies linking "predatory economic practices" to violence against women.
"We're dominated by war economics and the control of resources," she said. "It's how powerful countries base their GDP. Our country has been born out of violence. We've used it to intimidate and destroy cultures."
Bringing the conversation to a global level, not just one that blames cultural differences, is something that needs to happen to improve the situation.
"We keep intensifying inequality," she said. "There's no way we can address the rape culture without looking at the inequalities that allow it to flourish. Ultimately, this doesn't help the privileged either, men aren't benefiting from this."
De Whalen, chair of the Richmond Poverty Response Committee adds, "It's still a man's world out there, when you look at legal services available or the justice system."
In recent years, Whalen has noticed more community action. For her, tonight's screening provides another opportunity for public education.
Organized by CHIMO, the Canadian Federation of University Women Richmond, and the Richmond Women's Resource Centre, Cherry Smiley (Indigenous Women Against the Sex Industry) and Chris McDowell (Remember Our Sisters Everywhere) will lead a discussion after the screening.
"I worry a little bit about the lasting impact of these types of awareness weeks, but hopefully this provides a place to start and people can create their own year-round projects," said Whalen.
Richmond has a strong network of groups, according to Whalen. Currently, studies are being conducted into much needed second stage housing for women in Richmond. Although Nova House exists, it's often full and very temporary.
"There's nowhere for women to go after," Whalen said. "They basically have to get referrals, legal aid and income assistance in a short amount of time. When they leave, they end up going back to their abusive housing situation because they don't have other options. The cycle of violence continues."
Community town halls provide another way to create inclusive discussion. But Ahluwalia said these need to be organized on a government level that listens to vulnerable communities.
The screening takes place at the Ralph Fisher Auditorium in Richmond Hospital from 6:30-9 p.m. Kwantlen's event begins at noon on Friday, Dec. 6.
