Women Against Violence and Exploitation

Instelling

Women Against Violence and Exploitation

• WAVE, Windsor Coalition Against Pornography, WCAP

1983 - ca. 1988?

Women Against Violence and Exploitation (WAVE) was a feminist activist group based in Windsor that focused on pornography and exploitation of women in the media. The Windsor Coalition Against Pornography (WCAP) was founded in 1983 (but possibly active beforehand) to take action in the Windsor-Essex region against forms of pornography it deemed particularly harmful to women and children. Its tactics included providing resources, giving presentations, and organizing events related to their cause. Of particular note was a slide show illustrating the dehumanizing and overtly sexual portrayal of women and children in advertising, which formed the basis of an educational program available to schools and community groups. WCAP changed its name to WAVE in November 1984, to better reflect the members’ concerns and goal of confronting all forms of violence and exploitation faced by women and children. WAVE was particularly concerned with legislation and submitted a report to the Fraser Commission, a federal body then investigating the problems of prostitution and pornography in Canada. Led by member Selma McGorman, the organization was also very active in lobbying against offensive mainstream advertising through letter-writing to the magazines and companies concerned. WAVE appears to have been dissolved ca. 1988.

Sources: Contents of fonds; Laura Popozzi, “Organizational Papers of Women against Violence and Exploitation (WAVE) 1983-1988,” 1996.