Michele Landsberg
Encyclopedia
Michele Landsberg, OC
is an award-winning Canadian
writer, social activist
and feminist who wrote a column for the Toronto Star
newspaper.
from the University of Toronto
in 1962, she worked for The Globe and Mail
, raised her family, freelanced, and joined Chatelaine as a staff writer/editor. She joined the Toronto Star
as a columnist in 1978, then wrote a weekly column for the Globe and Mail in the 1980s.
Landsberg has written three best-selling books: Women and Children First, a collection of her campaigning columns, Michele Landsberg's Guide to Children's Books, and "This is New York, Honey!" A Homage to Manhattan, with Love and Rage, a memoir of her time living as the spouse of Canada's ambassador to the United Nations
. Other distinctions include two National Newspaper Awards, the YWCA
Women of Distinction Award, the Dodi Robb award from MediaWatch, the Robertine Barry Prize, the Florence Bird Award from the International Centre for Human Rights, the Canadian Governor General's Award in Commemoration of the Persons Case and Democratic Development. She has also received several honorary degrees from such institutions as McMaster University
.
Landsberg's writing tends to be both analytical and realistic, often including descriptions of physical experiences, from nursing an infant to dieting or quitting smoking. Some feel she detracted from the power of her message by resorting too frequently to name calling and stereotyping, e.g. she unfailingly referred to Conservative politicians with epithets such as "jack-booted Tories" and "Harris's henchmen". Her feminism includes strong expressions about the need to provide time and resources for maternal leave, and also excellent childcare programs. She also often devotes herself to in-depth analysis of facts that she feels have received an anti-woman spin by other media. A piece debunking coverage of a divorce decision, for example, can be found online.
In 2000, she especially angered transsexual
activists with a column in the Toronto Star
entitled "Rape crisis centre in B.C. endures assault", in which Landsberg remarks that "If a man cuts off his penis, pumps himself full of hormones, gets silicone breasts and electrolysis, and stuffs his feet into high heels is he/she a woman?" She also said part of her would always be "outraged.."that 'woman' could be defined as an outward set of physical characteristics - lack of penis, fake breasts - along with an ultra-sexist 'female impersonator' style of clothing and gesture."
Landsberg has been called the "most relentless critic" of the False Memory Syndrome Foundation
and has challenged the credentials of foundation advisers, saying that they "are people who really do have powerful motivation to deny the truth".
Landsberg is married to UN
Special Envoy Stephen Lewis
. Their children are Ilana Naomi Landsberg-Lewis, Jenny Leah Lewis and journalist Avi Lewis
. Avi is married to writer Naomi Klein
, and Ilana is married to musician and activist Lorraine Segato
.
In 2005, the Canadian Women's Foundation named a new award after Landsberg, to honour young women 18 to 30 who are outstanding in media and activism.
In 2006, she was made an Officer of the Order of Canada
.
Order of Canada
The Order of Canada is a Canadian national order, admission into which is, within the system of orders, decorations, and medals of Canada, the second highest honour for merit...
is an award-winning Canadian
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
writer, social activist
Activism
Activism consists of intentional efforts to bring about social, political, economic, or environmental change. Activism can take a wide range of forms from writing letters to newspapers or politicians, political campaigning, economic activism such as boycotts or preferentially patronizing...
and feminist who wrote a column for the Toronto Star
Toronto Star
The Toronto Star is Canada's highest-circulation newspaper, based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Its print edition is distributed almost entirely within the province of Ontario...
newspaper.
Life and career
After graduating with a bachelors degree in EnglishEnglish language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
from the University of Toronto
University of Toronto
The University of Toronto is a public research university in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, situated on the grounds that surround Queen's Park. It was founded by royal charter in 1827 as King's College, the first institution of higher learning in Upper Canada...
in 1962, she worked for The Globe and Mail
The Globe and Mail
The Globe and Mail is a nationally distributed Canadian newspaper, based in Toronto and printed in six cities across the country. With a weekly readership of approximately 1 million, it is Canada's largest-circulation national newspaper and second-largest daily newspaper after the Toronto Star...
, raised her family, freelanced, and joined Chatelaine as a staff writer/editor. She joined the Toronto Star
Toronto Star
The Toronto Star is Canada's highest-circulation newspaper, based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Its print edition is distributed almost entirely within the province of Ontario...
as a columnist in 1978, then wrote a weekly column for the Globe and Mail in the 1980s.
Landsberg has written three best-selling books: Women and Children First, a collection of her campaigning columns, Michele Landsberg's Guide to Children's Books, and "This is New York, Honey!" A Homage to Manhattan, with Love and Rage, a memoir of her time living as the spouse of Canada's ambassador to the United Nations
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
. Other distinctions include two National Newspaper Awards, the YWCA
YWCA
The YWCA USA is the United States branch of a women's membership movement that strives to create opportunities for women's growth, leadership and power in order to attain a common vision—to eliminate racism and empower women. The YWCA is a non-profit organization, the first of which was founded in...
Women of Distinction Award, the Dodi Robb award from MediaWatch, the Robertine Barry Prize, the Florence Bird Award from the International Centre for Human Rights, the Canadian Governor General's Award in Commemoration of the Persons Case and Democratic Development. She has also received several honorary degrees from such institutions as McMaster University
McMaster University
McMaster University is a public research university whose main campus is located in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. The main campus is located on of land in the residential neighbourhood of Westdale, adjacent to Hamilton's Royal Botanical Gardens...
.
Landsberg's writing tends to be both analytical and realistic, often including descriptions of physical experiences, from nursing an infant to dieting or quitting smoking. Some feel she detracted from the power of her message by resorting too frequently to name calling and stereotyping, e.g. she unfailingly referred to Conservative politicians with epithets such as "jack-booted Tories" and "Harris's henchmen". Her feminism includes strong expressions about the need to provide time and resources for maternal leave, and also excellent childcare programs. She also often devotes herself to in-depth analysis of facts that she feels have received an anti-woman spin by other media. A piece debunking coverage of a divorce decision, for example, can be found online.
In 2000, she especially angered transsexual
Transsexualism
Transsexualism is an individual's identification with a gender inconsistent or not culturally associated with their biological sex. Simply put, it defines a person whose biological birth sex conflicts with their psychological gender...
activists with a column in the Toronto Star
Toronto Star
The Toronto Star is Canada's highest-circulation newspaper, based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Its print edition is distributed almost entirely within the province of Ontario...
entitled "Rape crisis centre in B.C. endures assault", in which Landsberg remarks that "If a man cuts off his penis, pumps himself full of hormones, gets silicone breasts and electrolysis, and stuffs his feet into high heels is he/she a woman?" She also said part of her would always be "outraged.."that 'woman' could be defined as an outward set of physical characteristics - lack of penis, fake breasts - along with an ultra-sexist 'female impersonator' style of clothing and gesture."
Landsberg has been called the "most relentless critic" of the False Memory Syndrome Foundation
False Memory Syndrome Foundation
The False Memory Syndrome Foundation is a nonprofit organization founded in 1992 by Pamela and Peter Freyd, after being accused by their adult daughter Jennifer Freyd of sexual abuse when she was a child...
and has challenged the credentials of foundation advisers, saying that they "are people who really do have powerful motivation to deny the truth".
Landsberg is married to UN
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
Special Envoy Stephen Lewis
Stephen Lewis
Stephen Henry Lewis, is a Canadian politician, broadcaster and diplomat. He was the leader of the social democratic Ontario New Democratic Party for most of the 1970s. During many of the those years as leader, his father David Lewis was simultaneously the leader of the Federal New Democratic Party...
. Their children are Ilana Naomi Landsberg-Lewis, Jenny Leah Lewis and journalist Avi Lewis
Avi Lewis
Avram David "Avi" Lewis is a Canadian documentary filmmaker, host of the Al Jazeera English show , and former host of the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation current-affairs program On the Map.-Family:...
. Avi is married to writer Naomi Klein
Naomi Klein
Naomi Klein is a Canadian author and social activist known for her political analyses and criticism of corporate globalization.-Family:...
, and Ilana is married to musician and activist Lorraine Segato
Lorraine Segato
Lorraine Segato is a Canadian pop singer-songwriter, best known as the lead vocalist for and a principal songwriter of new wave and pop rock group Parachute Club, with which she continues to perform.- History :...
.
In 2005, the Canadian Women's Foundation named a new award after Landsberg, to honour young women 18 to 30 who are outstanding in media and activism.
In 2006, she was made an Officer of the Order of Canada
Order of Canada
The Order of Canada is a Canadian national order, admission into which is, within the system of orders, decorations, and medals of Canada, the second highest honour for merit...
.