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Summary of research and links to backgrounders intended to support the work of facilitators of girls’ empowerment groups, programmers and organizations working with girls and young women. The research project examined: best practices in health promotion with girls and healthy living issues such as prevention of tobacco uptake, obesity, physical inactivity and dating violence; the central elements of girls’ empowerment group approaches and how they might provide a model for gender-specific health promotion; and what girls say they get from these groups.

Discusses how women in our culture are increasingly pressured to remove signs of aging (e.g. laser surgery to remove wrinkles).

Discusses the debates about mammography screening, arguing that screening can often be unnecessary and have negative impacts. Notes that screening has not reduced incidence of advanced cancers, a prerequisite for successful screening.

Discusses a holistic approach to breast health and breast cancer prevention that accounts for the evidence that breast cancer is caused not only by genetic predisposition, but also by environmental and lifestyle factors.

Explains the intent of the Canadian Policy Research Network’s website EvidenceNetwork.ca. The goal of this non-partisan network and it’s accompanying website is to link journalists with experts on high profile health policy issues.

Review of Dangerous Pregnancies: Mothers, Disabilities, and Abortion in Modern America by Leslie J. Reagan. Dangerous Pregnancies examines how rubella, also known as German measles was discovered; how responses to rubella, and fears of it, resonated in the efforts to make abortion legal and accessible in the United States; how class, race, and privilege all played roles in abortion access; how disability activism and eugenics were mobilized to promote vaccinations and abortions; how vaccines and vaccination programs got adopted; and how these all issues link.

Explores the issue of hypersexualization (also knowns as "sexualization") of young girls. Examines the evidence about hypersexualization's effects on girls and their sexual development. Discusses whether or not there is cause for alarm about marketing practices that target young girls with sexually suggestive images and products. Suggests how parents can deal with possible negative effects of these practices on their children.

An annotated compilation of resources on the effects of racism on women’s health, in honour of International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (March 21).

Discusses some of the issues regarding housing and care that women face throughout their life spans. Argues for a "solidarity centred mode of life” when considering housing arrangements. Explores how housing arrangements can become "communities of care" that encourage and support (radical) INTERdependence as a way many women— especially older women—may want to live their lives.

Intended to generate an understanding of women and healthy living and to contribute to the development of evidence-informed responses to addressing challenges related to healthy living for women in Canada. Argues that healthy living needs to be reframed and embrace a broader concept of health and health issues in order to improve women’s healthy living. Includes (1) an overview of the status of women in Canada and the healthy living discourse; (2) a profile of women and healthy living; (3) healthy living strategies and promising gender-sensitive intervention; and (4) conclusions.