Latest news with #UQAM
CTV News
3 days ago
- CTV News
Researchers warn of persistent misconceptions around sexual violence and consent in Quebec
A new study suggests myths about sexual assault remain alarmingly common, particularly when it comes to who is believed, who is blamed, and what consent is. A new province-wide study suggests myths about sexual assault remain alarmingly common, particularly when it comes to who is believed, who is blamed, and what counts as consent. The study done in collaborations with researchers at Université du Québec à Montréal (UQAM) and Université du Québec en Outaouais (UQO) was released Wednesday. The authors said it's the first of its kind to measure attitudes in Quebec about sexual violence, rape culture, and stereotypes that reinforce them. The findings show many in the province still hold beliefs that undermine victims and minimize abuse. Psychologist Dominique Trottier, a professor at UQO and one of the study's collaborators, said that despite years of social awareness campaigns, including the Me Too movement, progress has not been straightforward. 'These myths trivialize incidents of sexual abuse,' she said. 'They put into question the credibility of victims, minimize the responsibility of the abuser, and reframe the blame on the victim.' The survey, which polled around 1,200 people across the province using a sample designed to reflect Quebec's population, found that a significant portion of respondents endorsed false or harmful ideas about consent and sexual assault. Among the most striking results: 77 per cent of men and 53 per cent of women did not fully reject the idea that some people fabricate sexual assault accusations out of revenge. A quarter of all respondents—including 27 per cent of men and 20 per cent of women—expressed ambivalence about the need to always ask for consent before engaging in a sexual relationship. 'That is troubling,' said Sandrine Ricci, a sociology professor at UQAM and researcher of the study. 'There's no situation where it's okay not to ask, and that consent can take many forms—it's not like a notary has to be present for it to count.' Ricci stressed that beyond clear verbal agreement, people must consider enthusiasm, context, and social power dynamics when it comes to consent. 'We need to look at the conditions under which consent is given or not given. If there's a power relation—for instance, between a teacher and a student, a doctor and a patient, a man and a woman or a non-binary person, a white person and a racialized person—that affects how free someone is to say no,' Ricci said. Another question in the survey asked if a woman who initiates physical contact, like touching or kissing, should expect that a man might assume she wants sex. While responses varied, a majority of men did not entirely reject that suggestion. Researchers found that gender played a major role in how people responded across nearly every category. Trottier said men were more likely to endorse rape myths that question a victim's credibility, excuse the perpetrator, or shift blame onto the victim. 'That's one of the most concerning results we're getting,' she said. 'There are particular social groups more prone to accept these kinds of prejudice, and men tend to endorse them in all the categories we measured.' The study also pointed to age-based differences. People aged 15 to 25 and those 66 and older were more likely to express beliefs that undermine victims., especially those that cast doubt on the credibility of someone reporting an assault. Trottier said that partly reflects how social change often comes with resistance. 'When we push forward on an issue, there's more than often a backlash,' she said. 'In our current political and social climate, we're seeing a resurgence in discourse about traditional values, and with that, more intolerance toward marginalized groups, including the LGBTQ+ community.' Ricci emphasized that they remain widespread across demographics and that institutions like education systems, media, legal systems, and government agencies all need to respond. 'We live in a profoundly gendered society,' she said. 'And the results show strong differences between men and women on these issues in proportions that are really disturbing.' Until now, Ricci said, there was no large-scale public study in Quebec that focused specifically on attitudes around sexual violence, consent, and related myths. 'Now, we have facts,' she said. 'We don't have to base our education programs or prevention strategies on studies from the U.S. or from other provinces. We have local, contextualized data.' Ricci and Trottier both said they hope the research will lead to change, not just in public understanding, but in policy. 'Any actor or institution responsible for prevention and education can use this data,' Ricci said. 'And we need to intensify efforts that focus specifically on men, because if they hold these beliefs, we have to assume some practices reflect them, too.'
CTV News
6 days ago
- Health
- CTV News
Montreal researcher sounds alarm over data collection in children's gaming apps
A Montreal researcher is raising concerns about the amount of personal data being collected by children's gaming apps. As digital gaming continues to captivate young audiences, a growing concern has emerged regarding the hidden risks posed by mobile apps targeting children. A study by Université du Québec à Montréal (UQAM) professor Maude Bonenfant reveals that many of these popular games are not just after children's attention; they are after their personal data as well. 'The mobile games it's like a Trojan horse, and then there is a backdoor where third parties are collecting all the data on the device,' said Bonenfant. Her research analyzed 140 mobile games designed for children and found that many of them were collecting personal information. Gaming apps are collecting data Some are concerned about gaming apps directed at children and their ability to collect personal data. This includes text messages, location data, and photo albums, all used to create the child's digital profile. 'The objective is really to do some profiling and then sell those profiles to make advertisements, but also to change the way the game is made,' said Bonenfant. Bonenfant says the games use 'gambling-like' strategies to keep kids hooked. Tech analyst Carmi Levy calls this a crisis. 'We talk about technology's impact on kids all the time. This is a perfect example of how it's being marketed, like a sugar-sweet treat desserts, but it's incredibly damaging to them and to their futures,' said Levy. Bonenfant says the process is deceptively simple. Children download a free game from the app store, and once they accept the terms and conditions, that is when third parties gain access to their personal information. She says she would like to see Quebec enforce stricter regulations surrounding privacy laws. The president of the English Parents' Committee Association of Quebec, Katherine Korakakis, says the key lies in awareness. 'Parents perhaps can make different choices if they know this,' says Korakakis. 'Like, hey, giving my kid this phone and allowing them to use this app will result in X, Y, Z, perhaps [they] will make different decisions.' She says the association is advocating for schools to teach children the potential dangers of this type of technology. That said, Bonenfant suggests switching to gaming consoles, claiming they offer better privacy compared to mobile games. Levy, on the other hand, is urging everyone to carefully read the fine print before accepting all the terms and conditions. 'The games are free, and we pay with data,' said Levy.
Cision Canada
29-04-2025
- Business
- Cision Canada
An innovative alliance between the Palais des congrès de Montréal, Tourisme Montréal and UQAM: a new agreement that will showcase the metropolis Français
MONTRÉAL, April 29, 2025 /CNW/ - The Palais des congrès de Montréal, Tourisme Montréal and the Université du Québec à Montréal (UQAM) signed a historic tripartite agreement—the first of its kind—marking a turning point in how to collaborate to attract and support international-caliber conferences and congresses, and turn Montréal into a business tourism hub and an ever more dynamic and influential city. A collective strike force Where once they worked as volunteers to attract international congresses, members of UQAM's faculty will now be able to receive structured and financial support. Faculty who commit to organizing congresses that bring together 500 participants or more will be offered co-funded release time from courses. The goal is threefold: to give them the means, the time and the momentum to attract more congresses, to promote their expertise, and to enhance Montréal's profile. This new agreement is built on the simple but powerful belief that by pooling their expertise, networks and resources, the three partners can achieve so much more—together. An agreement with multiple spinoffs The agreement is based on several strategic orientations, including: Bringing additional vitality to the Quartier Latin and promoting Montréal as a university metropolis, by relying on an enhanced urban experience in the downtown core Promoting major sectors of influence in the metropolis and the expertise of UQAM's faculty The Knowledge Collective: a strategic ally for UQAM professors The Knowledge Collective, a joint initiative of the Palais des congrès de Montréal and Tourisme Montréal launched in 2024, seeks to be a key strategic partner in organizing international congresses. This single point of access offers personalized assistance and concrete resources to streamline the process for specialists from a given filed in attracting international events to Montréal. With the expertise, resources and network of the Palais des congrès and Tourisme Montréal, these professionals enjoy support in reaching their objectives. Faculty at UQAM wishing to attract a major international event to Montréal will be able to turn to The Knowledge Collective for made-to-measure support and contribute to promoting both their research field and the metropolis. QUOTES "After launching The Knowledge Collective in April 2024 to support initiatives to attract international gatherings to Montréal, we're delighted to be taking a further concrete step with the signing of this historic agreement. Already recognized as a premier destination for international association events in the Americas, according to the Union of International Associations and the International Congress and Convention Association, Montréal is sure to consolidate its position as a business tourism leader on the international stage." – Yves Lalumière, President and CEO of Tourisme Montréal "This pivotal agreement is an important step in strengthening ties between UQAM, Tourisme Montréal and the Palais des congrès. It will promote innovative and lasting collaborations, by drawing on the expertise and leadership of our faculty—the drivers in attracting major scientific congresses—and will actively contribute to the international promotion of Montréal as a metropolis of knowledge, culture and innovation. It also aligns with our desire to contribute to the vitality of the Quartier Latin and downtown." – Stéphane Pallage, Rector of UQAM "This historic alliance marks a decisive turning point in confirming Montréal as one of the world's great business tourism and knowledge cities. By concretely assisting local experts through a solid support structure, we're providing them with the means to promote their expertise, attract a greater number of international congresses and enhance the metropolis's influence. The Palais des congrès is proud to be at the heart of this exceptional synergy that will sustainably amplify Montréal's economic, scientific and cultural impact on the world stage." – Emmanuelle Legault, President and CEO of the Palais des congrès de Montréal About Tourisme Montréal Tourisme Montréal is a 100-year-old private, non-profit organization that works to position Montréal as an international-calibre leisure and business travel destination. To this end, the organization is piloting innovative hospitality strategies with a two-fold objective: ensuring that visitors enjoy a memorable experience and maximizing tourism economic spin-offs in a sustainable way with long-term impacts for the city. Uniting nearly 1,000 businesses and organizations working directly or indirectly in tourism, Tourisme Montréal plays a leading role in the management and development of Montréal's tourism business, and makes recommendations on issues surrounding the city's economic, urban and cultural development. For more information, go to About UQAM The Université du Québec à Montréal (UQAM) is a French-language public university of international stature. The originality and unique characteristics of its programs, its cutting-edge research, often focused on social issues, and its creative innovations have contributed to building its renown for the past 56 years. Dynamic and innovative, UQAM offers more than 365 programs, half of which are at the masters and doctoral level, in management, arts, communication, political science and law, science, education, health, humanities and social sciences. An active contributor to social, economic and cultural advances, UQAM has produced more than 310,000 active graduates in a diverse range of fields. About the Palais des congrès de Montréal A creative solutions centre and a showcase for the city's spirit and expertise, the Palais des congrès de Montréal has been promoting and hosting large-scale events since 1983. Generating significant economic, social and intellectual benefits, it encourages innovation and acts as a force for progress for both Montréal and Québec. The Palais is firmly committed to sustainability and takes numerous innovative, concrete steps to make it a central component of its business development. With one of the highest customer satisfaction rates in the world, the Palais actively contributes to the international reputation of Montréal, the top host city for international events in America for eight years in a row.
Time of India
23-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Hélène Boudreau's Vegas breastfeeding simulation sparks Quebecois social media firestorm
A seemingly lighthearted moment in Las Vegas has ignited a fierce debate within Quebec's online community, ensnaring social media influencer Hélène Boudreau in a controversy over a video simulating breastfeeding. The clip, featuring Boudreau playfully pretending to nurse the infant of fellow erotic content creator Sania Mallory, initially captioned "Sisters sharing," has been widely condemned as inappropriate and ethically questionable by many within the province. The backlash erupted swiftly, with Enya Jaime, a well-known personality from the Quebec reality show "L'île de l'amour," leading the charge. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Join new Free to Play WWII MMO War Thunder War Thunder Play Now Undo Jaime on April 22, 2025, posted a scathing video expressing her shock and anger. "I cannot be the only one who saw the video of the girl from UQAM literally assaulting a baby and finds that outrageous... It's literally a crime," she stated. Jaime's strong condemnation resonated deeply, as she urged viewers to reject any sexualization of breastfeeding, emphasizing the non-consensual nature of such an act involving an infant. Live Events The online reaction was immediate and intense. Quebecois internet users flooded comment sections with expressions of outrage, many demanding Boudreau remove the video. While Boudreau initially complied, the clip resurfaced later the same day, reigniting the fury. Commenters labeled the act "indécent" and voiced serious concerns about the exploitation of a baby for social media content. The sentiment echoed across various platforms. On a popular Quebec Reddit thread, one user wrote, "Sexualizing a baby like that should be considered juvenile pornography. Disgusting." A Quebecoise mother shared her personal distress, stating, "For me, it's abuse. Plain and simple. We're putting a breast in the mouth of a child who isn't his mother's and has no nutritional or comforting function for him. It's absolutely unacceptable and it disgusts me to the highest degree." In an attempt to quell the storm, Boudreau addressed the controversy online. While acknowledging the video was in "poor taste" and admitting to its initial removal, she downplayed any malicious intent. "There was no intentional sexualization of breastfeeding, and neither my sister nor I wanted to shock anyone," Boudreau claimed. "This scene was meant to be in a 'family' spirit, where everything is shared among friends." However, her explanation has been met with skepticism by many in Quebec's online sphere. Boudreau's attempts to distance the video from her and Mallory's adult content work have done little to sway public opinion. She further criticized the "excessive" reaction, even questioning the motives of some fellow creators within the adult entertainment industry. Boudreau also expressed disappointment at a perceived lack of solidarity among Quebecois content creators, emphasizing her past respect for their boundaries and calling for greater tolerance and understanding of varying perspectives.
