In this episode we consider how hair and hair styling has become a central part of identity. This has real impacts on our spending habits and social perceptions. We talk about the under-discussed topic of male hair care and how social notions of hair impact our sense of self. This episode covers: The hair care market and the rising costs of hair aesthetics Why we are so concerned with the appearance of hair and how hair projects a particular identity Hair loss and the growing hair loss industry Male identity and the male hair market The role of the hair care industry in projecting cultural expectations Hair in the workplace and the political arena The pink tax and cultural expectations for women Links: 'Why the hair on our head could - and should - be so much more than merely decorative' by Emma Tarlo
In our very first episode we discuss a key component of good health, food. Humans need food to survive and in North American culture we obtain most of our food from grocery stores and restaurants. But the food we eat is the result of structures that many of us may not even be aware of, and this has serious impacts on our daily lives. This episode covers: Where our food comes from and how it gets to the grocery store Why we add/remove bacteria, preservatives and other chemicals to our food Changes in food production over the years and how these changes impact the quality of the food we eat How food marketing shapes our shopping habits and purchasing choices Concerns within the Canadian food supply chain What food sovereignty means and why it's important What needs to happen in order for us to have access to healthy food Links Statistics Canada report on food insecurity Food Secure Canada CBC report on the problem with food banks