Canada may be a multicultural society, but its rich cultural diversity is not reflected in journalism schools - especially with respect to ethnic women.
The lack of representation of South Asian women in J-schools stems in part from the fact that journalism is not considered a conventional career in their culture. Many aspiring writers have been told that it is simply too risky, too time-consuming and too aggressive a profession to pursue.
But some South Asian women are going against the grain and charting new paths.
Fatima Najm, 26, a student at Ryerson School of Journalism in Toronto, is a Pakistani woman committed to writing and a career in journalism.
"I can't remember ever wanting to do anything but write," she says. "If I did not make writing my profession, then it would haunt me."
Though it led her to a
divorce, she has followed her dream and is well on the way to making
it a
reality.
"I was married to someone who couldn't understand the merit of a career in journalism. You were either a doctor, lawyer, engineer or nothing," she says.
But this simple equation does not hold true, as her promising career trajectory proves. Fatima already had much success as a freelance writer when she entered the journalism program. For the past five years, she has worked as a foreign correspondent for Women's Own magazine in Karachi, Pakistan, and for the Arab News, based in Saudi Arabia.
Sabina Alli, 19, is also dedicated to writing and wants to be a journalist. She realizes that following this career path will require much time and persistence.
"It is very hands-on," she says of the journalism program. "They throw you into a newsroom setting with stressful deadlines and impossible assignments."
This time-consuming aspect of journalism can be daunting to women who share Sabina's Pakistani-Guyanese background and are traditionally expected to spend lots of time in the home.
Though she admits that journalism jobs are hard to find and have little security, she's ready to face the challenge.
"I can't see myself in any particular place five years from now, but that's the beauty of journalism - you never know where you'll end up."
Safia Alladina, 19, another young woman in Ryerson's journalism program, says journalists typically have to be pushy and outgoing, attributes South Asian women traditionally are not supposed to display.
"My mom said I was too nice to ever make it. To my parents, I was a very quiet girl who never asked questions."
Cultural values were also a consideration in Mary Nguyen's career choice. "Asian families usually push their kids into the sciences," says the 18-year-old of Vietnamese and Chinese descent.
"Getting a real job means becoming a doctor or dentist or lawyer - not a journalist."
And though it is a difficult career choice to make, there has never been a better time to pursue it. News organizations are aware that they must be more inclusive for socio-cultural and economic reasons. Quite simply, they need to adequately represent the views of community members and to position themselves in relation to new consuming publics.
For aspiring young journalists of Canada's ethnic minority communities, the motivation is even more straightforward. "There isn't enough being said about the multicultural mosaic that [Canada] is, and by choosing to get into journalism, I chose to represent the visible minority experience," Fatima says.
"If I can't be dealing out justice as a judge, or healing the sick as a doctor then at least I can be voice for the voiceless," she adds.
Like others interviewed for this story, she feels that despite the various factors that discourage minority women from pursuing careers in journalism, it is crucial that they make themselves heard.
"Its important for females to get involved because it enables women to be more seen and heard," says Mary.
And the gates are coming down, if ever so slowly. "This is as good a time as ever for minority women to become actively involved with the media," Sabina advises. "If you have that 'need to know' craving about life, then trust your instinct. It's a gut feeling."
The rewards are great, both for those who embarks on this career path and for the fabric of Canadian society in general.
"I believe in the idea that writing heals," says Safia. "We are a voice for the people. When no one else is willing to listen, we are."
Khawlah Mian, 20, is a second year Journalism student at Ryerson University in Toronto.