criaw – femnorthnet intersectional feminist research and practice women’s world july 5, 2011 1
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CRIAW – FemNorthNet
Intersectional Feminist Research and Practice
Women’s World
July 5, 2011
We are CRIAW/ICREFCanadian InstitutResearch canadien deInstitute for the recherche sur lesAdvancement of femmesWomen
Celebrating 35 years ofwomen-centered research
http://criaw-icref.ca/
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Intersectional Feminist Frameworks: IFFs
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Understanding IFFs• Way of thinking about power, about who is
excluded and why, who has access to resources and why
• Many factors shape women’s lives, choices and socioeconomic status including colonization, globalization and accessibility.
• Women’s lives must be viewed holistically.
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Diversity and Commonalities
• Women are not one group who think the same way, have the same experiences, or live the same life
• Understanding impacts and effects of diversity in women’s lives requires attention in all research process
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Using Intersectionality – CRIAW as an organization
• Greater inclusion of francophone women on the CRIAW board (1990- 1991)
• Development of CRIAW’s vision statement (1991-1992)
• Developing policies to reflect Intersectional Feminist Frameworks (2003- 2004)– Constitutional changes to ensure diversity of
representation on board by region, equity group, language and skills
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Using Intersectionality – CRIAW research and publications
• An Emerging Vision (2006)• Using IFFs in Research (2007)• Women’s experiences of social programs for
people with low incomes (2007)• Everyone Belongs: A toolkit for applying
intersectionality (2009)• FemNorthNet (2010-2015)
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Introducing FemNorthNet• Participatory action research project on
women and economic restructuring in northern Canada
• Funded by Community University Research Alliance program, SSHRC
• www.femnorthnet.ca
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About FemNorthNet• National network of community organizations
and researchers• Exploring changes in northern communities,
the impacts and what women can do to address their needs
• Using a gendered intersectional analysis• LaLoche SK, Thompson MB and Happy
Valley – Goose Bay NL
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Intersectionality and FemNorthNet
• Women in the north• Aboriginal women• Women with disabilities• Immigrant women • Young women• Women leaders
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Strengths of FemNorthNet Team
• Women leaders in communities• Aboriginal women who share indigenous
cultures, practices and research methods• Women with disabilities who contribute to
understanding inclusive research methods and processes
• Co-leadership from community and university• Commitment to collaborative and respectful
processes
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Challenges for FemNorthNet
• Still a work-in-progress with many gaps and exclusions
• Breaking new ground in so many ways• Inclusive and respectful practices take time
and trust, but still need to meet deadlines• Critical reflection requires honesty and
humility rather than shame and blame
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Where to Next?• Undertake community-based research that
recognizes and honours diversity• Create and share new models for critical
reflection and action in response to intersectionality
• Share what we’ve learned in order to create capacity in communities, support women’s leadership, and change policies that shape women’s lives in the North