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CRIAW – FemNorthNet

Intersectional Feminist Research and Practice

Women’s WorldJuly 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