Course Description:  An introduction to feminist research methodology, and the methods employed by feminist researchers. What distinguishes feminist research from other methodologies is its attention to gender as a focus for analysis. Students will learn the basic steps of the research process, how to conceptualize a research project and what considerations need to be made to ensure research is feminist, ethical and responsive to gendered social problems. Students will learn to identify the markers of feminist research and a feminist framework with which to evaluate secondary sources. Provides students with research skills and equip them for engaging in research as part of an honours or graduate degree or when working with governments and non governmental organizations.

 Location note: The instructor will teach in-person at the Thunder Bay campus in a telepresence room meaning students are attending in-person at the Thunder Bay campus and Orillia campus simultaneously.

Click here to access the Pdf version of the poster.

Click here to view the 2025 Fall newsletter.

Screening of The Dark Matter Hippo of Grief: An Adoption Story by Donna Szőke (17 min) and Elsewhere: A Trilogy by Lynda Hall (23 min, with English & French closed captions). 

Q & A with Dr. Valerie Andrews, critical adoption scholar and adoption reform activist, facilitated by Dr. Lori Chambers, professor and Undergraduate Chair in the Department of Gender and Women’s Studies at Lakehead University.

*Register by 7pm EST, October 14th, 2025 for in-person or virtual attendance. To register for the in-person attendance, please email Elaine at WomensStudies@lakeheadu.ca. To register for the virtual attendance, please scan the QR code on the poster.

Link to the Pdf poster.

WOME 3132 WA (Foundations of Feminist Research)

• An introduction to feminist research methodology, and the methods employed by feminist researchers. What distinguishes feminist research from other methodologies is its attention to gender as a focus for analysis. Students will learn the basic steps of the research process, how to conceptualize a research project and what considerations need to be made to ensure research is feminist, ethical and responsive to gendered social problems. Students will learn to identify the markers of feminist research and a feminist framework with which to evaluate secondary sources. Provides students with research skills and equip them for engaging in research as part of an honours or graduate degree or when working with governments and non-governmental organizations.
• Tuesdays and Thursdays, 10am-11:30am (in-person)
• Instructor: Dr. Jennifer Chisholm

 WOME 3215 FA (Gender, Bodies, and Technology)

• An intersectional examination of the technological production of gendered bodies in contexts such as classrooms, workplaces, and the internet. We will explore feminist understandings of technology, embodiment, and representation. Topics may include production and control of bodies based on sex, gender, race, class, and ability; embodiment, ability and the built environment; medicalization, bio-politics, and reproductive justice; surveillance, containment, and militarization.
• Tuesdays, 7pm-10pm (in-person)
• Instructor: Mohit Dudeja

WOME 3030 FDE*
(Housewives, Radicals and Gender-Blenders: Theorizing Equality)

• An introductory examination of the questions, tensions and debates within contemporary feminist theory from the late 20th Century to the present. This course considers multiple feminisms' arguments, strategies and politics to understand how contemporary theoretical positions account for material inequalities and lived experiences of marginalization, and how they work towards social justice in gender.
• Mondays, 7pm-10pm (online on Zoom)
• Instructor: Dr. Lori Chambers
  *Please note that this is a required core course

WOME-4012 FA/FAO** (Gender, Human Rights & Social Justice)

• The objective of this course is for students to develop a critical analysis of human rights law and Charter litigation. To what degree, and for whom, have these legal tools been successful in creating equity. Using a wide variety of sources, including legislation and legislative debates, case law, jurisprudence, and secondary literature, this course will explore the multiplicity of issues considered/protected under Human Rights Codes and the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. Particular attention will be paid to the western, individualist origins of human rights regimes and the problems this presents for reconciliation with Indigenous peoples. Please note that most subjects are not only or directly about gender. It is expected that we consider gender through an intersectional lens. You are not required to have previous knowledge of the law.
• Mondays, 2:30pm-5:30pm (in-person)
• Instructor: Dr. Lori Chambers
  **If you have not completed the required WOME-4010 yet please take the course substitution, WOME-4012 FA.

For the Pdf poster, please click here.

Please note: For the 2025/2026 academic year, WOME 4012 (Special Topics in Gender and Social Justice) will replace WOME 4010 (Women, Gender, and Social Justice) as the required core fourth year course. This applies to students who have not yet taken WOME-4010.

If you are a student who has previously taken WOME-4010 prior to fall 2025, this notice does not apply to you (you will not have to take WOME-4012 since you already took WOME-4010).  Thank you.

(Content in bold was added July 2nd, 2025 for further clarification.)

-Department of Gender & Women's Studies

Click here to view the 2025 spring newsletter.

The Department of Gender and Women's Studies in collaboration with Lakehead University's Gender Equity Centre presents the annual Feminisms at the Lakehead!

Keynote Speakers

Visiting Speaker: Suman Mondal
Queer activist at McMaster University whose work revolves around the social, political, and legal implications of LGBTQIA+ Indians in progressive regions of India. Recipient of the Lambda Scholarship Foundation Award & the prestigious Hooker Fellowship.

Regional/Local Speaker: Dr. Eleanor Gittens
Professor, human rights activist, & Co-editor of the Canadian Framework for Collaborative Police Response on Sexual Violence

National Speaker: Dr. El Jones
Poet, journalist, author, and abolitionist activist; Author of Live from the Afrikan Resistance!, and Abolitionist Intimacies; Co-host of the radio show Black Power Hour.

• Drumming, Dance & Craftivisms
• Doors open at 8:30 a.m. for Coffee, Tea and Muffins
• Presentations from 9 a.m. — 4:15 p.m.
• Vegetarian and Non-vegetarian food options will be available
• All are welcome! We’ll send you a Zoom link upon registration

Registration Required

To register or if you have questions
Email: rkimani@lakeheadu.ca

Event Date: Wednesday, April 9, 2025 - 8:30am to 4:15pm EDT
Event Location: Faculty Lounge Lakehead University (Thunder Bay campus) / UC 1029G / directly under the Residence Cafeteria
Event Contact Name: Rosemary Kimani-Dupuis
Event Contact E-mail: rkimani@lakeheadu.ca

For the Pdf poster, please click here.

The Department of Gender and Women's Studies released their 2025 winter newsletter today! To access the Pdf newsletter, please click this link.

The Department of Gender and Women's Studies released their 2024 fall newsletter today! To access the Pdf newsletter, please click this link.