Episode 8: Disability and Gender-Based Violence (live recording)

Dr. Deborah Stienstra holds the Jarislowsky Chair in Families and Work at the University of Guelph, where she is the Director of the Live Work Well Research Centre and Professor of Political Science. She is the author of About Canada: Disability Rights published by Fernwood in 2020. We spoke with Dr. Stienstra about the new Canadian Feminist Disability Coalition, and the impacts of this project as it ensures the voices of women living with disabilities is not only kept at the centre of the work, but in the administration of it. "We're percolating change," Stienstra said. She is one of the 25% of Canadian women, who self-identify as living with a disability and has been left to self-advocate for change, in hopes of individual accommodation. And while the self-advocacy of women living with disabilities has resulted in transformations in some communities, the Canadian Feminist Disability Coalition is bringing these communities together, and in thirty months, helping to realize a world where these talented, valued, and diverse women can look around and see themselves included. Dr Stienstra's research and publications explore the intersections of disabilities, gender, childhood, and Indigenousness, identifying barriers to, as well as possibilities for, engagement and transformative change. Her work also contributes to comparative and trans/international research and theory related to intersectional disability rights and justice. Show Links: To learn more about this awesome project, check out the Live Work Well Research Centre's website and sign up for their newsletter: https://liveworkwell.ca/news/2022/12/announcing-canadian-feminist-disability-coalition

In this episode we talk to Kim Decker, CEO of YWCA Cambridge and Elizabeth Clarke, recently retired CEO of the YW Kitchener-Waterloo, about their legacy of planning, organizing and advocating on the issue of women’s homelessness in Waterloo Region. For over two decades, these leaders have hosted and shown up to meetings, spoken up at planning tables and created interventions in the organizations they lead to tackle the issue of women’s homelessness and the realities that inform it. Together we dive into the findings from our recently published Project Willow Report: “Don’t tell them you’re homelessness.” Experiences of gender-based violence among women experiencing homelessness in Waterloo Region, reflecting on how systems and approaches have shifted over time in our region and where opportunities exist for advocacy as we move forward towards an equitable, trauma informed approach to services that is led by the voices of women experiencing homelessness themselves. Show Links:  - Learn more about the Project Willow Report- https://thefeministshift.ca/project-willow/ - Sign up for a presentation on Project Willow research findings- https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZEkc-2spzosG91IKMjLjDbi2TG9bigoJ1B3%20 - WNHHN Link: https://womenshomelessness.ca/humanrightsclaims/

Kimia Eslah is a feminist, queer writer who lives in Ontario, Canada. Born in Iran following its revolution, Kimia spent her early years as a refugee in New Delhi, India, before emigrating to Toronto with her parents and three siblings. Her formative years were spent downtown, in the valley and on the sidewalks, where she played pool, read classics and took up other bad habits. Later, Kimia found her calling as an instructional designer, producing training programs and course materials in various sectors. She dedicated her thirties to raising her son and community building. Today, she spends her days writing and thinking about writing. Kimia lives with the love of her life, Andrew, her son and their three cats. Kimia Eslah's latest book is called Sister Seen, Sister Heard Sister Seen, Sister Heard follows 20 something Farah as she tries to assert her independence from her family and their expectations while navigating some intense waters and experiences of patriarchy and sexual violence. Farah is this fascinating young advocate who has a tendency for speaking up against sexism and inequity, regardless of her audience, and spends much of the book on a journey fighting for her autonomy and independence but also to be loved and accepted as she comes. This book is a rally cry about the impact of tragedy and violence for young women but also the love and tenacity of a family committed to coming together in the sake of safety and healing, while also learning to champion each other.  https://fernwoodpublishing.ca/book/sister-seen-sister-heard Note: This episode has a trigger warning for conversations of sexual violence.

In this episode we talk to urban scholar Leslie Kern (https://lesliekern.ca/) author of the Feminist City, about how to build cities with women in mind. We explore how cities can show up better for women in caregiving roles and how we build safety into our city for low-income and homeless women, who are most vulnerable to outdated patriarchal design practices. Using a dash of urban planning while drawing inspiration from other feminist centric projects we reimagine Waterloo, from transportation and infrastructure, to how to modernize the safety value of pay phones. This podcast is a continuation from a guest lecture done in February 2022 by Leslie Kern as part of our collaborative speaker series with the City of Kitchener 'Building Equitable Cities', where we invite thought leaders into our community to share knowledge that challenges our tired traditions and builds equity.

In response to the shadow pandemic of gender-based violence, experienced over the course of the pandemic, we created Network of Neighbours Violence Prevention Training. This training empowers citizens to help a neighbour experiencing abuse in the home through building their confidence, knowledge and skills to intervene. In Part Two of this podcast training we review four unique types of interventions you can support folks experiencing violence with in different circumstances. We review the bystander training model used by Hollaback (https://www.ihollaback.org/), we look at safety planning around fleeing the home,  how to have a prevention conversation with someone whose behaviours are nearing closer to abusive, and how to get more out of calling the police in situations of imminent harm. We also cover what you can expect to see post intervention and how to continue to support someone in ongoing ways. This training was developed and is facilitated by The Feminist Shift with funding from the Canadian Women's Foundation Safe and Stronger Grants. By the end of this two part podcast you will have gained an understanding of yourself and your assumptions, and will have developed your own signature approach to providing support.

In response to the shadow pandemic of gender-based violence, experienced over the course of the pandemic, we created Network of Neighbours Violence Prevention Training. This training empowers citizens to help a neighbour experiencing abuse in the home through building their confidence, knowledge and skills to intervene. In Part 1 of our training we go over the fundamentals and basics of relationship violence, understanding the nuances and pathways of violence, the role of power and control, risk factors, how to identify abusive situations and how to engage in harm reduction and allyship for those moments in between larger interventions. This training was developed and is facilitated by The Feminist Shift with funding from the Canadian Women's Foundation Safe and Stronger Grants. By the end of this two part podcast you will have gained an understanding of yourself and your assumptions, and will have developed your own signature approach to providing support.

In our premier episode in our second season we talk to Sarah Boesveld, renowned Journalist and advocate around women's issues with the YWCA Toronto, about the age old issue of political handoffs. Talking less about the law and legislation around jurisdictions and more around the political climate of the quick pass off as "not our jurisdiction." Sarah and Feminist Shift co-host Roz talk to real examples in the advocacy work they do, including some insights into their latest collaboration with the YWCA Ontario network, pushing for an Ontario response to the She-cession. We're talking transportation, childcare, shelter, violence and so much more. To all those advocates out there that cringe at the phrase "not my jurisdiction" it's time to get cathartic.

This episode is a live recording of our latest Network of Neighbours Speakers Series with Dr. Tammy Bernasky. Dr. Bernasky spoke about manifestations of violence that are not always obvious and are sometimes specific to people with disabilities. Not only do people with disabilities experience higher rates of gender-based violence, the kinds of violence that women and trans people with disabilities experience are often more complex. In this talk she also offers strategies for supporting people with disabilities to end gender-based violence. Bio: Dr. Tammy Bernasky specializes gender-based violence in the disability community. Her work centers story-telling as a form of resistance to gender and disability-based violence. For a long time, history has excluded or erased people with disabilities. Tammy is passionate about ensuring that everyday lives of people with disabilities and their experiences of violence are better understood. Through her research, Tammy has identified common challenges and transformations expressed by women and trans people with disabilities engaged in social movement organizing efforts to end gender-based violence in their communities. This Speaker Series is funded by the Canadian Women's Foundation Safe & Stronger Grants. Learn more about Network of Neighbours.

This episode is a live recording of our Network of Neighbours Speakers Series talks with Stephanie Hill taking an intimate look at the intersects of statistics and family experiences as it relates to gender based violence in Indigenous communities. This Speaker Series is funded by the Canadian Women's Foundation Safe & Stronger Grants. Learn more about Network of Neighbours. Stephanie Hill, Haudenosaunee mother, grandmother, land defender, water warrior, helper and teacher from Six Nations on the Grand River for an intimate look into her personal exploration of family dynamics, connection, disconnection, love and violence in one indigenous family, moving you from statistics to family experience and history to family history. Stephanie has been working in a helper / teacher role for the past fifteen years. She has worked in the courts, schools and in the VAW sector and currently works with Indigenous men who abuse; using traditional teachings and ceremony from different nations to open up dialogue about roles and responsibilities in community. Stephanie is Mohawk, from the Turtle Clan and is currently living and working in Tkaranto. Links: https://atlohsa.com/   London, ON https://ganohkwasra.com/   Six Nation, ON http://www.nativewomenscentre.com/  Hamilton, ON https://nwrct.ca/   Toronto, ON http://anduhyaun.org/  Toronto, ON

This is a live recording of our Network of Neighbours Speakers Series talks with Fae Johnstone on the topic of supporting Trans Communities and Fighting Gender-Based Violence. This Speaker Series is funded by the Canadian Women's Foundation Safe & Stronger Grants. Learn more about Network of Neighbours. Fae Johnstone (she/they) is a Principal Consultant with Wisdom2Action, and an experienced 2SLGBTQ+ inclusion educator, writer and organizer. During this lunch-time Network of Neighbours series, Fae will talk with us about how to support trans communities around issues of violence, from understanding trans experiences to best moves around allyship and support. Over her past three years with Wisdom2Action, Fae has led numerous local and national initiatives focused on 2SLGBTQ+ inclusion, combating gender-based violence and strengthening mental health services. As a trans educator and activist, Fae has trained thousands of service providers on 2SLGBTQ+ inclusion, and supported community organizing efforts related to trans rights, ending slut-shaming, improving sex-ed for Ontario students, and more. Outside of work, Fae can be found drinking too much coffee, hanging out with her 4 ferrets, or causing problems on Twitter @FaeJohnstone.