Draft # 2 Polly's Thesis
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Gendered Discontent: Participation in the Feminist Movement in Ottawa by Polly Alexandra Leonard, B.A (Hons), BSW (Hons) A thesis submitted to the Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Affairs in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Social Work School of Social Work Carleton University Ottawa, Ontario © 2014 Polly Alexandra Leonard Abstract This thesis explores the question of (cis)men participating in feminist movement in Ottawa, and the reactions from (cis)women. I spoke to eight people; three men, one genderqueer person, and four women, regarding their experiences of being identified as a feminist, as well as their perceptions of solidarity in the movement. The analysis of data drew upon feminist critical discourse analysis and poststructuralist theories. This analysis suggests marked gendered differences in emotional display, motivation and identity politics. Perceptions of space and safety differed amongst the participants depending on their gender and social identity. The research indicates three main themes: acknowledging women’s limited authority, the necessity for alternative masculinities, and a reconceptualization of the term feminist to include an intersectional approach. These findings are not generalizable given the small sample size, but point to key questions for future research including race relations within the feminist movement, and social workers’ affinity for feminism. ii Acknowledgements I would like to thank everyone who supported me through this often seemingly unending journey. I would not have been able to complete this thesis without the many people who supported me throughout my years in the Social Work Department at Carleton University. Thank you especially to Sarah Todd, who never stopped believing in me, and for Roy Hanes for cheering me on. I would also like to thank Karen Schwartz for allowing me to see research in large scale, and for our fun (and scholarly) travel to Corner Brook. Growing up in a family where academia and social justice were seen as the obvious career path has indelibly left its mark. Thank you to my Mum for always being in my corner and letting me know that she believes I can do anything. Thanks for showing me that the data can speak for itself, but we must always be fighting for a just world. Thank you to my late Dad for suggesting I take a Women’s Studies course over 12 years ago, and for telling us kids never to become social workers. Thank you also for teaching me about Marxism and instilling in me a revolutionary spirit. Thanks to my brother and his family for supporting me. I must of course thank my loving partner (who I believe is a feminist, really) for allowing me the support, nurturance and love I needed in order to finish. I would not have been able to work without a partner who made meals, cleaned the house and told me repeatedly how smart I was. I would also like to send a big appreciation to all the womyn of the Sexual Assault Support Centre of Ottawa. Having the ability to learn from some of the strongest and most courageous, as well as loving womyn in Ottawa gave me the ability to write this thesis. Had I never joined such an amazing collective of womyn, I would not be where I am today. Thank you for truly teaching me what anti-oppression and anti-racism practice means. Thank you for being my feminist community. Finally, I would like to thank the countless feminists who are risking their lives fighting worldwide to bring about essential radical transformative change. iii Dedication For you, Dad… iv Table of Contents Abstract ...................................................................................................................................................... ii Acknowledgements ............................................................................................................................... iii Dedication ................................................................................................................................................. iv List of Appendices ................................................................................................................................ vii 1. Chapter One: Introduction............................................................................................................. 1 1.1 Research Question ...................................................................................................................................... 3 1.2 Conceptual Framework ............................................................................................................................ 9 2. Chapter Two: Theoretical Perspective ................................................................................... 12 Introduction ........................................................................................................................................................ 12 2.1 Feminist Theory......................................................................................................................................... 12 2.3 Poststructuralism ...................................................................................................................................... 18 2.4 Structural Social Work Theory ............................................................................................................ 23 2.5 Summary ....................................................................................................................................................... 26 3. Chapter Three: Literature Review ............................................................................................ 28 Introduction ........................................................................................................................................................ 28 3.1 Feminist Movement ................................................................................................................................. 28 3.2 Masculinities and Feminisms ............................................................................................................... 31 3.3 Solidarity and Ally Work ........................................................................................................................ 35 3.4 Summary ....................................................................................................................................................... 41 4. Chapter Four: Methodology ........................................................................................................ 43 Introduction ........................................................................................................................................................ 43 4.1 Methods ......................................................................................................................................................... 43 4.2 Design ............................................................................................................................................................ 47 4.3 Informed Consent and Confidentiality ............................................................................................. 47 4.4 Participant Engagement ......................................................................................................................... 48 4.5 Sampling ....................................................................................................................................................... 48 4.6 Interviews .................................................................................................................................................... 50 4.7 Transcription / Representation of Knowledge ............................................................................. 52 4.8 Feminist Critical Discourse Analysis ................................................................................................. 55 4.9 Summary ....................................................................................................................................................... 60 5. Chapter Five: Findings .................................................................................................................. 62 Introduction ..................................................................................................................................................... 62 5.1 Section One: Social Movements and Emotions ............................................................................. 63 Introduction ..................................................................................................................................................... 63 Analysis ............................................................................................................................................................ 66 Summary .......................................................................................................................................................... 73 5.2 Section Two: Identity; Gender and Feminist ................................................................................. 75 Introduction ..................................................................................................................................................... 75 Analysis ...........................................................................................................................................................