Putting research ideas to work

A research project on cultural diversity translated into a career for Women's Studies graduate Kelsey Lavoie. After researching the availability of resources on understanding cultural diversity, Lavoie created a cultural diversity workshop, which she initially delivered to peers and volunteers in the Women's Resource Centre (WRC).

 "The goal of the workshop was to raise awareness of what occurs when we make assumptions about the cultural experiences of other people," she says. "For example, I personally can't say whether or not it is oppressive when women wear hijabs," says Lavoie. "The hijab could be a manifestation of patriarchy or it could be the result of women's pride in their culture and their desire to preserve aspects of their culture in response to assimilation attempts by other cultures."

 Now employed at the Calgary Immigrant Women's Association, Lavoie is putting her knowledge and experience to work as a program facilitator for young women who are new immigrants or ethnic minorities.

 "My experience in Women's Studies and with the WRC enabled me to understand the complexity of their situations as young females who may not self-identify as only Canadian," she says.