Members of the media may directly contact the following expert:
Ivy Lynn Bourgeault (English only)
Full Professor, Faculty of Social Sciences, and holder of University Research Chair in Gender, Diversity and the Professions.
[email protected]
“When Ms. Markle refers to the Royal Family as ‘The Firm,’ it is important to note the Royal Family is an organization (similar to any family run organization) that employs many different people in different roles – it is not just a family. As with all organizations, there are inherent biases based on gender and racialization and the intersection of these two.
“Mental health is stigmatized in general, and this is uniquely stigmatizing for someone who identifies as a Black woman. As with all stories, there are complexities, in terms of how someone acts (e.g., when experiencing mental health issues) and how they are expected to act (which is racialized and gendered).”