Driven by both disciplinary and interdisciplinary perspectives, research at the Faculty is at once rich, innovative and varied, contributing to the depth and breadth of discussions on current issues here and elsewhere.

Research at the Institute

On the strength of Canada's two major intellectual traditions, anglophone and francophone, the Faculty of Social Sciences stands as a centre of excellence in knowledge creation, research and training. Driven by both disciplinary and interdisciplinary perspectives, research at the Faculty is at once rich, innovative and varied, contributing to the depth and breadth of discussions on current issues here and elsewhere. And whether fundamental, theoretical, applied or action-oriented (action research), this research stems from proven expertise—most notably in Canada's Francophonie—and greatly influences individual communities and society in general.

In step with contemporary society on both the national and international fronts, the Faculty of Social Sciences fosters social innovation, creates and shares knowledge, promotes public policy development and builds research partnerships with the public and private sectors, as well as community organizations.

Foregrounding feminist, queer, and critical race theories, and focusing on questions of equity, empowerment, and resistance, scholars in, and associated with, the Institute of Feminist and Gender Studies bring innovative, interdisciplinary research to enrich our knowledge of contemporary issues that include topics such as: globalization, migration and development; current and historical social movements; sexual and reproductive health; bodies and surveillance; cultural studies; and literature and contemporary cinema. With backgrounds in Social Sciences and Humanities, professors employ a range of qualitative, textual, and visual methods to address questions of interest and contribute to theory, policy, and practice in Canada and around the world.

World of Ideas features

Mobilizing Metaphor Art, Culture, and Disability Activism in Canada (PDF, 5.1 MB)

The publication Mobilizing Metaphor illustrates how artistic and radical and unconventional forms of activism, including art, are reshaping disability activism in Canada and, in the process, challenging dominant perceptions of disability and the politics that surround it.

Author: Michael Orsini, School of Political Studies

Travel to Access Abortion Services in Canada (PDF, 4.1 MB)

Abortions need not to be illegal in order to be inaccessible to many women. This is what concludes Dr. Christabelle Sethna after completing a Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council funded research on the access to abortion services. Indigenous women, younger women, poorer women, women from rural areas and women from Atlantic Canada are most likely to have to travel for abortions services.

Author: Christabelle Sethna, Institute of Feminist and Gender Studies

Image of abstract painting "world of idea" by micheal Orsini

Research chairs, groups and laboratories

Joint Chair in Feminist and Gender Studies, University of Ottawa and Carleton University
About the Joint Chair

Contact us

Institute of Feminist and Gender Studies

Faculty of Social Sciences
Social Sciences Building
120 University Private, Room 11002
Ottawa, Ontario, K1N 6N5
Canada (map)

Tel.: 613-562-5791

[email protected]

Office hours

Monday to Friday
8:45 a.m. to 12 p.m. & 1 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.
(June to August: closed at 3:30 p.m.)

Note

Please note our services and our personnel are available by MS Teams and by email.

The Social Sciences (FSS) and Vanier (VNR) buildings will be open seven days a week from 6:30 a.m. to 11 p.m.