Intersecting Sites of Violence in the Lives of Girls

I co-coordinate with Linda Eyre and Rina Arseneault a three-phase participatory action research initiative, Intersection Sites of Violence in the Lives of Girls. The purpose of this work is to improve the lives of girls and young women by:

• identifying indicators of inequality that are experienced and communicated in everyday language; and analyzing narratives that identify ways in which institutions contribute to the victimization or vulnerability of girls and young women;

• identifying those particular vulnerabilities and inequalities associated with girls and young women at the site of multiple and intersecting forms of violence. These include girls and young women from known disadvantaged populations.

• Through this identification process, alerting service providers and policy-makers of indicators for assessing the impact of policies and practices on the lives of girls and young women; and identifying successful change strategies which organizations that work with girls in similar situations can utilize to dismantle barriers to equality and promote full participation.

During this first phase of the project, the focus is on developing a conceptual framework for an intersectional analysis of violence in girls’ lives; creating equitable partnerships with local, regional, and national organizations that will participate in the action research; developing partnerships with girls who will participate in the action research; mentoring girls in the research process; and developing tools and strategies to identify ways in which location of residence, race, ethnicity, economic status, sexual orientation and ability impact upon and contribute to the victimization of girls.

Particularly, we focus on the language of inequality and the various indicators of inequality that are communicated to young women and girls, and that they in turn internalize and normalize through everyday language and behaviour. In previous research we became increasingly aware of the profound influences exerted by race, class, sexuality and ability on the life chances of girls and young women. Much of our preliminary research involved immigrant girls, rural girls and Aboriginal young women. These projects highlighted the need to further investigate the impact of intersectionality and its links to systemic as well as intimate forms of violence.

To carry out the research, we partner with relevant girl-oriented organizations and advocacy groups to share information and to engage in a dialogue with respect to the conditions of girls’ lives to ensure that the research process and findings are meaningful and relevant to the realities of girls’ lives.