Female Graduate Students in Canada and Iran Live
Negotiating Sexual Agency and Violence: Female Graduate Students in Canada and Iran
Despite increased attention to sexual violence and expanded prevention policies in Canada, rates remain high, creating a paradox in which young women still navigate pressures from patriarchal and neoliberal norms. In Iran, policies and formal discussions supporting sexual liberty and preventing violence are largely absent. Reflecting on my experiences on sexual violence prevention committees at uOttawa and my research on graduate students, I found key gaps: comprehensive sexual education, secure sexual liberty, and a safe culture. This presentation compares female graduate students’ experiences in Canada and Iran, including the impact of COVID-19, exploring dating, intimacy, pleasure, and sexual violence, and revealing shared global patterns and context-specific challenges.
La conférencière :
Farinaz Basmechi is a PhD candidate in Feminist and Gender Studies at the University of Ottawa, holding a PhD in Sociology from the University of North Texas. Her research focuses on digital activism, gender, sexuality, and sexual violence, including graduate students’ experiences during crises. Her publications examine Iranian online feminist movements, including #MeToo. She is a member of the SIGNAL feminist collective and engaged in research on online misogyny in university communities.
Farinaz Basmechi is a PhD candidate in Feminist and Gender Studies at the University of Ottawa, holding a PhD in Sociology from the University of North Texas. Her research focuses on digital activism, gender, sexuality, and sexual violence, including graduate students’ experiences during crises. Her publications examine Iranian online feminist movements, including #MeToo. She is a member of the SIGNAL feminist collective and engaged in research on online misogyny in university communities.