Gender Studies Significant People

Viola Desmond

Known as the Canadian version of Rosa Park, challenged segregation in Nova Scotia in the 1940’s. Viola refused to leave her seat in a “whites” only section in the theatre, she was arrested. Her court case was one of the first known legal challenges against racial segregation bought forth by Black woman in Canada. On the $10 bank note.

Betty Friedan

A pivotal figure in American feminism, most significant for her 1963 book “The Feminine Mystique”, which helped spark the second wave of feminism by articulating the dissatisfaction of middle-class housewives. Also co-founded and first president of the National Organization for Women (NOW)

Mary, Jeannette and Sandra

Indigenous women activists in Canada who fought against gender, discrimination in the Indian Act that stripped First Nations women of their Indian Status if they married a Non-Indigenous man

Irene

Acclaimed actress and activist known for her work in film and advocacy for authentic Indigenous representations and rights

Susan Faludi

Journalism and feminine for her investigative work, particularly her books that critique the backlash against women’s rights and the struggles of American men

Alice Walker

The First African-American women to win the Pulitzer Price for fiction and the National Book Award for her 1982 novel, “The Colour Purple”

Estelle Freedman

Taught at Stanford University since 1976, and co-founder of the Program in Feminist Studies. Her research has explored the history of women and social reform, including feminism and women’s prison reform, as well as the history of sexuality, including the history of sexual violence

Sojourner

Powerful advocacy for abolition and women’s rights. Born into slavery, she became a renowned speaker, famous 1852 speech “Ain’t I A Woman?”. Her activism also included efforts to help formerly enslaved people during and after the Civil War and fighting for the desegregation of streetcars

Simone DeBeauvoir

Influential work as an existential philosopher and a key figure in modern feminism

FAMOUS FIVE

Emily Murphy, Henrietta Muir Edwards, Nellie McClung, Louise McKinney and Irene Parlby. They were involved in the “persons” case

Agnes MacPhail

First woman elected to the Canadian House of Commons and a pioneer for women’s rights and social justice in Candian politics

Armine Gosling

A woman’s rights advocate and founder of the St.John’s Reading Room and Current Events Club

Fannie McNeil

One of the countries first women to run for political office during a 1925 municipal election

Bobbie Robertson

Moved from Scotland to Newfoundland made Newfoundland representation for the Department of Trade and Commerce, the only female Trade Commissioner in Canada. After retirement in 1966. She worked with the Newfoundland Historical Society in the Colonial Building

Rosa Parks

Refused to give up her seat on a segregated bus in Alabama, which sparked the Montagomery Bus boycott

Kim Campbell

Canada’s first and only female Prime Minister. First woman to serve as Canada’s Minister of Justice and Minister of National Defence

Thomas Laqueur

Cultural historian for his theory of the “one sex” to “two sex” model, which argues for a historical shift in gender is understood

Anne Fausto-Sterling

The pioneering work that challenge the idea of a rigid male/female binary, integrating biology, feminism and dynamics systems theory to explain gender and sex

Gustave LeBon

Founder of crowd psychology, introduced theories on collective behaviour that were highly influenced in sociology, psychology, and politics, despite being controvertstial

Maria Montessori

Revolutionary approach to early childhood education, which established the child-centered, hands-on Montessori method. Italy’s first female physician

Jane Harshman

Killed abusive husband, convicted of manslaughter but helped set the legal groundwork for a better understanding of how domestic abuse affects victims

Aristotle

Laid the groundwork for Western philosophy, science, and logic, influencing countless fields through his extensive and systematics work. Greek Philosopher

St.Paul

Pivotal figure in spreading Christianity, transforming it from a Jewish Sect into a major world religion, and is considered the Apostle to the Gentiles

Sigmund Freud

Founding psychoanalysis

Judith Butler

Developing the theory of gender performativity which argues that gender is not a stable, inner essence but is created through repeated public actions and speech

Geert Hofstede

His development of a systematic framework for understanding and comparing national cultures, known as the cultural dimensions theory

Virginia Wolf

Status as a central figure of English literacy modernism, celebrated for her experimental novels, pioneering feminism essays and profound influence on 20th-century literature

Laverne Cox

Trailblazing transgender actress and a tireless advocate for LGBTQ+ rights and visibility

Georgiannn Davis

American sociologist and intersex activist

Michael Messner

Sociologist, writer, gives public speeches and teaches on issues of gender-based violence, the lives of men and boys, and gender and sports

May Friedman

Research looks at unstable identities, including bodies that do not conform to traditional racial and national or aesthetic lines

Sandra Lovelace

First Indigenous woman appointed to the Senate from Atlantic Canada. Activist on behalf of First Nations women and children

Mary Wollstonecraft

Pioneering feminist philospher who advocated for women’s rights through her writings,most notably “A Vindication of the Rights of Women”

Judge Robin Camp

Former Federal Court Judge, picked on and mocked a victim of SA

Jean Jacques Rousseau

His profound influence on Enlightenment though and modern political philosophy

Jean Kilbourne

Pioneer of feminist advertising criticism and advocacy of media literacy. In 1970, she was one of the top 3 requested speakers at college campuses in Northern America

Rosalind Gill

A significant figure in the fields of sociology and cultural analysis for her research on how gender, power and inequality manifest in media, technology and contemporary work

Brian McNair

Founding member of Battlefield Band which combined traditional Celtic melodies and new material

Carla Rice

Frequently cited by scholars in the fields of women’s studies, body image, obesity and eating disorders

John Berger

Demonstrating art history through accessible language, blending Marxist theory with art criticism and exploring themes of social injustice, visual culture and our relationship with images and the world around us

Francine Odette

Focused on issues impacting women with disabilities and deaf women

John Wilson Ravbould

Indigenous Canadian lawyer, author and former politican who was Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada from 2015-2019

Jamie Black

Creator of the Red Dress Project

Ernie Grey

Vocal activist and advocate who brings a human face to the National tragedy of missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls in Canada

Janice Acoose

Is a sex worker but now an Indigenous professor and native communist

Jane Doe

A placeholder name used for a woman whose true identity is unknown or being kept secret

Vappu Tyyska

Professor of Sociology at Ryerson University, where she also teaches in the MA program in Immigration and Settlement studies. Her research and publications cover subjects dealing with immigrant women, families, youth, including projects on intergenerational relations in families and family violence

Sharalyn Jordan

Works at the Nexus of mental health and social justice. Recent and current projects explore the implications of homophobic and transphobic. Stigmay trauma, and intersectional oppressions for refugee protection, settlement and mental health

Christine Morrissey

Founder of a newly formed national lobby group, the Lesbian and Gay Immigrant Task Force. She argued that the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, which guarantees citizens equal treatment before the law, prohibits the Canadian government from discriminating against gays and lesbians

Whitney Thore

Prominent body positivity activist and reality television personality known for sharing her life and health journey on the long-running TLC series “My Big Fat Fabulous Life”

Michael Koufman

Co-founded the White Ribbon Campaign in 1991, the largest network at men working to ending violence against women worldwide. Also Co-founded the Men for Women’s Choice Campaign with Gordan Cleveland in 1989.

Emma Watson

Transitioned from a globally recognized actress to a prominent activist for gender equality and sustainable fashion

Tarana Burke

Founding the #Me Too movement in 2006

Paul Cacerte

Served as the Provincial CEO for the BC Association of Aboriginal friendship center for 20 years in 2011, he co-founded the Moose Hide Campaign and Serves as an ambassador

Sonia Cowman

Writer and Director of BLACK BOYS, an award-winning documentary illuminating the humanity of Black men and boys in American