Women Educators and Activists: Creating Structural Spaces for Social Transformation

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dc.contributor.authorKrahn, Sandra Lynn
dc.contributor.examiningcommitteeFarrell-Racette, Sherry (Native Studies) Flaherty, Maureen (Peace and Conflict Studies) Llewellyn, Kristina R. (Social Development Studies, University of Waterloo)en_US
dc.contributor.supervisorPiquemal, Nathalie (Peace and Conflict Studies)en_US
dc.date.accessioned2021-09-15T13:40:00Z
dc.date.available2021-09-15T13:40:00Z
dc.date.copyright2021-09-13
dc.date.issued2021-08-23en_US
dc.date.submitted2021-08-24T03:58:02Zen_US
dc.date.submitted2021-09-14T00:14:51Zen_US
dc.degree.disciplinePeace and Conflict Studiesen_US
dc.degree.levelDoctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.)en_US
dc.description.abstractThree exceptional female educators have shared stories of their educational careers to provide insight into how women create peacebuilding systems in their communities through educational leadership. This study explores the concept of broad social change through transforming structures that inflict structural violence and breaking down barriers that exclude marginalized communities. An analysis of three women that are educators and activists found that extensive networks, based on an ethics of care and the creation of liminal spaces, supported structural transformations that help students from marginalized communities receive meaningful access to education. Rooted in literature concerning women in social theory and education, social network theory, conflict transformation and multi-track diplomacy, this study uses constructivist grounded theory to analyse data. Three primary participants were interviewed and observed. Interviews were also conducted with other individuals within their networks. The three peacebuilding systems, two in Canada and one in India, were created through the leadership of three women who strived throughout their entire careers to create spaces of dignity and equity for their students. These women worked at multiple levels, ranging from their individual classrooms to engaging in international dialogue. A wide variety of values and principles formed the foundation of their work including an open-door policy, equity, creative thinking, hard work, compulsory compassion, and transforming social spaces. They addressed structural barriers through employing social experimentation, respect, cooperation, leveraging social capital, and constructing extensive networks. The goal of peacebuilding is to create active communities that work together and where all members can participate equally and prosper, especially the most vulnerable. This study focused on multiple structural barriers faced by individuals and groups when attempting to fully participate in society. The peacebuilding systems the primary participants created are rooted in the concept of natality, networks of care, and compassionate action. Social agency is nurtured through the process of identifying social needs, creating nurturing networks, and circles of care. Structural transformation was fostered through creating pathways to agency, structures supporting liminal spaces, and processes for structural transformation. These examples provide multiple lessons for educators, school administrators, policymakers, social justice advocates and researchers.en_US
dc.description.noteOctober 2021en_US
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/1993/35992
dc.language.isoengen_US
dc.rightsopen accessen_US
dc.subjectEducationen_US
dc.subjectActivismen_US
dc.subjectPeacebuildingen_US
dc.subjectConflict Transformationen_US
dc.subjectWomen leadershipen_US
dc.subjectStructural peacebuildingen_US
dc.subjectGrassrootsen_US
dc.subjectEducational policy changeen_US
dc.subjectNetworkingen_US
dc.subjectCollaborationen_US
dc.subjectMulti-track diplomacyen_US
dc.subjectSocial changeen_US
dc.subjectEthics of careen_US
dc.subjectCreative compassionate actionen_US
dc.subjectStructural liminalityen_US
dc.subjectStructural transformationen_US
dc.subjectNatalityen_US
dc.subjectCircle of careen_US
dc.subjectEducation in Indiaen_US
dc.subjectEducation in Canadaen_US
dc.titleWomen Educators and Activists: Creating Structural Spaces for Social Transformationen_US
dc.typedoctoral thesisen_US
local.subject.manitobayesen_US
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