U of L launches Centre for Feminist Research

By Lethbridge Herald on September 17, 2025.

Alejandra Pulido-Guzman
Lethbridge Herald

The University of Lethbridge has launched the Centre for Feminist Research (CFR) to bring together scholars from all disciplines who are employing a feminist lens in their research work, from gender and equity to society and empowerment.

Tara MacDonald, an English professor with expertise in cultural studies, has been appointed director of the CFR for the next five years and said that she sees feminists research as research that examines gender inequality, its attempt into power and how that works in our culture. 

“We look at how such inequality is related to sexuality, race, class, nationality, and other forms of identity and oppression,” said MacDonald. 

While though the word “interdisciplinary” is common these days in universities, McDonald says it’s used very intentionally within her research.

“My own background, for instance, is in limited gender studies, English and cultural studies. And I have a brand-new advisory board of five faculty members who work in sociology, music, kinesiology, and liberal education.”

She said that’s a key to feminist scholarship: even though they have the same intentions and goals to look at and respond to, they do it from different perspectives and sometimes with different objects of focus.   

“The goal of the centre is to be a hub for feminist scholarship on campus, both for faculty and students that is already happening on campus and also to start partnering with local and regional communities outside of academia.”

She said the group is trying to think outside of the confines of binary gender, and because the launch is happening amidst gender-based issues within the province, she hopes it helps to educate people. 

“It’s difficult to celebrate while we have things in the province like the fairness and safety in sports act, that targets transgender athletes, and the attempted book ban that targets queer and feminist content,” said MacDonald. “So, one of the things I would like the centre to do is to work on educating others on feminism, gender and sexuality.” 

She said the work many do in their community, scholarship and classrooms is very future-oriented and she describes it as hope driven. 

The research itself, meanwhile, will be used in a couple of different ways. 

“One of the things we are very excited about for this centre is that we want it to be a connection between research and teaching, and even though that is already happening, we want to encourage students that are working on issues like female immigration for instance,” said MacDonald. 

Basically, they want to encourage students to become researchers themselves and that kind of work takes shape in many ways. 

“The shape of the centre is going to depend on faculty and students’ involvement. What the centre will look like will depend on the kind of work that the faculty are doing and the kind of programming that faculty, students and community members want to see.”

Originally from Nova Scotia, MacDonald earned a PhD at McGill University. After completing a postdoctoral fellowship in London, she taught at the University of Amsterdam. Before joining the University of Lethbridge, she spent 10 years at the University of Idaho as chair of the English department and an affiliate faculty member in women and gender studies. 

Also joining MacDonald as a new member of the University of Lethbridge community is Ryan Crosschild, assistant professor in sociology. Both will contribute to teaching in the women and gender studies program, and both will help to shape the new research centre. Five faculty members from three faculties and schools will serve as the inaugural advisory committee, with additional members being welcomed as the centre grows and develops in its first year.