Impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on marginalized genders at Brandon University

By Julie Chamberlain, Candice Waddell-Henowitch, Lisa Wood, Candy Skyhar, Nadine Smith, Gretta Sayers, Cora Dupuis, Katie Kerkowich, Katie Gross, Morganna Malyon, Cheryl Fleming, and Cathryn Smith
April 2021
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What you need to know

The Status of Women Review Committee at Brandon University is studying the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on the research, teaching, creative practice, and academic service of faculty association members who identify as marginalized by gender. This includes, for example, women, Two-Spirit, trans, and non-binary people. The results of a qualitative survey show that the pandemic has had a major impact on many aspects of work and well-being.

Why this research is important

Knowledge of the experiences of gender-marginalized faculty is needed to challenge the patterns and effects of gender marginalization in the university and in society more broadly.

How the research was conducted

Thirty-six people completed an online survey that was distributed through Brandon University's email in December 2020. It was made up mainly of open-ended questions, like “how has the pandemic affected your research or creative practice?” and “how has the pandemic affected your caregiving responsibilities?” Based on the survey results, we created questions for in-depth, individual interviews, which are currently underway.

What the researchers found

Some marginalized faculty have found that their research productivity increased during the pandemic. Yet most reported that their ability to get research done had been decreased, even devastated, as one person put it, as caregiving, online teaching, and supporting students have demanded and depleted their time and energy. Gender-marginalized faculty worry about how the decline in research outputs will impact their eventual tenure and promotion applications.

Teaching during the pandemic has demanded a great deal more time to prepare and adapt courses to online learning. Faculty have had to “set up the logistics of handling courses, rather than just teaching content,” as one person said, putting many extra hours into learning new skills and systems. The support provided for online teaching, especially by Brandon University’s Centre for Teaching, Learning, & Technology, was rated positively by respondents. Yet teaching online has been accompanied by stress, anxiety, and exhaustion; many noted that Zoom fatigue is a real factor in their teaching and well-being. At the same time, everyday administrative duties have become more challenging and time-consuming.

The pandemic has impacted the physical, mental, and emotional well-being of gender-marginalized faculty members, who reported being intensely stressed, anxious, exhausted, and unable to access their usual coping strategies. In particular, respondents noted they had been overwhelmed by supporting students and family members through the pandemic. Time off has been consumed by these responsibilities for many gender-marginalized faculty. While some have been able to take a vacation, others described working longer hours and weeks without sufficient breaks.

How this research can be used

Survey respondents expressed gratitude that we are doing this research, as it made them feel that their experiences were heard and acknowledged. This suggests that the research can play a role in raising broader awareness of the challenges that gender-marginalized faculty are facing at Brandon University.

The research can be used to inform future practice and policy. Respondents made extensive recommendations on how Brandon University could provide more support for its faculty members, including compensation for overload, improving emotional and mental health benefits, and flexibility in timelines and deadlines.

The recommendations will be documented in a report for Brandon University Faculty Association (BUFA) and the President's Office, and the research will be submitted for peer-reviewed publication.

The Status of Women Review Committee is a joint committee of Brandon University and the Brandon University Faculty Association. Representation for 2020 -2021 is as follows:

Julie Chamberlain (Faculty of Science)
Lisa Wood (Faculty of Arts)
Candy Skyhar (Faculty of Education)
Nadine Smith (Faculty of Health Studies)
Gretta Sayers (Faculty of Music)
Cora Dupuis (BUFA)
Katie Kerkowich (Board of Governors)
Katie Gross (Deans and Directors)
Morganna Malyon (Library/Student Services)
Chery Fleming (Ex-Officio)
Cathryn Smith (Past Chair)
Candice Waddell (Current Chair)

Status of Women Review Committee (SWRC)

About the Researchers

Julie Chamberlain

Julie Chamberlain, PhD

ChamberlainJ@Brandonu.ca

Julie Chamberlain is an assistant professor in the Department of Geography and Environment at Brandon University.

Candice Waddell-Henowitch

Candice Waddell-Henowitch, PhD(c)

WaddellC@Brandonu.ca

Candice Waddell-Henowitch is an associate professor in the Department of Psychiatric Nursing at Brandon University.

Lisa Wood

Lisa Wood, MFA

WoodL@Brandonu.ca

Lisa Wood is a visual artist and assistant professor at Brandon University’s IsKaabatens Waasa Gaa Inaabateg Department of Visual Art.

Candy Skyhar

Candy Skyhar, PhD

SkyharC@Brandonu.ca

Candy Skyhar is an associate professor in the Faculty of Education at Brandon University.

Nadine Smith

Nadine Smith, RN, MN

SmithN@Brandonu.ca

Nadine Smith is an assistant professor in the Department of Psychiatric Nursing at Brandon University.

Gretta Sayers

Gretta Sayers, PhD

SayersG@Brandonu.ca

Gretta Sayers an assistant professor in the School of Music at Brandon University.

Cora Dupuis

Cora Dupuis, MEd

DupuisC@Brandonu.ca

Cora Dupuis is the Co-operative Program Coordinator at Brandon University.

Katie Kerkowich

Katie Kerkowich, MEd

lee.gkatie@gmail.com

Katie is the Board of Governors representative on SWRC and a middle years teacher in Brandon.

Katie Gross, BA (Hons), MEd

GrossK@Brandonu.ca

Katie Gross is Dean of Students at Brandon University.

Morganna Malyon, MA

MalyonM@Brandonu.ca

Morganna Malyon is Student Accessibility Specialist at Brandon University.

Cheryl Fleming

Cheryl Fleming, BA, BSW, RSW

FlemingC@Brandonu.ca

Cheryl Fleming is Diversity and Human Rights Advisor with Human Resources at at Brandon University.

Cathryn Smith

Cathryn Smith, PhD

SmithC@Brandonu.ca

Cathryn Smith is an associate professor in the Department of Leadership and Educational Administration in the Faculty of Education at Brandon University.

Keywords

  • Brandon University Faculty Association
  • COVID-19 pandemic
  • gender marginalization

Editor: Christiane Ramsey

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