Research

The Centre's accomplishments in the area of research have been outstanding. Interntional and national interest in its programmes and achievements (in the form of a plethora of Fulbright scholar applications and invitations to host exchange programmes), have only served as a further catalyst for excellence. Centre research projects, individual research and contracted research have proved beneficial, not only to CGDS and the University , but to Trinidad and Tobago and the region as well.

In 2004/2006 these incorporated:

Gender Differentials in Educational Performance at the Secondary and Tertiary levels in Caribbean Education Systems

A pilot study of Trinidad & Tobago is being conducted in collaboration with the School of Education and funded by a grant to Professor Reddock.

The research team, with the support of the Ministry of Education, has surveyed fifteen (15) schools. Questionnaires were administered and interviews were conducted with staff, parents and students.

Gender and Sexuality

Gender, Sexuality and the Implications for HIV/AIDS in Trinidad and Tobago – Funds have been made available for the publication of the annotated bibliography produced for the March 2004 symposium that originated from this project {the symposium report can be found on the Centre’s Homepage}. Papers presented at this symposium are to be published.

A paper entitled, ‘A Study of Attitudes, Behaviours and Taboos related to gender and sexuality among UWI students’, was also presented at the University’s UWI/HARP Scientific Meeting in May 2005 – this paper was based on a series of focus groups held in the academic year 2004/2005. {HARP – HIV/AIDS Response Programme}.

Gender, Science and Technology

i) Women, Gender and Water - an interdisciplinary research project examining the gendered use of water and water resources in Trinidad & Tobago and the implications for policy. This project was initiated by Dr. Jill Schneiderman, Visiting Fulbright Scholar from Vassar College, New York.

ii) The Nariva Swamp: A Gendered Case Study – this research/action project, administered through the Centre brought together a multidisciplinary team of researchers. Although research and analysis were carried out over the period April 1999 to December 2000, based on the success of its first video production, the Centre was asked to produce a second video.

Entitled, “Engendering Environmental Studies and Policy: A Video project on the Nariva Swamp”, a launch was held on January 21st 2005 to a very appreciative audience.
An interactive DVD is now being produced using both the video and a manual that was another creation of this stimulating venture

The Making of Caribbean Feminisms

This project aims to map the histories of 'feminisms' in the Anglophone Caribbean. It will establish a special library collection of existing documents and materials of women's movement activists, feminists and women's organizations beginning in the 19th century. A biographical dictionary is also being prepared.

Individual Staff Research:- Dr. Patricia Mohammed

Image and Iconography in the Evolution of Caribbean Identity - representations of the past are systematically examined and interpreted by placing collected visual data alongside text.

Regional Research Project

Caribbean Gender Ideologies - "the Impact of Globalization on Representations of Gender Ideologies in the Caribbean." Commissioned paper prepared by Professor Reddock as part of the Ford Foundation-funded Cultural Studies Project.