Institute for Gender and Development Studies


The Institute organises and hosts a series of lunchtime seminars and guest seminars for the University’s staff, students and interested members of the public. Through this forum, members of staff, graduate students and visiting lecturers associated with or visiting the Institute, are provided with the opportunity to share work in progress, present their views, exchange ideas and meet a cross-section of interested individuals. Some of these can be found on the IGDS You Tube Channel and Lunchtime Seminars playlist.

 

2022–2023

In commemoration of 16 Days of Activism to End GBV 

  • In partnership with the Bankers Association of Trinidad and Tobago "Filling the Gaps: Evidence Based Advocacy to End Child Sexual Abuse and Gender-Based Violence". Daaga Auditorium. (Wednesday 23rd November 2022)
  • In collaboration with the Banking, Insurance and General Workers Union. Charmaine Cedeno-Alleyne, Branch President, BIGWU "Domestic Violence Must Stop" (Wednesday, 7 December 2022)

Semester II 

  • Nadine Lewis-Agard - A Safe Space to Learn with Ms Lewis-Agard, Human and Social Development Consultant. The seminar explored how some students may experience trauma in classrooms and the concept of a safe space for all persons involved in education and learning. (Wednesday, 11 January 2022)
  • Regan Asgarali - What You Need To Know About Copyright - In collaboration with the UWI Intellectual Property Help Desk atThe Alma Jordan Library with Mr. Asgarali, The Controller, Trinidad and Tobago Intellectual Property Office, Office of the Attorney General and Ministry of Legal Affairs and Ms. Lyrinda Persaud, Legal Officer II of the TTIPO and certified trainer of the NIPTC. This session which explores principles relating to copyright such as ownership, exceptions, infringement and remedies. (Wednesday, 1 March 2022)

In commemoration of International Women's Day 

  • Christa Sankarsingh-Prevatt - Virtual Disinformation as Gender-Based Violence Strategies and Responses with Ms. Sankarsingh-Prevatt, Director of Fundraising, Women’s Institute for Alternative Development (WINAD) Face-to-Face in the IGDS Seminar Room, UWI St Augustine Campus & ZOOM (Wednesday 8 March 2023)

 

 

 

2021–2022

In commemoration of World Children’s Day

  • Ms. Nadine Lewis-Agard “Managing Child Sexual Abuse and Disclosure: Creating Safe Spaces for Children” Break the Silence: End Child Sexual Abuse Campaign and Outreach, a special presentation for BTS Network Members, the general public, and local, regional and international audiences. (November 17, 2021)

Webinars for the 16 Days of Activism to End GBV 

  • In partnership with the Alliance for State Action to End Gender-Based Violence. “30 Years On: Reflections on the Journey of the Domestic Violence Act. Insights for Another Generation” to commemorate the 30 Anniversary of the Domestic Violence Act T&T. Moderated by Dr Gabrielle Hosein, Lecturer, IGDS. Panellists included: Diana Mahabir-Wyatt, Founder, The Shelter for Battered Women & CADV; Hazel Thompson-Ahye, Independent Senator and Attorney- At- Law and Respondents: Darron James, Faculty of Social Sciences Representative UWI Guild of Students; and Ashlee Burnett, Activist & Founder, Feminitt. (25 November 2021) 
  • In partnership with The High Commission of Canada to Trinidad and Tobago, The Defense Force of Trinidad and Tobago, IGDS SAU Hosted the webinar “Building Resilience: Women Peace and Security in Trinidad and Tobago” Key Note Speaker: Elizabeth Solomon, Judge Industrial Court of Trinidad and Tobago. (December 7, 2021)
  • Sexual Cultures of Justice project Special Lunchtime Seminar “Let’s Talk Consent and CSE (Comprehensive Sex Education)”. Presentation and discussion lead by Dr. Krystal Nandini Ghisyawan, Director of Research, The Silver Lining Foundation and Dr. Angelique V. Nixon , IGDS Lecturer and Project Lead Researcher, A Sexual Culture of Justice. (December 8, 2021)

Webinars for the International Women's Day 

  • In collaboration with the High Commission of Canada to T&T. “Dollars and Cents: What Makes Sense for Gender Equity”. Speakers included: Dr Asha Kambon, Public Policy Expert; Dr Marlene Attzs, Lecturer in Economics, UWI St Augustine; and Ms Tonni-Ann Brodber, Representative of the UN Women Multi-Country Office - Caribbean. Chair: Gabrielle Hosein. (March 4, 2022)
  • Series Part 1 – “The Working Mother: Navigating Employment, Social Protection, and Parenting” Presenters included: Ms Alena Nurse, Educational Officer, National Insurance Board of Trinidad & Tobago; Ms Simone Francois-Whittier, Attorney-At-Law, Research & Public Advocacy Director, Association of Female Executives of Trinidad & Tobago; and Ms Kathleen Sarkar, Assistant Director, National Family Services Division. Moderated by Dr Deborah McFee, IGDS Outreach & Research Officer. (March 22, 2022)
  • Series Part 2 – “Social Protection for Working Women: Emerging Issues” A virtual roundtable discussion between women in leadership positions in business. Speakers included: Ms Dylis Mc Donald, Project Coordinator, Caribbean Women in Leadership (CIWiL); Ms Dixie-Ann Dickson, Communications Specialist, Bankers Association TT; Mrs Alisha Mohammed-Stephens, CEO, Transbrokerage Services Ltd.; Ms Penny Gomez, CEO, Digicel Foundation Trinidad and Tobago; and Ms Sacha Thompson, Chairman, Board of Directors, Digicel Foundation. Moderator, Ms Simone Francois-Whittier, Attorney-At-Law, Research and Public Advocacy Director Association of Female Executives of T&T. (29 March 2022)
  • In partnership with United Nations Caribbean/UN Information Centre for the Caribbean area for a live Facebook conversation on “Breaking the Bias for an equitable and sustainable Caribbean”. The discussion included Dr. Leith Dunn, Honorary Research Fellow and former head of the UWI IGDS Mona Unit and Chanelle Beatrice of #Feminitt Caribbean (@feminitt). Recorded UNIC's podcast series. (31 March 2022)

 

 

2020–2021

Webinars for the 16 Days of Activism to End GBV during the Covid-19 Lockdown 2020

  • Dr Angelique Nixon, Project Lead Researcher, A Sexual Culture of Justice & Lecturer, IGDS, St Augustine Unit & Luke Sinnette, Lead Social Worker, A Sexual Culture of Justice & Vice President, Friends for Life. Towards a Sexual Culture of Justice: Documenting the Experiences and Needs of Working-Class LGBTIQ+ people living in Trinidad and Tobago. (December 2, 2020)
  • IGDS Ignite - Generation Equality and GBV: Youth Perspectives on Street Harassment, LGBT Perspectives, Psychological Impact of Covid-19, Building GBV Best Practice with Moderator: Saajid Hosein, IGDS STA Postgraduate Candidate & former Ignite, Kelsie Joseph, Cat Calls of UWI & IGDS Ignite, Mia Nixon, Pride UWI & IGDS Ignite, Samantha Samlall, Student Psychology Association & IGDS Ignite and Adrian Osmond, UWI Afrikaan Society (December 3, 2020) 
  • In collaboration with the Social Work Unit, UWI. Our Place at the Table: Social Workers actions to end Violence Against Women with Dr Karene Ann Nathaniel-DeCaires, Dr Camille Huggins and Ms Belinda Isaac-Baptiste, with Feature presentation “Social Workers Taking Action to End All Forms of Violence: Connecting the Issues” with Dr. Gabrielle Hosein (December 3, 2020)

 

  • Curated Conversation to close the Sexual Culture of Justice project How do we transform Approaches to Gender-Based Violence & LGBTI Discrimination Moderator - Dr. Angelique Nixon, Speakers: Renuka Anandjit - IGDS Ignite; Jeremy Edwards - Silver Lining Foundation; Stephanie Leitch - WOMANTRA; Èlysse Marcellin - CAISO & WOMANTRA; Amilcar Sanatan - Commonwealth Student Association; Attillah Springer - Say Something TT (March 24, 2021)
  • Curated Conversation to close the Sexual Culture of Justice project What’s Next on the LGBTI + Agenda for Justice? Moderator - Dr. Angelique Nixon, Speakers: Rae Alibey - Transgender Coalition & CAISO; Earl Edmund - Silver Lining Foundation; Elron Elahie - CAISO; Johannah-Rae Reyes - WOMANTRA; Brandy Rodriguez - Transgender Coalition; Luke Sinnette - Friends For Life (March 31, 2021)

Series on The Non-Profit Organisations Act 2019

 

2019–2020

  • Sebastian Garbe “Indigenous Solidarity- Transnational Advocacy and Community Building of Mapuche Women” (September 5, 2019)
  • Dr Adam Hosein “What does a Feminist Approach to Immigration Look Like?” Discussant, Dr Shelene Gomes, Faculty of Social Sciences (September 26, 2019)
  • Andrea Silvia Tapia “Muslim Women in Sports as a Space of Resistance: A Decolonial Feminist Analysis from Germany” (October 2, 2019)
  • Judith Saman “Her Allusion-rich Images of Women and Children: A Multimedia Presentation” (March 4, 2020)

Regional Webinars during the Covid-19 Lockdown

  • Shouts and Whispers: Untold Stories from the Caribbean During Covid 19 was held on Wednesday 8 July, 2020, 10:00 AM Jamaica | 11:00 AM ECT. Panelists: Ms Olive Edwards, Convener, Jamaica Community of Positive Women; Mr Devon Gabourel, Director, Enabling Environment and Human Rights Unit (EEHR); & National Family Planning Board, Jamaica; Ms Kagina Marquis, Migrant Woman; Dr Angelique Nixon, Board of Directors, CAISO: Sex and Gender Justice. IGDS hosted the event: Regional Coordinating Office, Mona Jamaica; Mona Unit, Mona Jamaica; Nita Barrow Unit, Cave Hill, Barbados; and St Augustine Unit, Trinidad and Tobago.

 

2018–2019

  • Taniqua K. Huguley There is Life After St. Jude’s: An Exploration of the Lives of Girls in St. Jude’s School for Girls in Trinidad and Tobago (Sept 6, 2018)
  • Maria Nunes. Photographer and historian. In a World of Their Own (Sept 26, 2018)
  • Nafeesa Mohammed. How Did We Get Here? (October 17, 2018) 
  • Tammy Kremer. If We Only Knew: Birth Stories of Trinidad and Tobago (October 24, 2018) 
  • Pauline Phelps, Billings Ovulation Method Association of Trinidad and Tobago (BOMA-TT). The Billings Ovulation Method (March 27, 2019)
  • Vijaiya Ramkissoon, Postgraduate Candidate, Sociology, The UWI. An Autoethnography of Postcolonial Indo-Trinidadian Womanhood (April 3, 2019)
  • Dr Kenneth “Sean” Chaplin, Fulbright Scholar  Sport Coaching and Coaches as Engendered Masculine Male Leadership: - Female and Male Collegiate Student-Athletes’ Responses to their Sport Experiences (April 17, 2019)

Making of Feminisms in the Caribbean Lunchtime Seminars 

  • Professor Patricia Mohammed IGDS in collaboration with Alma Jordan Library, presented “Insights into our Treasures Lunchtime Seminar” on the Making of Feminisms in the Caribbean 

 

 

 

2017–2018

  • Prof. Shahana Rasool, Head of Department of Social Work, University of Johannesburg  Witnessing Gender-Based Violence: Adolescent experiences and attitudes (September 27 2017) https://youtu.be/DI2c8CX9aI0
  • Professor Joanne Kilgour Dowdy, Kent State University, Ohio. Minding Their Own Business: Five Female Leaders from Trinidad and Tobago (October 4 2017) – https://youtu.be/2A5w-fYDibg
  • Dr. Kenneth S Charles, Senior Lecturer/Honorary Consultant Haematologist, UWI SAU. Women and Blood Donation (October 25 2017) https://youtu.be/gVg_VjX3fwU
  • Ben Braithwaite, Cheryl Maniram and Ian Dhanoolal
. Gender, Violence, Discrimination and the Deaf Community of Trinidad and Tobago (November 1 2017) https://youtu.be/j5w8SfDT6HI
  • Prof. Janet Bauer, International Studies Trinity College in Hartford. Beyond Making Space: Trinbagonian “Muslim Feminists” in Comparative Perspective (November 8 2017) https://youtu.be/vDvLWJouH0Y
  • Project Team Work/Life Balance and Ageing in Trinidad: Studying the Productivity of Working Men and Women. Connecting the Dots: Work • Life • Balance • Ageing - Finding Equilibrium
 (March 21 2018) https://www.facebook.com/IGDSStAugustineUnit/videos/vl. 2308061359420701/1887664801265382/?type=1
  • Prof. Dr. Encarnación Gutiérrez Rodríguez, Justus-Liebig University Giessen, Germany. Affective Labor. On the cultural predication of care and domestic work (April 4 2018)
  • Prof. Brinsley Samaroo, Professor Emeritus History, The University of the West Indies St Augustine Campus, Trinidad and Tobago. A Structured Inequality: Women Labourers in the Post- Slavery Era (April 27. 2018)  http://https://www.facebook.com/IGDSStAugustineUnit/videos/vl. 2308061359420701/1931687410196454/?type=1

Lunchtime Seminars on the Political Economy

  • Mr. Sterling Chadee, Deputy Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Health. Political Economy - The Household Budgetary Survey (November 8 2017)

 

2016–2017

  • Ms. Allyce Woodhouse “Leading Like A Girl: An ethnography of female cadetting in Trinidad” (October 5, 2016)
  • Dr. Sarah Chin Yuen Kee Student Counsellor, The UWI Health Service Unit Lunchtime Seminar in commemoration of Mental Health Month. “The Psychology of Trauma” (October 19, 2016)
  • Dr. Mala Jokhan "I will never do it, I will break the spell": Breaking the Barrel-children Cycle” (November 23, 2016)
  • Ramona Boodoosingh “Plural Legal Systems in Samoa: The Impact on Access to Justice for Survivors of Domestic Violence” (November 30, 2016)
  • Nikoli Attai, PhD candidate, Women and Gender Studies Institute, the University of Toronto "Bullerman Carnival": Tourism and the Praxis of Caribbean Sexuality in Trinidad and Tobago” (February 15, 2017)
  • Dr. Christine Descartes “Who’s Homophobic? Demographic Predictors of Attitudes toward Homosexuality among Tertiary Level Students in Trinidad” (February 22, 2017
  • Rudolph Ottley “The Untold Story of Women in Calypso from Chanterelle to Calypsonian, 1834–2014” (March 1, 2017) 
  • Brendon Jamal Thornton “Victims of Illicit Desire: Pentecostal Men of God and the Specter of Sexual Temptation.” (April 5, 2017)

Lunchtime Seminars on the Political Economy

  • Dr. Ralph Henry  “Measuring poverty and inequality” (March 22, 2017)
  • Prof. Mark Figuero “Gender, Headship and Household Structure in Jamaica: Evidence from Household Surveys” (May 5, 2017)

Guest Seminars

  • Michaeline Crichlow, Duke University. "Bare Life, Peripheral Migrants and Hispaniola's Sovereignties" (November 21, 2016)
  • World AIDS Day, Performance and Conversation with Charleston Thomas. One of the primary objectives of the initiative is to ignite in viewers or participants a desire to be change agents with respect to care for AIDS and other terminally ill patients from/in marginalized communities (December 7, 2016)

 

2015–2016

  • Dr. Oscar Ocho, Director, The UWI School of Nursing. “Masculinity , Health Beliefs and Implications for Policy Among Men in Trinidad and Tobago". (October 7, 2015)
  • Ms. Jennifer Jones Morales, Ph.D Candidate, The UWI, STA “Gender and Leadership in Management” (October 14, 2015)
  • Ms. Kaneesha C. Parsard, Visiting Scholar, Ph.D Candidate, Yale University “Improper Dwelling: Space, Sexuality, and Colonial Modernity in the British West Indies, 1838-1962." (November 11, 2015)
  • Kris Majapra, Associate Professor of History, Tufts University, USA “Plantation Dispossessions: Tracing the Global Travels of Caribbeanity” (November 18, 2015)
  • Nimah Muwaki-Zakuri, Curator and Art Historian “Women, Art and Nation: Re-presentation Post Independence (1962-1986)” (January 27, 2016)
  • Dr. Lystra Small-Clouden, SHRM-SCP “Results of Study Globalization, Assimilation and Culture Erasure: A Review of Trinidad and Tobago” (February 24, 2016)
  • Dr. Rosamond King, Writer and Performer “150 Years of Jamettes? Thinking Sexuality, Race, and Gender in Trinidadian Protest Performance”. (March 16, 2016)
  • Jacqueline Huggins, Manager, Student Life and Development Department, The UWI, St. Augustine “Transforming Post-secondary Education: A Caribbean Perspective on the Inclusion of Students with Disabilities.” (March 23, 2016)
  • Dr. Sue Ann Barratt, Instructor IGDS SAU “Exotic and Erotic: Mixing Stereotypes in the Dougla Woman’s Body” (April 6, 2016)
  • Dr. Harjant Gill, Assistant Professor of Anthropology, Towson University. Mardistan (Macholand) Film screening and Q&A
  • Ms. Terry Ince, Gender and Human Rights Advocate. Consultation for input for a shadow report for the Convention on the Elimination on all form of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) (April 27, 2016)
  • Dr. Adam Baird, Research Fellow, Coventry University, United Kingdom. Breaking Bad: Masculinities and gang Violence in Medellín (May 4, 2016)

 

2014–2015

  • Josh Jelly-Shiparo (IGDS Fulbright Scholar) | The Caribbean and the World: Imaginative Geographies in the Independence Age (5 November 2014)
  • Teruyuki Tsuji | Dressing the Statue, Spirituality, Sexuality, and Sociality of the Virgin Mary/"Indian Lady" (28 Janaury 2015) https://www.facebook.com/events/1392468434387471/
  • Professor Brinsely Samaroo | An Exceptional Imperialist: Florence Nankivell in Trinbago during perilous times, 1932-1938 (25 February 2015)
  • Usha Iyer | Transitioning from Bai (courtesan) to Devi (respectable woman): Narrativizing Dance as a Female Profession in Hindi Cinema of the 1950s and 1960s https://www.facebook.com/events/1579808482268738/

2013–2014

  • Mita Das | Awakening the Power of Girls and Women (9 October 2013)
  • Patricia Hackett | Women and Men Reconciling Work and Family(12 February 2014)

 

 

 

 

 

 

2012–2013

  • Catherine Ali | Gender, Empowerment and Transformation: Inseparable Axes in Conflict Mediation (3 October 2012)
  • Kelley Crawford |  Women, Arms and Agency: The relationship between women and security in Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago (17 October 2012)
  • Aleah Ranjitsingh | ‘PATRIOTA Y AMANTE DE USTED’  — PASSIONATE POLITICS AND WOMEN’S POLITICAL ACTION IN THE BOLIVARIAN REPUBLIC OF VENEZUELA (31 October 2012)
  • Paul Kadetz | Paternalism and Resistance: problematising global maternal health policies at local levels (7 November 2012)
  • Innette Cambridge | Audrey Layne Jeffers and Her Contribution to the Development of Women's Involvement in Social Services in Trinidad and Tobago (21 November 2012)
  • Sue Ann Barratt | An Investigation into the Relevance of Perceptions of Gender Identity to Interpersonal Communication Conflict (28 November 2012)
  • Andrew Le | Blurred Identities: The Vietnamese Community in Trinidad and Tobago (6 March 2013)
  • Jeanne Roach-Baptiste | "Do you have the Balls to be called a Feminist?" (20 March 2013)

2011–2012

  • Elspeth Duncan, Daisy Chain September, 28th 2011
  • Keith McNeal | Heteronationalism, Homonormativity and the Problem of Sexual Citizenship in Trinidad and Tobago (April 11. 2012)

Series on 'Gender and UN Millennium Development Goals’ a joint initiative of the IGDS, St. Augustine Unit, The UWI and the Gender Theme Group of the United Nations System, Trinidad & Tobago

  • Mr. Barton Astor Clarke, FAO Representative | MDG Goal 1: Eradicate Extreme Poverty and Hunger (November 9, 2011)
  • Izola Garcia, UNAIDS CO | MDG Goal 6: Combat  HIV/AIDS, Malaria and Other Diseases (December 7, 2011)
  • Nana Oye Hesse Bayne, UN RC’s  Office| MDG Goal 2: Achieve Universal Primary Education
    (December 14, 2011)
  • Juan Battle, Professor of Sociology | Methods, Madness, and More: Studying a U.S. National Sample of LGBT People of Color (February 14, 2012)
  • Rosemary Lall, UNDP Programme Specialist | MDG Goal 7: Ensure Environmental Sustainability – Thoughts on Gender and Ensuring Environmental Sustainability (February 15, 2012)
  • Roberta Clarke, Regional Programme Director, Caribbean Office | MDG Goal 3: Promote Gender Equality and Empower Women – Are we there yet? Reflections on Gender Equality Achievements and Challenges (March 9 2012)
  • Jawad Aslam, UNICEF | MDG Goal 4: Reduce Child Mortality (April 4, 2012)
  • Dr. Yitades Gebre, MD. MPH, MSc., Pan American Health Organization / World Health Organization  | MDG 5 Attaining Maternal Health: Global Challenges and Strategies to Reduce Maternal Mortality and Severe Morbidity (April 18, 2012)
  • Paula Robinson, International Labour Organization (ILO)| MDG 8: Develop a Global Partnership for Development Social Dialogue and the Decent Work Agenda - Key Tools for Equitable and Sustainable Development

 

2010–2011

  • Dr. Godfrey St Bernard (April 13, 2011)
  • J. Brent Crosson (April 20, 2011)

 

 

 

 

 

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