My name is Margaux Deroi. I’m currently doing a bachelor’s degree in International Development (Honours) with a minor concentration in Gender, Sexuality, Feminism and Social Justice Studies. While doing studies, I grew a particular interest in social justice, more particularly on gender inequality. I’m also fascinated about medical anthropology and its interesting approaches to understand inequality in health. These interests led me to apply to a research internship at the Institute of Human Development and Well-Being (IHDW) at Ï㽶ÊÓƵ as this Institute leads various projects on important social issues focusing on gender inequality and violence, indigenous rights, and education with participatory and arts-based approaches. Immediately, the subjects of research sparked my curiosity, especially because the methods of research were embedded in a desire to deconstruct the power dynamics between the researcher and the researched, by placing the research participant into a position of knowledge mobilizer and creator. I was really curious of getting more empirical knowledge on these methods and approaches to social justice issues, as I discovered them theoretically in various anthropological classes. Furthermore, this internship was an incredible chance to discover bits of the inner workings of academic research.
My learning objectives were to introduce myself to the different steps of a research project, to get to learn how to analyze visual data, to work on my analytic skills through writing and oral communication, and to encounter different researchers and discuss of their work.
As mentioned, the IHDW is a research institute which leads a variety of projects with important social components. Hence, its mission is to mobilize knowledge to advance vital issues on gender equality, indigenous rights, and education as well as using particular research methods that have a direct positive and even transformative effects on the participants. The particular project I worked on is called PREAM – Participatory Research on Education and Agency in Mali. This project is co-directed by ULSHB (Université des Lettres et des Sciences Humaines à Bamako) as Malian researchers are far better equipped and informed on the reality of their education system, the effects of the conflict and the different social and cultural norms present on the field. They also carry different theoretical approaches and distinct academic backgrounds which can only create richer findings and a stronger analysis. This project seeks to understand better the impact of a conflict on education and agency on adolescents aged from 13 to 17 years old. It also seeks more particularly to understand the gendered impacts of the conflict on youth using participatory visual methods.
During my internship, I had to analyze visual data, work on the communication of the project, and provide various reflections on ethics of research with youth in conflict. I also add to organize data and do research on participatory visual methods and the gendered impact of a conflict on youth. I particularly enjoyed doing drawing analysis and entering in communication with Malian researchers. I also really appreciated to get to know and work with other interns in the lab. The major challenges I encountered during the summer were to discipline myself at home to do the work and communicate with the head researchers to advance on the various tasks I was given. To stay focus, I started to make myself a clear day-to-day schedule. I also learned to be at ease to ask questions whenever I had doubts, as I was there to learn.
My learning journey won’t end there as I will do a research paper on the gendered impacts of humanitarian intervention in Mali to gain academic credits for my internship mentored by Professor Kazue Takamura.
Briefly, this internship really helped me to get a better idea of the reality of academic research and, hence, also reflect on my master’s degree which will come very soon as I’m applying this fall. It also enabled me to meet incredible researchers and interns, which became my friends. Furthermore, as I received funds from Wendy Patton Keys. I was able to put more energy into learning and getting the maximum of my experience during the summer and less into financial stress. I am truly grateful to Mrs Keys and her financial support.
