Jaisie Walker (University of Lethbridge)

By David Opinko (LethbridgeNewsNOW)

different perspective

U of L grad student wins award for study into violence in non-monogamous and queer relationships

Jul 28, 2019 | 11:24 AM

LETHBRIDGE, AB – Jaisie Walker is the recipient of the Parkland Institute Graduate Research Award.

The University of Lethbridge graduate student’s project is titled, “Unsettling Lateral Violence: Queer Genealogies of Non/Monogamy in Southern Alberta.”

Walker said they wanted to provide a different perspective for how domestic violence is studied and seen by the public.

“What I continuously saw was that the literature these programs were relying on for their anti-violence programming still framed relationships in a heterosexual and monogamous lens and it continuously relies on this narrative of a victim-perpetrator model,” says Walker.

Walker explains that researchers are starting to identify how things like race, gender, and class impact negotiations of safety and desire in non-monogamous relationships.

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They add that while the justice system still has its place in dealing with interpersonal violence, most instances occur between people who are in loving, trusting relationships. Criminal charges are not always the desirable outcome in these cases.

“When it comes to the queer community, for example, people don’t want to just rely on punitive justice frameworks,” says Walker. “When they are thinking about their relationships, they want to build sustainable new ways of doing things.”

The proposed study will have 15 people lead a public exhibit to document community assets and concerns around violence, safety, and accountability.

Members of the Parkland Institute approved the project because they believe Walker presented a “well-prepared application with clear relevance to the communities of interest, and public policy applications.”

Walker has previously done work with the U of L’s Campus Women’s Centre and the Safe Haven Women’s Shelter Society in Taber.