Aboriginal, Black and Immigrant Women

Diversity of women's experiences


Aboriginal
, Black and immigrant women are among the most vulnerable populations in Canada. With different histories and many cultures, there are nonetheless similar threads of intersecting oppressions, including racism, sexism, and colonization for these populations as compared with the general population.

Oppression and disadvantage have both direct and indirect effects on the physical and mental health of Aboriginal, Black and immigrant women. For example, discrimination can limit education and job opportunities and lead to poverty, which has been tied conclusively to poorer health status and outcomes. Discrimination is also an immediate cause of stress and depression.

Key objectives of the Voices Research Project include:

  • furthering an understanding of diversity within women's health
  • identifying key health related priorities and concerns for women in diverse circumstances

The Voices Project aimed at beginning to fill in some of the gaps in our understanding of the social determinants of women's health and the appropriate strategies for gathering information from women who have traditionally been ignored in the research process including Aboriginal, Black and immigrant women.

The Voices Project Resources were developed to share the understandings gathered during this process as relating to homelessness, lesbian health, mental health, military wives, senior women, Acadian, Francophone, women living in poverty, women living in rural areas, and women living with disabilities, and young women.

Aboriginal Women, Water and Health
ACEWH_water_spirit

Reflections of women who were raised with different  types of water, including oceans, prairie creeks and rivers, the Great Lakes and glaciers.