Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Thesis Format

Monograph

Degree

Doctor of Philosophy

Program

Health Information Science

Supervisor

Dr. C. Nadine Wathen

Abstract

Canadian governments have enacted policies and initiatives to address gender-based violence (GBV), a pressing public health and human rights concern. Despite these efforts, the epidemic of GBV continues, highlighting the urgent need for effective and preventative GBV policies. This research analyzed Canadian federal policies and initiatives to understand how GBV and actions to address it have been framed. Grounded in a critical methodological approach, I examined this topic using Foucault’s Post-structuralism, and Intersectional Feminism, with attention to social structures, power, gender inequality, and diverse survivor experiences.

I analyzed 27 government documents, web pages, and advocacy reports and conducted nine interviews with GBV advocates and government officials in relevant roles. Critical discourse analysis and Bacchi’s “What’s the Problem Represented to Be” tool guided examination of texts, highlighting discourses and ideologies, silenced perspectives, the framing of GBV and solutions, and strengths and gaps in Canada’s policy approach to GBV.

I found that multiple intersecting issues affect Canadian GBV policy. First, the historical progress of anti-GBV work exists alongside entrenched gendered discourses and systems of oppression such as patriarchy and colonialism. Inconsistencies in terminology use and persistent lack of clear definitions hindered the translation of complex GBV issues into concrete actions. Key frameworks (e.g., intersectionality) were not fully applied, impeding the effectiveness of policies, especially for systemically marginalized groups. Additionally, I found a strong emphasis on utilitarian values — situating GBV as a societal issue demanding collective responsibility — in tension with a lack of coordination among programs and policies, and enforced funding competition among agencies, which sometimes led to perceptions of government actions as performative. To highlight the significant impact of these discourses on policy, I closely examined Canada’s 2022 National Action Plan to End Gender-Based Violence (NAP) as an exemplar case. While the NAP was acknowledged as a positive step toward addressing structural roots of GBV, it remains constrained by longstanding jurisdictional issues, unclear terminology, and inconsistent accountability mechanisms.

Overall, this research demonstrated that systemic challenges continue to impact the problematization of GBV in Canadian federal policy and programming. Recommendations are provided to address gaps for GBV action development and implementation in Canada.

Summary for Lay Audience

Governments around the world are working to address gender-based violence (GBV) – declared a crisis and epidemic by many jurisdictions – through policies, programs, and funding. In Canada, various government initiatives have been launched to tackle GBV, but more effective action is needed.

This study examined how the Canadian federal government discusses and addresses GBV through its policies and funding strategies and how these discussions shape the solutions implemented for GBV. The study involved the analysis of federal government action documents (including action plans, news releases, reports, and webpages) and advocate documents, as well as interviews with advocates and government actors.

I found several issues affecting Canadian federal policy on GBV. These included the inconsistent use and definition of terminology, difficulties capturing the complex nature of GBV in policy or action, and the ongoing impact of historical factors, like patriarchy and colonialism, that lead to action that is perceived as making small, rather than structural, changes. The study also highlighted challenges in accountability or the monitoring of government action, collaboration between groups and sectors, coordination between different government actions, and competition for funding.

Regarding a key piece of federal action on GBV in Canada, the 2022 National Action Plan to End Gender-Based Violence (NAP), I found that similar issues have impacted its development and implementation. Ultimately, the NAP represented progress and allowed for descriptions of GBV that highlighted structural factors along with the intention for collaboration across groups/sectors and coordination of government action. However, I also found that there were barriers for the NAP regarding ongoing issues with inconsistency in descriptions and definitions of GBV and related terms, systemic inequities that impact the development of government anti-GBV work, issues of accountability and monitoring of action, and a focus on incremental changes that do not address how widespread, and embedded in social norms, this problem continues to be.

Overall, this research showed that systemic challenges persist in how GBV is addressed in Canadian federal policy. By addressing these issues more effectively, policymakers can improve responses to GBV and create a more inclusive and impactful policy landscape.

Download

Share

COinS