Feminist Questionnaire - Jade Pichette
Jade is an anti-oppressive social worker with expertise with program management, diversity education and, mental health promotion. She is in particular passionate about gender and sexual minorities, harm reduction, sexual health and, creating anti-oppressive empowered spaces. Jade is current working at Frontier College as a Program Assistant and, the Canadian Lesbian and Gay Archives in addition to her freelance writing and public education. Jade is one of the only trans women in Ontario to have their Masters in social work, which she completed through Carleton University & Ryerson University. Her achievements include Capital Xtra Hero Awards named her Youth Activist of the Year in 2007 and earned an Ontario Graduate Scholarship for Ryerson in 2012. Jade has also facilitated at Pink Triangle Services and CHEO. *
*info taken from LinkedIn
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Do you consider yourself a feminist? Why?
Yes very much so. Feminism for me at its core is about addressing the fundamental equality of women to men. As a woman who sees the many of continuing inequalities between men and women in Canada economically, in political involvement, in many professions, in housework and in caregiving I think active work needs to be done.
What kind of feminism do you follow?
I’d describe myself as many forms of feminist including 4th wave feminist, intersectional feminist, eco-feminist, and transfeminist. All of which are ones that come under different forms of anti-oppression broadly. I’ll perhaps explain ecofeminism and transfeminism in particular.
Eco-feminism recognizes that the patriarchal system is fundamentally linked to environmental destruction. For me this connects to the fact that societies that are patriarchal are also the ones destroying the environment through actions like the tar sands, unbelievable consumerism and, massive animal extinctions. During the scientific revolutions some prominent thinkers actually stated that nature should be treated as women’s bodies are, ie poorly and by force. Eco-feminism is inherently linked to Indigenous struggles and, good eco-feminists work in solidarity with Indigenous women.
Transfeminism is a more recent feminist framework that links feminist perspectives with trans perspectives on its prime basis. It recognizes that more than two genders exist and that traditional feminist frameworks may be transphobic, cissexist or transmisogyinistic. I feel transfeminism also recognizes that our privileges and oppressions may shift during our life. For instance at one point in one’s life they may be rich and at another point poor or, may at one point have perceived male privilege, but lose that privilege after transition.
All of these come together under a anti-oppressive or intersectional feminist perspective, but for me these are the systems that most influence that perspective.
How long have you considered yourself a feminist?
Pretty much as soon as I understood the word feminist, so at a very young age. My mom was quite progressive when raising me and was quite open about discussing all forms of concepts. For me being a feminist was a no brainer and I couldn’t understand why anyone wouldn’t be.
I couldn’t pick just one role model, but I’ll choose three Vandana Shiva, Vivienne Namaste and, bell hooks.
Vandana Shiva is an amazing Indian woman who has spoke very prominently on environmentalism, feminism and eco-feminism in particular. She has taken environmentally destructive companies like Monsanto to the Supreme Court of India and, was instrumental in the Seed Satyagraha movement which uses non-cooperation techniques to challenge corporate ownership of agriculture, by empowering women to share and keep seeds. In addition to all this she got her Ph.D. at the University of Western Ontario in Quantum Theory. As well as in 2006, I got to meet Dr. Shiva where she autographed my book and gave me a hug at a seed diversity/ freedom forum.
Vivienne Namaste is a kick ass French Canadian professor who currently teaches at Concordia. She is one of the few openly trans women professors in Canada and, in the World. Her research has focused on trans folks, sex work, HIV and bisexuality. Her two booksInvisible Lives and, Sex Change, Social Change despite being slightly out of date are still in my opinion the best books describing the system that trans people, and especially trans women live in, in Canada. Most of her latest research has been focused on Bisexuality and HIV, which despite the fact that bisexual populations are at a higher risk of HIV transmission than most, they are not research directly.
bell hooks is by far one of the most prolific Black feminist authors and activists. She has written over 35 books all of which tend to have an intersectional and easy to read tone. There are so many thinks I could say about her, but fundamentally if you don’t know her work go read her like for serious.
What do you do on your own time for self help?
Board games: I’m obsessed… yupp. Want to get to know me better offer to play a board game.
Cats: OMG cats I love them, I have three and sometimes feel like the “love every cat” woman from YouTube. I also keep cat books at my desks at my workplaces so that is I am ever too stressed.
Religious Community: I’m Heathen (Germanic Neo-Pagan) and my connection to the Gods as well as my broader religious community is very important to me. They ground me, they support me and, they give me time to have fun. Whether it is a feast with children and stories and laughs, drumming and dancing around a bonfire or, ritual, Heathenry grounds me and keeps me going.
How did you become a public educator?
I started doing public education in High School with some of the school groups I was in (the environmental club) or created (the Gay-Straight Alliance). I gave workshops on queer history, the alphabet soup of gender and sexual minority communities and, how to recycle properly. I got really active when I got out of High School though and became the lead of Trans Youth Ottawa which in addition to the support group gave trans 101 trainings.
What do you hope the public will get out of your work?
I just hope that I improve the world in little ways and, make it a less awful place. That people learn how oppression affects others and to change their worldview somewhat to actively challenge that oppression in themselves, in others and, in society broadly.
What would you like to see happen in 2015?
I’m not sure to be honest. But, it would be nice to see some active change in regards to transmisogyny in community organizations and for the voices of trans women to be heard.
If you had to define yourself in one word, what would it be?
If you got to have tea with any celebrity to educate them on feminism, who would it be?
Felicia Day. I love her work and think that at the core she already is a feminist, but I would love to see her come out more publically on feminist issues in geeky communities.
What advice would you give to any young person looking to educate themselves on anti-oppression?
I’d say first off trust in yourself, second however listen to/ read/ watch diverse voices, especially those who are marginalized in ways that you are privileged. Here is a book list to check out:
· Sex Change, Social Change by Vivianne Namaste
· Invisible Lives by Vivianne Namaste
· Feminism is for Everybody by bell hooks
· But Ain’t I a Woman by bell hooks
· Earth Democracy by Vandana Shiva
· The Cultural Politics of Emotion by Sara Ahmed
· Looking White People in the Eye by Sherene Razack
· Truth of Dare by Starhawk
· The Empowerment Manual by Starhawk
· Excluded by Jessica Serano
