Food, Gender and Environmental Justice in Mexico
This three-week field research course in Mexico will offer students the opportunity to explore the complex and major issues of food politics, gender and environmental justice in Mexico City and the state of Oaxaca. Moving from urban to rural areas, you will be introduced to engaged research methodology, collective knowledge production and mutual learning. With SURCO, our Mexico-based partner, we will visit civil society organizations, meaningful sites and communities who are organizing around these important issues for their daily life. With SURCO’s long experience working with university groups in Mexico, we will make your security our priority.
In Mexico City, you will visit the Central de abastos, the mega-food market for food provisioning of one of the largest cities in the world, as well as small scale, agroecological food producers, a farmers’ market, and an urban community garden. You will also meet activist-researchers to learn about their research and various community initiatives. Together, we will learn about the different actors and responses that they are promoting to improve the agrifood systems, environmental conditions, and people’s quality of life across the mega-city.
We will then travel to Oaxaca where we will pursue our learning activities with various guest speakers and field visits, but this time in rural areas, including Indigenous (mining) communities, fair trade coffee, organic vegetable and artisanal mezcal producers. Gender, food, and environmental perspectives will contribute to deepen our understanding of the working conditions, the cultural riches, and the challenges that communities are facing. During our visits, you will have the opportunity to learn about and undertake (non)participant observation, note-taking, oral history, and interview technics. Class discussions and debriefing will help to prepare for community visits, and to think critically about the different topics for final research projects. In small groups, students will have the opportunity to lead an interview with one of the partners’ organizations. Translation services will be provided but Spanish speaking is an asset. Undergraduate and master’s students are welcome!
This course is offered in English to undergraduate and graduate students from May 1 to May 21, 2024.
Professor's contact information
Marie-Josée Massicotte
School of Political Studies
E-mail: [email protected]
Telephone: 613 562 5800 ext. 1273
Room: FSS 7041
Office hours : Wednesdays 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. (Preferably by appointment)
Course outline