Gabrielle Griffith

What happens when people are given space to speak honestly about care, stigma and survival?

What does a harm reduction approach to perinatal care look like in practice?

These are questions I'm sitting with this week.

Last week, I got to co-host at the Wading Through The Weeds community forum

I'm still holding the stories shared, from the panelists, from the people in the room, I am so grateful you showed up and brought your full self with you. Your voices shaped the heart of the day. It reminded why this is so important.

I laughed and I cried.
I held the younger version of my self, who was desperately needing what I have co-created.

We don't get to build better systems without listening to the people most impacted by them. The systems won't change if we don't listen, they will repeat the harm time and time again.

Thank you to Saara Greene, a mentor, a visionary and a friend, for seeing me, listening to me and co creating this space with me.

Thank you to Sarah Switzer, your organization and leadership is what made this event possible.

Thank you to all of the moms and parents who have showed up time and time again over the years to share your stories, your photos, and your passion for changing the ways people experience care while pregnant and navigating cannabis use.

Thank you to the entire Wading Through The Weeds team!

This work is not done. The conversations, relationships and insights from the gathering will continue to ripple outward and inform what comes next.

💚

Recruitment is open for an exciting new study exploring what gender-affirming language means to trans and nonbinary midwifery service-users in Ontario!

You may be eligible if you:

✔️identify as trans, nonbinary, genderq***r, or another gender diverse identity
✔️are at least 18 years of age
✔️reside in Ontario
✔️have used midwives in Ontario within the past five years

During a digital storytelling workshop, participants will create short videos about what gender-affirming language means to them and how it impacts their care experiences. The workshop will either be in-person, virtual (online), or a combination (hybrid) – which will be decided together by the group of participants. Participants will be compensated $480 for completing all workshop-related sessions.

For an in-person or hybrid workshop, we will provide participants’ accommodations, meals, childcare, and reasonable transportation costs. For a virtual workshop, we will cover childcare related expenses in order to attend the workshop sessions.

Expert workshop facilitation will be provided by StoryCentre Canada.

The videos will be shared with midwives and other healthcare providers to help them answer the question: why does gender-affirming language matter?

For more information, check out https://www.redefinestudy.ca/qds

Interested in participating or have questions? Please email Jen Goldberg, Postdoctoral Research Fellow at [email protected].

This study has been approved by the Hamilton Integrated Research Ethics Board and is funded through a grant from the McMaster Midwifery Research Centre.