Dr. Rhea Ashley Hoskin
Principal Investigator

Dr. Rhea Ashley Hoskin is SSHRC postdoctoral fellow and an AMTD Global Talent Postdoctoral Fellow at the University of Waterloo and St. Jerome’s, where she is cross-appointed to the departments of Sociology & Legal Studies, and Sexuality, Marriage, & Family Studies. Dr. Hoskin’s work focuses on Critical Femininities, Femme Theory, and femmephobia. More specifically, her work examines perceptions of femininity and sources of gender-based violence rooted in the devaluation or regulation of femininity, as well as strategies for revaluing and rethinking femininity. Dr. Hoskin completed her PhD in Sociology from Queen’s University. In 2019, she was awarded the Governor General’s Academic Gold Medal at Queen’s University for her work on Femme Theory. She is the founding Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Femininities.

Dr. Karen L. Blair
Collaborator & Co-Principal Investigator

Dr. Karen L. Blair is an Associate Professor of Psychology at Trent University. She is the director of the KLB Research Lab and the Trent University Social Relations, Attitudes, and Diversity Lab. Her research focuses on LGBTQ psychology, social support, relationships and health, prejudice, femmephobia, hate crimes, and Holocaust education.

Dr. Toni Serafini
Collaborator & Co-Principal Investigator

Dr. Toni Serafini (she/they) is an Associate Professor and former Chair of the Department of Sexuality, Marriage, and Family Studies (SMF) at St. Jerome’s University (@ U of Waterloo). Her teaching and research unite around intersectional, feminist, and anti-oppressive practices and pedagogies. Her current research projects focus on the systemic devaluation and regulation of femininity across bodies and identities as it connects to personal identity; family/romantic/work relationships; and gender-based violence. Toni is also a Registered Psychotherapist and relational therapist with a small private practice.

Dr. Erin Courtice
Research Associate & Collaborator

Dr. Erin Leigh Courtice (she/her) received her Ph.D. in Experimental Psychology in 2023 from the University of Ottawa. Her dissertation research focused on people’s motivations for and outcomes of using technology-mediated sexual interactions (e.g., sexting, cybersex, virtual sex) in committed romantic relationships. More broadly, Dr. Courtice’s research examines the ways people’s interpersonal lives and beliefs shape and are shaped by technology. Driven by her commitment to social justice, Dr. Courtice also engages in research that centres LGBTQ+ experiences in a variety of contexts. Dr. Courtice brings expertise in research and quantitative methods to the Femme Research team, focusing on understanding the complex factors that underlie femmephobic attitudes.

Kerri Mozessohn
Research Assistant & Editorial Assistant

Kerri Mozessohn is a Psy.D. student in the Clinical Psychology program at Memorial University of Newfoundland. They hold a BSc. (Hons) in Psychology from Trent University, a B.A. in English Literature from Mount Allision University, and a diploma in Applied Holistic Nutrition from the Institute of Holistic Nutrition. Driven by a profound commitment to holistic mental health and wellness advocacy, Kerri focuses their efforts on serving the often marginalized LGBTQ+ community. Their research pursuits aim to illuminate the pathways leading to heightened rates of mental health disorders within this community, while also advocating for greater accessibility to tailored support services. Through their unwavering commitment to social justice and advocacy, Kerri aspires to cultivate an environment of inclusivity and empowerment within the realm of mental health care for sexual and gender minorities.

Jenny Truong
Research Assistant & Editorial Assistant

Jenny Truong is a Psychology student at Trent University and holds a BSc. (Hons) in Medical Sciences with a minor in Sociology from Brock University. Fascinated by all fields of learning, Jenny continuously seeks to broaden her horizons and delve into new areas of knowledge. It is through this exploration that she stumbled upon the world of femininities research, where she found herself captivated by the complexities of gender identity and gender expression. As Jenny embarks on her academic journey, she is committed to leveraging her diverse educational background to contribute meaningfully to the discourse surrounding gender equality and social justice.

Cindy Zhang
Team Artist

Cindy Zhang is a forensic science student at Trent University and a versatile artist with a background in sculpture and acrylic painting. With a keen interest in pursuing storytelling in all aspects of their visual work, Cindy has now transitioned their talents to focus on digital illustration and aims to explore concept art and graphic design in a professional capacity.

Hella Watkins
Project Co-ordinator

Hella Watkins completed her BSc. (Hons) in Psychology at Trent University and is currently the project co-ordinator for the "We Are Family: Femmephobia 101 Parenting Program". Her research interests include LGBTQ+ psychology, femmephobia, and human relationships.

Melanie Gunn
Volunteer

Melanie Gunn is an MSc student at Trent University in the Department of Psychology. In 2022, she earned her BSc(Hon) in Psychology from Acadia University. Her research interests include gender pressure/policing and gender-based discrimination/violence based in femmephobia, in addition to mental health. Her current research explores women's experiences of femmephobic gender pressure in the context of sports.

Emily Comeau
Volunteer

Emily Comeau is an MSc student in Psychology at Trent University. Her research interests include the relationship between femme identity and 2SLGBTQ+ community connection, as well as the experiences of autistic femmes. In the future, she hopes to continue her research on the 2SLGBTQ+ community as well as to advocate for an increase in support and spaces for queer femmes.