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Megan MacKenzie's 'Gendering Peace' Sparks Classroom Debate on Responsible Research in the Global South

A student's concern about 'white savior' behavior sparked a classroom discussion on responsible research in the Global South. Megan MacKenzie's 'Gendering Peace' book emphasizes self-awareness and empathy for effective, non-harmful work with marginalized communities.

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In this picture we can see the women wearing green t-shirt standing in the protest and holding the...
In this picture we can see the women wearing green t-shirt standing in the protest and holding the white cover in the hand. Behind we can see many girls are standing.

Megan MacKenzie's 'Gendering Peace' Sparks Classroom Debate on Responsible Research in the Global South

Megan MacKenzie, a woman of color from the Global South, published 'Gendering Peace in Violent Peripheries' in 2017. The book explores marginality, masculinity, and feminist agency. A student's concern about avoiding 'white savior' behavior while volunteering sparked a classroom discussion on responsible research in the Global South.

MacKenzie, the author, emphasized understanding and accepting one's whiteness for effective, non-harmful work. Empathy was highlighted as crucial for understanding others' pain without becoming them, fostering critical resistance, and driving strategic change. The student asked about avoiding imposing worldviews on communities during research, reflecting a growing awareness of power dynamics.

Decolonial feminism encourages reflecting on one's role in knowledge generation and the real-world impact of scholarship. It also calls for strengthening Indigenous ways of peacemaking and addressing local developmental needs. Reflecting on privilege can reduce harm to vulnerable communities and help understand one's own positioning in society. All women face gender bias in U.S. medical care, with racial-ethnic gaps exacerbating disparities in reproductive healthcare access.

MacKenzie's book and the subsequent classroom discussion underscore the importance of self-awareness, empathy, and a decolonial approach in research and volunteer work with marginalized communities. Understanding and accepting one's privilege can foster more effective and non-harmful engagement, reducing harm to vulnerable communities and promoting more equitable relationships.

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