KATE PATERSON, PhD
Kate Paterson (she/they) received her B.A. (Hons) in Sociology from Mount Allison University, MA in Social Justice & Equity Studies from Brock University, and holds a PhD in Educational Studies from the University of British Columbia. Her previous research focused on children’s literature (traditional fairytales and anti-oppressive children’s picture books) in the elementary school classroom as a forum to open up discussions of gender and sexuality with young children. Her doctoral work explored how elementary educators in Alberta, Canada make sense of and engage with queer, trans, and gender non-conforming diversity in elementary education, with a focus on Alberta's political conservatism and school policies for queer and trans children and youth.
​
Kate is a queer, white settler, intersectional feminist and heart-centred virgo. They live in Calgary with their spouse, dog, and many plants. You can often find them stitching a quirky embroidery or reading/writing about gender expansive parenting.
​
ACADEMIC BACKGROUND
PHD, EDUCATIONAL STUDIES, THE UNIVERSITY OF BRITISH COLUMBIA
September 2015 - May 2021
​
Recipient of Four Year Doctoral Fellowship and CGS Doctoral Scholarship
I completed my doctoral coursework in theory, methodology, educational policy, and critical approaches to children and youth. My comprehensive exams explored the history of gender and heteronormative socialization and queer, trans, and gender diversity in the Canadian public schooling system. My doctoral dissertation explored how elementary educators in Alberta, Canada make sense of and engage with queer, trans, and gender non-conforming diversity in elementary education, and how those understandings inform their pedagogy and practices. By focusing on discursive practices, this research explored why current government and school district policies, professional development, administrative interventions, and classroom strategies for queer and trans “inclusion” are insufficient. Findings underscore the limitations of an individualized, reactive, “accommodation approach” to change in schools that does little to confront larger, systemic issues in Canada’s public education system.
MA, SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EQUITY STUDIES, BROCK UNIVERSITY
September 2013 - June 2015
​
Highest overall average & academic achievement in graduating class
My Masters thesis explored the use of anti-oppressive children's literature in elementary school classrooms as a forum to discuss gender and sexuality with young children. Working alongside an elementary school teacher, I conducted ethnographic observations and reading groups with twenty students to explore how children engage with these stories. Findings from my study suggest how dominant discourses of gender and sexuality are produced and reinforced in elementary education, and aids in asking where we may find opportunities for change and reform within the education system.
BA, HONOURS SOCIOLOGY, MOUNT ALLISON UNIVERSITY
September 2009 - June 2013
​
Dean’s list, first class honours with distinction
I completed coursework spanning across the Sociology of Education, Knowledge, Power, Gender, and Sexuality. Special coursework included Political Sociology, Gender, Race & Class in Media, and Community Based Research Methods. My undergraduate thesis consisted of a multi-method ethnography. Using reading groups and participant observations in an elementary school classroom, my research explored how children actively engage with gendered messages in fairytales—specifically examining children’s adherence to, and negotiation of, gender boundaries as demonstrated through their performances of gender within daily classroom discussions and activities. My research illustrated the diverse ways in which children engage with text and how they apply these messages to their own lives, work within its confines, and explore alternatives. Findings demonstrate the potential for educators to create an environment through which children are afforded the freedom to navigate gendered messages and discourses.
SELECTED WORKSHOPS & PRESENTATIONS
WORKSHOP
​
Alberta GSA Conference
2019
Beyond tolerance: LGBTQ2SA+ & gender inclusive classrooms and GSAs in elementary education. Workshop facilitator; Eighth Annual Alberta GSA Conference, Calgary, AB
CONFERENCE PRESENTATION
The Congress of Social Sciences and Humanities Conference
2019
Creating queer(ed) classrooms: Alberta educators on LGBTQ2SA+ & gender “inclusion” in elementary education. CSSE/CASWE, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB.
WORKSHOP
Alberta GSA Conference
2018
Beyond tolerance: LGBTQ2SA+ inclusion and diversity in elementary education. Workshop facilitator; Seventh Annual Alberta GSA Conference, Edmonton, AB
INVITED PRESENTATION
University of British Columbia
2017
Opening hearts and minds: How elementary educators can create SOGI [Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity] understanding. Panelist; Teacher Education for All (TEFA)
WORKSHOP
BC Teachers of English Language Arts, Provincial Conference
2016
Creating LGBTQ & gender inclusive elementary school classrooms through story. Workshop facilitator for K-7 teachers
INVITED PRESENTATION
Brock University
2016
“They’re trying to trick us!”: Making sense of anti-oppressive children’s literature in the elementary school classroom. Drama in Education & Applied Theatre Symposium
GUEST LECTURE
Simon Fraser University
2016
"Just because they’re princesses doesn’t mean they can’t be heroes and use swords and stuff": Using children's literature to discuss negotiated understandings of gender & sexuality in the elementary school classroom. Guest Lecture for Undergraduate Sociology course, Sociology of Children and Society
CONFERENCE PRESENTATION
The Congress of Social Sciences and Humanities Conference
2016
“My voice shook”: Being a queer researcher discussing non-normative gender and sexuality in the elementary school classroom. CSSE/CASWE, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB.
CONFERENCE PRESENTATION
Many Worlds to Walk in: UBC Biennial Children’s Literature Graduate Research Conference
2016
“It’s, like, not normal to have two moms”: Using children’s literature to discuss LGBTQ issues in the elementary school classroom. University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC.
CONFERENCE PRESENTATION
CONFERENCE PRESENTATION
The Qualitatives Conference
2014
CONFERENCE PRESENTATION
“They’re trying to trick us”: How children make sense of anti-oppressive children’s literature in the classroom. CSSE/CASWE, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON.
CONFERENCE PRESENTATION
The Congress of Social Sciences and Humanities Conference
2015
The Qualitatives Conference
2014
“Sometimes the girl can be the hero”: Using fairytales in the classroom to explore children’s negotiation of gender boundaries. Brescia College, London, ON.
CONFERENCE PRESENTATION
The Congress of Social Sciences and Humanities Conference
2014
“It’s harder to catch a boy because they’re tougher”: Using fairytales in the classroom to explore children’s understandings of gender. CSSE/CASWE, Brock University, St. Catharines, ON.
AWARDS & SCHOLARSHIPS
FOUR YEAR DOCTORAL FELLOWSHIP
University of British Columbia
2016 - 2020
JOSEPH-ARMAND BOMBARDIER CGS DOCTORAL SCHOLARSHIP (SSHRC)
​
2016 - 2019
FACULTY OF EDUCATION GRADUATE AWARD
University of British Columbia
2015
MASTERS THESIS AWARD FOR "BEST THESIS" IN THE SOCIAL SCIENCES
Brock University
2015
DISTINGUISHED GRADUATE STUDENT AWARD
Brock University
2015
JOSEPH ARMAND BOMBARDIER CGS MASTER’S SCHOLARSHIP (SSHRC)
2014 - 2015