Welcome!
Thanks for your interest in our research study “Imagining Futures". In this letter, we provide answers to questions we thought you may have about the study. Please review the information and let us know if you have any more questions. If you are still interested in participating, let us know!
Thanks for reaching out, we are happy you're here.
Erin and Ardath
Who is on the research team?
This research is led by Erin Fredericks from St. Thomas University and Ardath Whynacht from Mount Allison University, Nathan Thompson from Block House Counselling, Stel Raven from Stel Raven Counselling, Kelly Baker from St. Thomas University, and Hannah Crouse as a graduate research assistant are also on the research team. You can find more information about us on the Team page of this site: Our Website or you can contact us here: Contact Us
What is the purpose of this study?
We know that the world is not easy right now, but we also know that queer, trans, Two Spirit and non-binary youth are our future. We want to know what you think this future looks like.
In this study we will explore the following questions:
1. How do queer, trans, and Two-Spirit youth conceptualize liveable futures?
2. How do these imagined futures draw on and/or reinforce hetero- and homo- normative scripts?
3. How can we create space for the practice of imagining liveable futures?
Who can participate? We are inviting Candian youth between the ages of 15-25 who self-identify as queer, trans, Two-Spirit, and/or non-binary, you are invited to participate in this research study. It is important to note that we are using queer, trans, Two-Spirit and non-binary as umbrella terms for larger communities. As such, if you identify with another term such as pan, gay, poly, bi, agender, fluid, demi, ace, etc. - you are included too.
If I participate, what will I do? If you wish to participate in this study, you will use our artist prompt and guidelines below to inspire a piece of art. This might be writing, spoken word, photo or video, digital art, or a picture of a painting, sculpture, craft or drawing. When you submit your art, you will first answer a few questions about yourself and your work and consent to have your art included in a zine and digital gallery if it is selected. Due to the capacity of the zine, not all artwork submissions will be selected for the digital gallery and zine. You may also agree to be contacted later for an interview on Zoom.
What risks are there if I participate? If you participate in this study, there is an option to choose a fake artist name so you will be anonymous. However, some of you may want to use your real name. If you choose this option to use your real name when you select your art, someone from the Research Team will contact you to discuss the risks of having your real name on your work and will decide with you if this is the best choice.
What benefits are there if I participate? We hope that participating in this study will give you a chance to think differently about the world and our future. Any original writing or artistic works that you produce and contribute as a result of this project will also remain yours to use in any way that you choose.
Confidentiality and Anonymity: The information that you share will remain strictly confidential and will be used solely for the purposes of this resarch. The only people who will have access to the research data are the research leads listed above and two student researchers.
What are my rights as a participant? You do not have to participate and if you choose to participate, you may choose only to submit art and not take part in an interview. You can also withdraw from the study at any time. That means you can send us art or start an interview and then decide later that you don’t want it included in the study. If you withdraw from the study, we can remove your art or interview until May 1st 2023. After that it cannot be removed because it will already be part of a printed zine and digital gallery show.
We know that thinking about the future can be difficult. Even if you don’t realize at the time, you may find that when working on your art or during and after an interview you feel anxious, nervous, jumpy, numb, sad, or angry. We are here to support you if anything arises for you from these discussions. Please reach out to us at imaginingfuturesresearch@gmail.com and we will offer appropriate supports in your area. You can also always contact Trans Lifeline Canada at 877 330 6366 or call, text or message a Trevor Project Counsellor at https://www.thetrevorproject.org/get-help/
You may share personal information with us during the study. Although we will protect the feedback you give to us with care and safety, there are some secrets that are too heavy to carry on our own. This means that if we are worried about your safety in any way, we will secure the help of folks who are best trained to assist us in keeping you safe. This means that if you tell us you are being abused by an adult, we have to intervene. If you tell us that you want to harm yourself, we will find help to keep you safe. Your safety is of utmost importance to us. If you share information about abuse, self-harm, suicidality, or anything else that worries us, a counsellor named Nathan Thompson will reach out to speak to you. If Nathan can’t reach you and we are worried about your immediate safety he will contact an emergency contact of your choice.
How will the researchers protect my information? And how will that information be used?
Art selected to be included in the zine and digital gallery will be publicly shared, but cannot include faces or anything else that identifies you or others. You can read more practical tips about sharing your art here: [link to guidelines re file size, lighting etc]. When you submit your art we will ask for an artist statement where you can tell us about your art in a few sentences.
If you take part in a Zoom interview it will be recorded and then typed.
Most of you will choose a fake artist name. Your real name and contact information will not be shared unless you want to use your real name and we agree, or we are concerned you are at risk.
The art, artist statements, and interviews you provide will be used to make a zine, a digital gallery show, and to write research articles. It’s important you understand that these will all be available for free online and will be viewed by many people. When we use your information, we will provide a copy of the article or publication on our Instagram and website for you to view.
Remember that even though we will protect your privacy, if you share information that makes us worry about your safety, we will follow-up with you and we may have to report this information to the authorities.
Also, even when you use a fake name, others may recognize your art if it is similar to work you share online or if your fake name is one you use on social media.
My question wasn’t here!
You may have a question we haven’t answered. If so, please reach out to us here. We’re sure you’re not the only one wondering, and we appreciate your questions!
The plan for this study has been reviewed by a Research Ethics Board at St. Thomas University and Mount Allison University. If you have any questions regarding your rights as a research participant or how the research is being conducted you may contact the Research Ethics Offices.
Saint Thomas University: reb@stu.ca or (506) 452-0647.
Mount Allison University: research@mta.ca or (506) 364-2618
Please keep this form for your records.