Amal Haroon

Amal Haroon

MA GNDS 2020

"Completing the MA Gender Studies was the best decision I made for my academic and personal career. It was an amazing opportunity. My master’s research paper was on domestic violence against women and the Muslim community. My lived experiences gave me insight around the religious, cultural, and ethnic layers of domestic violence and the issues around Muslim women shelters and mainstream shelters. My time at Gender Studies enabled me to see the intersections between gender and domestic violence in my own community and in the larger Canadian community. I was so lucky to work with two expert supervisors Elizabeth Brulé and Shobhana Xavier. Their expertise helped me to understand the importance of my research and how to address islamophobia from different perspectives. Their support and patience were beyond my expectations. They helped me to de-construct my own identity as a Black Muslim woman with lived experiences in domestic violence. Gender studies impacted my career and boosted my confidence. Before joining Gender Studies I was working as a Settlement Worker for Government Assisted Refuges. This combination of my work experience and my research furthered my career and gave me the confidence to begin working in the social work field. Currently I am working as Crisis Counsellor for Government Assisted Refugees with a nonprofit organization and as a Site Supervisor for one of the largest shelters in the City of Toronto working to address homelessness, addiction and mental health in the community. My learning journey will not stop at this juncture, and I will keep exploring and seize every opportunity available to be an active advocate, activist, and astute feminist. Thank you Gender Studies for being so inspiring and supportive."