Researchers take part in anti-oppression in health research methods workshop

McMaster University’s Faculty of Health Sciences recently hosted a workshop focused on the intersection of health research methods with equity, inclusion, and decolonization.

The session, called “Principles of Belonging in Health Research: An Anti-Oppression and Equity Workshop,” was a collaborative initiative between McMaster’s Health Research Services and the Faculty’s Office of Equity and Inclusion, and was designed and facilitated by researchers with McGill University.

The 2.5 hour online workshop was attended by over 30 people, including leads from research institutes and centres and research administration staff, and had four primary objectives:

1. Identify how power and privilege operate within the context of health research
2. Reflect on past and continued impacts of colonial health research in Canada and globally
3. Apply anti-oppression theories, strategies and actions to practice equitable health research
4. Engage in difficult conversations about systems of power and oppression in health research to foster (un)learning, collaboration and solidarity

The session began with remarks from Tracy Arabski, director of Health Research Services, followed by Saroo Sharda, associate dean of Equity and Inclusion for the Faculty of Health Sciences, who introduced the McGill team and gave an overview of the workshop.

“Many funding bodies require ‘EDI statements’ now as part of research grant applications, but those are not always approached with a deep and reflexive approach of a researcher’s own identities and positionality, and how the research may be (even unintentionally) perpetuating systemic inequities. This workshop gave participants the opportunity to unpack and explore these important ideas and concepts. As healthcare researchers we have a responsibility to carefully consider these issues given the degree of health disparities that still exist for marginalized communities,” said Sharda, associate dean of Equity and Inclusion for the Faculty of Health Sciences.

The workshop was designed and delivered by Ananya Banerjee – a graduate of McMaster’s Health Research Methodology graduate program – Patricia Li, Vivian Qiang, Josh Swain, and Tiffany Kim from McGill University.

Participants explored key topics such as social determinants of health, intersectionality, and Indigenous Ways of Knowing. Three case studies were discussed, with participants divided into five breakout rooms for group discussions, fostering engagement and collaboration. The workshop also addressed:

Power and Privilege in Academic Institutions: Participants reflected on how social identities and positionality impact research decisions and health equity.

Historical Unethical Practices in Health Research: The long-term consequences of unethical medical experiments on marginalized communities.

Intersectionality: The workshop emphasized that communities are not monolithic, and health research should take an intersectional approach to consider the overlapping forms of identity, such as race, gender, and class.

Community Data Governance: The significance of equitable data ownership through frameworks like OCAP®, EGAP and PROCESS (funded by CIHR) was highlighted, reinforcing the need for responsible research partnerships with marginalized communities.

Critical Allyship in Research: The workshop introduced the concept of allyship as an active, consistent practice of unlearning. Participants reflected on how true allyship involves co-creating knowledge with marginalized communities, acknowledging their lived expertise, and ensuring that allyship is not self-defined or self-serving.

“Despite the best of intentions, historic inequities plague community-based research and risk unintended harms. McMaster’s Faculty of Health Sciences is committed to ensuring that our researchers operate in an ethical manner that is led by the communities we seek to help and takes into consideration historic power imbalances and unethical practices,” said Jonathan Bramson, vice-dean, Research, Faculty of Health Sciences.