Lesley Marriott
Femicide in the Canadian ContextFemicide, defined as the intentional killing of women and girls with gender-related motivations, remains a critical national crisis in Canada. Driven by systemic discrimination and unequal power relations, an average of one woman or girl is killed every 48 hours. This presentation examines the pervasive nature of gender-based violence, from the historical legacy of the École Polytechnique massacre to the ongoing tragedy of the Highway of Tears, where Indigenous women face disproportionately high rates of violence.
Central to this discussion is the movement to #CallItFemicide by making the victims visible. We move beyond statistics to remember the women and girls killed by violence, insisting that we "say their names" to ensure their lives are never forgotten. This commitment to visibility informs the analysis of Bill C-16 and the "Bail Gap," which advocates for legislative changes—such as criminalizing coercive control—to prevent future tragedies. By referencing 2026 cases like those of Tadjan’ah Désir and Laura Gover-Basar, this session underscores the urgency of legal reform and the use of tools like Clare’s Law to dismantle the patterns of misogynist terrorism persisting in our society.
Julianne SimpsonTrauma, Attachment, and Sexual Agency: A Psychological Analysis of Intimacy in The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo This paper presents a psychological analysis of themes such as trauma, sexual coercion, harassment, gender identity and roles, and sexual behaviour in the film
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, directed by David Fincher, focusing on the developing relationship between the main characters, Lisbeth Salander and Mikael Blomkvist. Rather than evaluating the film narratively, this analysis applies theoretical frameworks from research on human sexual behaviour to interpret patterns across these themes. The central thesis is that Salander’s sexual behaviour and relational engagement are best understood through the interplay of trauma-related attachment disruption, misogyny, and the restoration of agency following sexual coercion and victimization. This analysis also interprets Salander’s guarded autonomy and selective intimacy in her sexual encounters not as evidence of promiscuity or detachment, but as regulated expressions of control and boundary testing following chronic abuse and betrayal. Examining the relationship between Salander and Blomkvist, this analysis shows how it departs from conventional cinematic sexual scripts by depicting negotiated consent, non-possessive intimacy, and emotional investment that do not align. Empirical research on trauma and sexuality is integrated to evaluate the psychological realism of the film’s portrayal. Particular attention is given to how qualities such as power, trust, and vulnerability are communicated through behaviour rather than dialogue. The film ultimately illustrates how sexual expression can arise from one’s vulnerabilities and self-protection, with the aim of helping survivors regain agency after trauma. This analysis contributes to understanding the complex relationships among trauma history, attachment processes, and sexual behaviour in adult intimate relationships.
Jessica Hanley This presentation examines how cognitive styles, or ways of thinking, shape psychological outcomes following trauma, arguing that it is not the traumatic event itself but the way individuals interpret and think about the experience that determines long‑term well‑being. Through a narrative illustration and a review of contemporary research, the talk contrasts maladaptive cognitive styles—such as brooding rumination, maximizing, and upward counterfactual thinking—with adaptive styles including reflective rumination, problem‑solving, and downward counterfactual thinking. Studies by Zareian et al. (2021), Bruin et al. (2016), Broomhall et al. (2024), and Parikh et al. (2022) demonstrate that maladaptive styles correlate with depression, hopelessness, and poorer mental health, whereas adaptive styles are associated with reduced regret, improved emotional functioning, and lower depressive symptoms. Evidence from resilience‑building interventions, including the Warrior PaTHH program and mindfulness‑based CBT, further shows that cognitive styles can be intentionally reshaped to promote resilience and Post‑Traumatic Growth. Ultimately, this presentation highlights that cognitive framing is central to recovery, and that cultivating adaptive thinking patterns can transform traumatic experiences into opportunities for growth, strength, and renewed purpose.
Marian YoungIndigenous Women’s Survivance and Cultural Guardianship in Contemporary Indigenous Canadian Literature This presentation examines the concept of survivance, as coined by Gerald Vizenor, in relation to Indigenous women’s roles in sustaining cultural continuity and resistance in
Pemmican Eaters by Marilyn Dumont and
The Marrow Thieves by Cherie Dimaline. Survivance is defined as an active rejection of narratives of victimhood, emphasizing agency, resilience, and resistance. Through a comparative analysis, this presentation argues that Indigenous women’s survivance is vital to the endurance of Indigenous families, cultures, and futures.
In
Pemmican Eaters, Dumont foregrounds feminine perspectives that connect cultural knowledge, land-based relationships, and intergenerational transmission. Poems such as “With Second Sight, She Pushes” and “Sky Berry and Water Berry” present practices like beading and tool use as active forms of cultural continuity. The passing down of tools and ecological knowledge signifies both survival and resistance, positioning women as central to Métis identity.
Similarly,
The Marrow Thieves portrays survivance through characters like Minerva and Wab, who sustain language, care, and community amid ongoing colonial violence. Minerva’s preservation of language and creation of jingles symbolize survivance as lived cultural practice.
Together, these texts show survivance as more than endurance; it is enacted through storytelling, caregiving, art, and land-based knowledge, shaping Indigenous futures.
Haley MorrisMy presentation examines how resilience supports post-traumatic growth (PTG), focusing on the psychological processes that enable individuals to experience positive change following trauma. While trauma is commonly associated with distress and dysfunction, research in positive psychology suggests that individuals can also report meaningful psychological growth after adversity. PTG involves transformational changes in identity, relationships, and life perspective, and can occur alongside ongoing emotional distress rather than replacing it.
This presentation explores how resilience, defined as the capacity to adapt and maintain functioning during adversity, creates the psychological conditions that facilitate this growth. Specifically, four key processes are highlighted: meaning-making, confidence, adaptive coping, and positive emotions. Meaning-making allows individuals to integrate traumatic experiences into a broader life narrative, while confidence develops through recognizing one’s ability to endure hardship. Adaptive coping strategies support emotional regulation and adjustment, and positive emotions broaden cognitive flexibility while building long-term psychological resources.
Together, these processes demonstrate that resilience does not eliminate distress, but instead shapes how individuals interpret and respond to trauma. Understanding this relationship has important implications for psychological support and intervention, emphasizing the development of internal resources that promote long-term well-being and growth.
