The University of the West Indies

Dr. Halimah DeShong

University Director

 

Dr. Halimah DeShong is Senior Lecturer and University Director of the Institute for Gender & Development Studies (IGDS) at The University of the West Indies (UWI). She was previously Head of IGDS, Nita Barrow Unit at The UWI, Cave Hill Campus. An experienced feminist researcher and former Vincentian Ambassador to the UN, Dr DeShong specialises in sexual and gendered violence, feminist methodologies, anti-colonial feminisms, and qualitative research. She is the co-editor of the books Methodologies in Caribbean Research on Gender & Sexuality (2021); COVID-19 and the Caribbean Volumes 1&2 (2023); and five special issues of academic journals on Feminist Methodologies; Men and Masculinities; and Gender, Sexuality and Feminism in the Caribbean. In addition, she has authored numerous academic papers and technical reports; written and reviewed gender-based violence action plans and gender policies; designed curriculum on gender relations and gender-based violence for postsecondary institutions; created operational guidelines on gender and climate resilience; and was lead researcher and author of the qualitative component of the UN Women/CARICOM/Caribbean Development Bank prevalence study on violence against women in Grenada. An award-winning researcher, Halimah was most recently recipient of the 2024/2025 Principal’s Award for Excellence in Research and Public Service at The UWI, Cave Hill Campus.

Academic interests

  • Sexual and Gendered Violence
  • Anti-colonial/anti-racist Feminisms
  • Feminist Methodologies
  • Caribbean Men and Masculinities Studies
  • Qualitative Research (with emphasis on the analysis of talk and text)
  • Gender and climate change

 

Select Contribution to Teaching and Graduate Supervision

Curriculum Development 

  • Developed Undergraduate Course GEND 2005 Crimes by and Against Women:  Theories, Evidence and Popular Portrayals in academic year 2009/2010.
  • Developed & Facilitated the Online Course “Introduction to Gender Relations in the Caribbean.” This is an introductory course for training a cadre of Caribbean gender advocates. The work was completed on behalf of the Regional Masculinities Advisory Group, the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN Women), September 2016 – January 2017.

 

Courses Taught

The University of the West Indies:

  • GEND 6100 Contemporary Feminist Theorising (Postgraduate)
  • GEND 6720 Feminist Methodology and Epistemology (Postgraduate)
  • GEND 6102 Data Analysis and Collection: A Gendered Approach (Postgraduate)
  • GEND 3701 Men and Masculinities in the Caribbean: Theoretical Perspectives (Undergraduate)
  • GEND3702  Men and Masculinities in the Caribbean: Contemporary Issues (Undergraduate)
  • GEND 2005 Crimes by and Against Women: Theories Evidence and Popular Portrayals
  • GEND 2201 Women’s Studies: Introduction to Feminist Theories (Undergraduate)
  • GEND 2015 Gender, Sexuality and Race in Caribbean Culture (Undergraduate)
  • GEND1103 Theoretical Concepts and Sources of Knowledge (Undergraduate)

I am or have been responsible for coordinating the courses listed above.  This includes lectures, tutorials and assessment.

The University of Johannesburg:

  • Co-teaching: POL8X15 Methodology (Advanced Methodology for Global African Studies), Joint MA Development / Global African Studies, University of Johannesburg & The University of the West Indies

Caribbean Institute in Gender and Development (CIGAD), Modules Taught:

  • Feminist Approaches to Knowledge Creation
  • Men and Masculinities in the Caribbean
  • Gender-based Violence in the Caribbean
  • Applying the Tools of Gender Analysis

 

Outreach interests

  • Sexual and Gendered Violence Policies, Laws and Actions
  • Gender Policies and Critical Approaches to Gender Mainstreaming
  • Gender Analysis Training and Capacity Building
  • Curriculum Development and Workshop Delivery

 

Current Projects:

  • DeShong, Halimah A.F. and Tonya Haynes. Rethinking Sexual and Gendered Violence in the Caribbean. (Single Authored Book)
  • DeShong, Halimah A.F. and Tonya Haynes. (Eds). Rethinking Sexual and Gendered Violence in the Caribbean.
  • Haynes, Tonya and DeShong, Halimah A.F. (Eds) Routledge Companion to Gender and Feminist Studies in the Caribbean. London: Routledge (Under Contract)