A feminist ethic of care is rooted in the assumption that our relationships to each other matter, that we are dependent and interdependent upon one another, and that the most vulnerable people impacted by a decision of choice should have the loudest voice.
Framing our workshops this way meant:
- prioritizing student needs (survey findings);
- modelling the development of online community;
- reminding faculty of power dynamics;
- centering trauma-informed pedagogy;
- focusing on care over content/coverage; and
- advising faculty on low-impact teaching.
We also built space in each workshop for faculty to reflect on their experiences — positive or negative — and to share the complexity of the moment.