SEXUALITY & REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH
Sexual health is a huge passion of mine. I knew that I wanted to be a sexual health educator starting in high school. As such, I sought many opportunities to engage with sexual health content, including reading hundreds of books, listening to podcasts, watching shows and films, attending research conferences, and working with community-based organizations focused on the topic. Sexual health organizations I have worked with include The Shore Centre in Waterloo, ON (formerly Planned Parenthood Waterloo Region), Planned Parenthood Toronto, OUTSaskatoon, Saskatoon Sexual Assault and Information Centre, and Saskatoon Sexual Health (formerly Sexual Health Centre Saskatoon). I adopted various roles with these organizations, including educator, counsellor, crisis line worker, Executive Director, board of director member, and volunteer, and worked with clients to help them make informed decisions about contraception/birth control, sexually transmitted infections, reproductive biology, sexuality/desire, sexual/gender orientations, pregnancy options, childbearing, consent, sexual/romantic relationships, and sexual pleasure.
While my community-based experiences were essential for expanding my knowledge base and skills, I found the “down stream” aspects of front-line work to be exhausting and as a result I suffered from compassion fatigue and burn out. This had nothing to do with my clients and everything to do with the social systems in place. I wanted to make a difference “upstream” at the research and policy level, which led me to pursue graduate training in social psychological research and program evaluation. One of the ways that I can achieve my upstream goals is by collaborating with members of the Sex, Gender, and Reproductive Psychology Lab.
(My Executive Director business card, 2015)
(Me with my Co-Executive Director, Patrick Lapointe, 2015)
PROJECT SUMMARIES & OUTCOMES
Sexual Consent and #MeToo
There is a scarcity of research that give individuals space to discuss, in detail and in their own words, perceptions of the #MeToo movement. The present research fills this gap by utilizing focus groups with a sample of Canadian undergraduates. We wanted to explore both the perceived positive and negative effects of #MeToo, as well as its potential sustainability (e.g., keeping the movements going, and enacting real-world changes resulting from the social media movements).
We also qualitatively explored undergraduate students’ perceptions and experiences of sexual consent within the framework of sexual script theory. Using focus groups, N = 56 undergraduates discussed perceptions of sexual consent, under what circumstances they perceive it to be required, potential “grey areas” of sexual consent and how they are navigated, and how gender may intersect with sexual consent.
This project resulted in a conference presentation at the Guelph Sexuality Conference (2019) and two publications in the Canadian Journal of Human Sexuality (2020, “It’s just one step in the right direction”: A qualitative exploration of undergraduate student perceptions of #MeToo; 2023, A Qualitative Exploration of Undergraduate Student Perspectives of Sexual Consent within a Sexual Script Framework).
Research Outputs
Williamson, L., Bayly, M., Poncelet, E., & Lawson, K. (2023). A Qualitative Exploration of Undergraduate Student Perspectives of Sexual Consent within a Sexual Script Framework. Canadian Journal of Human Sexuality. https://doi.org/10.3138/cjhs.2021-0069
Young Innovators: MeToo movements need to be more inclusive, study finds (2020)
Williamson, L. E., Bayly, M., Poncelet, E., & Lawson, K. (2020). “It’s just one step in the right direction”: A qualitative exploration of undergraduate student perceptions of #MeToo. Canadian Journal of Human Sexuality, 29(1), 11-24. https://doi.org/10.3138/cjhs.2019-0036
2019 Williamson, L., Bayly, M., Poncelet, E., & Lawson, K. (June 20-21). Can #MeToo make a difference?: A qualitative examination of undergraduate students perceptions of the social movement. Guelph Sexuality Conference, Guelph, Ontario, Canada.
North American Rape Culture
For my doctoral comprehensive examination (2016), I explored the concept of “rape culture” within a North American context and critically reflected on the most current approaches to altering the culture. Specifically, the following research questions were addressed: How are the concepts of rape, culture, and “rape culture” understood? Which elements of “rape culture” have interventions targeted in the past? How successful were these interventions in achieving desired outcomes (i.e., has rape culture changed, and if so, how)? How do current interventions differ from past ones? Are these newer interventions successful? What are some overall shortcomings of both past and current interventions designed to challenge “rape culture”? The answers to these questions were formulated drawing on several lines of research and theoretical perspectives, including cultural schema theory, sexual and gender role norms, feminist theory, and public health models. Recommendations were made regarding potential future efforts which can be employed to alter rape culture in North America and ultimately reduce the rates of sexual assault.
Fertility Knowledge and Delayed Childbearing
My Master’s thesis focused on examining the impact of providing fertility information on personal levels of fertility knowledge and intentions to delay childbearing. I also examined the applicability of the theory of planned behaviour (TPB) in accounting for young women’s intentions to delay childbearing. Participants (n = 69 young childless women) were randomly assigned to either an experimental (fertility-related) or control (alcohol-related) informational intervention group. After being exposed to the information, participants completed a TPB questionnaire measuring fertility knowledge, intentions for reproduction, and measures of attitudes, subjective norms, and perceived control, as well as the beliefs underlying these global constructs.
This work resulted in a successful defense and publication of my MA thesis (2014, Delayed childbearing: A planned behaviour or an unintentional outcome?), a publication in the Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology Canada (2014, Informed reproductive decision-making: The impact of fertility information provision on knowledge and intentions to delay childbearing), and a publication in the Journal of Reproductive and Infant Psychology (2015, Young women’s intentions to delay childbearing: A test of the theory of planned behaviour).
Research Outputs
Williamson, L. E. & Lawson, K. L. (2015). Young women’s intentions to delay childbearing: A test of the theory of planned behaviour. Journal of Reproductive and Infant Psychology, 33(2), 205-213.
Williamson, L. E., Lawson, K. L., Downe, P. J., & Pierson, R. A. (2014). Informed reproductive decision-making: The impact of fertility information provision on knowledge and intentions to delay childbearing. Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology Canada, 36(5), 400-405.
2014 Williamson, L., & Lawson, K. L. (September 16-17). Intentions to delay childbearing. Society for Reproductive and Infant Psychology, Valletta, Malta.
Stigma and Stereotyping of Involuntary Childlessness + Canadian Support for IVF Access and Use
Broadly, my dissertation focused on the degree to which involuntarily childless women are stigmatized, stereotyped, and socially sanctioned by the Canadian general public. Using a series of online questionnaires which targeted variables outlined by the Stereotype Content Model (SCM) and Weiner’s Attributions-Affect-Action (AAA) model, I examined the attributions associated with various groups of involuntarily childless women, affective reactions elicited by the women, and whether different modes of support to aid the women in accessing assisted reproductive technology (ART) to overcome fertility issues would be offered by participants.
In addition to successfully defending my dissertation (2019), I have presented my work at the Society for Reproductive and Infant Psychology annual conference (2019, Examining stereotypes of involuntarily childless women using the Stereotype Content Model (SCM) & An applications of Weiner’s Attributions, Affect, and Action (AAA) Model of Helping Behaviour), and published in the Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology Canada (2020, Canadian support for IVF access and use). I have an additional manuscript forthcoming based on this work (Stereotyping of involuntarily childless women: An application of the Stereotype Content Model).
Research Outputs
2021 Childfree community on TikTok, Columnists from CBC Radio, CBC.ca.
Williamson, L., & Lawson, K. (2020). Canadian support for IVF access and use. Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology Canada, 43(2), 175-181. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jogc.2020.09.020
2019 Williamson, L., & Lawson, K. (September 5-6). An applications of Weiner’s Attributions, Affect, and Action (AAA) Model of Helping Behaviour. Society for Reproductive and Infant Psychology, London, United Kingdom.
2019 Williamson, L., & Lawson, K. (September 5-6). Examining stereotypes of involuntarily childless women using the Stereotype Content Model (SCM). Society for Reproductive and Infant Psychology, London, United Kingdom.
Feminist Ryan Gosling
While in graduate school, my good friend and I shared a passion for Ryan Gosling, so much so that we wondered if we might ever find a way to combine that love with research. And we did! Danielle Henderson published her book Feminist Ryan Gosling, and within she noted how she believes pairing feminist messages with Ryan Gosling’s image could educate viewers on feminism. So we decided to test Danielle’s theory. We presented our study findings at the Canadian Psychological Association (CPA) Annual Conference (2014, “Hey girl….”: The effect of Ryan Gosling feminist memes on feminist identification and endorsement of feminist beliefs). Little did we know that 6 months later the media would get hold of our conference poster and lead to a viral frenzy. News of our research went global. For about 2 weeks in February 2015, my friend and I completed interviews with news outlets like CBC, The Washington Post, Global News, and Ms. Magazine. You can access our conference poster and some of the media article links here.
Research Outputs
2015 The effect of Ryan Gosling feminist memes on feminist identification and endorsement of feminist beliefs. CBC, Huffington Post, National Post, Vox, Hollywood Reporter, MTV, Glamour, Bustle, The Cut, Women’s Health Magazine, Cosmopolitan Magazine, The Telegraph, SBS News Australia, The Washington Post, Ms. Magazine, Global Citizen.
2014 Williamson, L., Sangster, S. L., & Lawson, K. L. (June 5-7). “Hey girl…”: The effect of Ryan Gosling feminist memes on feminist identification and endorsement of feminist beliefs. Canadian Psychological Association, Vancouver, British Columbia.
Sex Education
When I began graduate school, I was certain my research would focus on sex education. So that’s where I began my journey. However, I ended up focusing on more specific aspects of sex education, such as fertility knowledge, which I examined for my MA thesis. Even though sex education wasn’t my main research focus, I still found ways to stay involved by collaborating on others’ projects and teaching Human Sexuality.
Research Outputs
Williamson, L. (2023). Youth Dating Violence: A Literature Review. Saskatchewan Prevention Institute.
Williamson, L. (February, 2022). Youth sexting: A webinar for educators, caregivers, and researchers. Saskatchewan Prevention Institute.
Williamson, L. (2021). Grooming for the Purposes of Exploitation and Abuse: A Literature Review. Saskatchewan Prevention Institute.
Williamson, L. (2021). Youth Sexting: A Critical Review of the Research Literature. Saskatchewan Prevention Institute.
Williamson, L. (2021). An Environmental Scan of Online Resources Related to Sexting. Saskatchewan Prevention Institute.
Thiessen, B., Williamson, L., & Buchanan, C. M. (2021). “Be proactive not reactive”: Understanding Gaps in Student Sexual Health Education. Canadian Journal of Human Sexuality, 30(3), 349-360. doi.org/10.3138/cjhs.2021-0003
2020 Sexual Health Options, Resources, and Education (SHORE) Centre Podcast – Sex Ed Stories Episode 1.
Williamson, L. (2020). Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome Literature Review. Saskatchewan Prevention Institute.
Williamson, L. (2019). Available Saskatchewan-Based Resources and Supports for Pregnant and Parenting Adolescents. Saskatchewan Prevention Institute.
Williamson, L. E., Sangster, S. L., Bayly, M., Gibson, K., Clark, M., & Lawson, K. (2017). Incorporating environmental health issues into reproductive health service provision: Considerations for continuing education and support. Canadian Medical Education Journal, 8(4), e65-373.
The Sheaf (2016). The importance of researching human sexuality. University of Saskatchewan.
2015 Clark, M., Bayly, M., Gibson, K., Sangster, S., & Williamson, L. (October 1). Maternal and infant environmental health: What do health professionals and service providers need? Prevention Matters Conference, Saskatoon, SK.
2013 Williamson, L., Agar, A., & Lawson, K. L. (June 13-15, 2013). Sex education leaves something to be desired: Sexual and reproductive attitudes, behaviours, and knowledge among young adults. Canadian Psychological Association, Quebec City, Quebec.
2012 Williamson, L., Agar, A., & Lawson, K. L. (March 15). Sex education and sexual attitudes, beliefs, knowledge, and intentions. Reproductive Science Medicine Group, University of Saskatchewan.
(Presenting at CPA’s annual conference, 2013)
Abortion Access
Given my pro-choice stance and most of my community-based work involving different sexual health organizations, abortion access is another area of research I’ve worked in. While I’ve moved away from it, I would love to move back into examining issues related to abortion access in Canada, particularly since the overturning of Roe V. Wade.
Research Outputs
2016 Couture, J. L., Sangster, S. L., Williamson, L., Lawson, K. L. (June 9-11). Pregnancy termination: It’s all about the context… Canadian Psychological Association, Victoria, British Columbia.
Couture, J. L., Sangster, S. L., Williamson, L. E., & Lawson, K. L. (2016). The differential impact of social perspective on women and men. Journal of Reproductive and Infant Psychology, 34(2), 210-220.
2015 Williamson, L., Couture, J. L., Sangster, S. L., & Lawson, K. L. (September 14-15). The differential impact of social perspective on women and men’s endorsement of abortion. Society for Reproductive and Infant Psychology, Nottingham, United Kingdom.
The Star Phoenix (2015). Access to abortion unequal in Saskatchewan.