UF Center for Latin American Studies
Thesis project analyzed experiences of Kalinago women in Dominica
January 16, 2023
This year’s Charles Wood Thesis Award has been granted to Nashia Graneau, for her thesis entitled, "Looking at Gendered Conditions, Experiences and Embodiments through the Oral Narratives of Kalinago Women."
As her title indicates, Graneau’s research applied decolonial theory to document and comprehend the “gendered conditions, experiences, and embodiments” among the women of the Kalinago, an Indigenous people that occupied the Island of Dominica long before the arrival of European conquistadors. Graneau’s work involves a rigorous application of purposeful sampling and direct oral interviews, together with a thematic analysis of the information she collected. Her thesis demonstrates a rare connection of theory to empirical findings in explicating the effects that colonization has had Kalinago women, especially with respect to access to education.
To learn more about Nashia's thesis, read our article from the Fall 2021 Latinamericanist here.
About the Charles Wood Thesis Award
This award honors the contributions of Charles Wood, former director of the Center for Latin American Studies at the University of Florida, and eminent sociologist who made significant scholarly contributions to a broad range of topics. Dr. Wood was a committed teacher and mentor who took special pride in introducing MA students to the pleasures and demands of research. That effort has been reflected in many excellent theses produced in the MALAS program at UF.
The award recognizes a UF MALAS student who has produced an outstanding MA thesis in the field of Latin American Studies. Up to one award will be conferred for each academic year.
