Mission Statement
The GEMS Lab aims to:
By routinely enacting these principles, we seek to advance understanding, challenge inequities, and contribute to a more just and equitable world.
Design, develop, and conduct research that explores society’s relationship to gender and media through intersectional feminist and other critical lenses. Our research, which is a form of activism, acknowledges and addresses the complexities of identity, power dynamics, and systemic inequalities.
Act as a community of likeminded scholars and students interested in topics around gender, equity, media and society.
Co-create knowledge that is inclusive, accessible, and meaningful, prioritizing empathy and care in all interactions.
Foster reciprocal partnerships with communities, research participants, collaborators, and stakeholders.
Use feminist methodologies to ensure diverse voices actively shape the questions asked, methods employed, and solutions generated.
Gain a deeper understanding of systems of oppression and their mechanisms, using these to devise (more) effective interventions.
Cultivate an environment where all voices, particularly those traditionally marginalized are valued, ideas are shared, and innovation thrives.

About
Current Members
GEMS Lab Director

Dr. Kaitlynn Mendes is a Full Professor of Sociology at Western University and holds the Canada Research Chair in Inequality and Gender. She is an expert on rape culture, digital feminist activism, and tech-facilitated sexual violence including sextortion, online harassment, image based-sexual abuse, and deepfakes. She has over 70 publications including Feminism in the News (2011), SlutWalk: Feminism, Activism, and Media (2015), and Digital Feminist Activism: Girls and Women Fight Back Against Rape Culture (2019). Kaitlynn has spent considerable time turning her research findings into resources, policies, and educational materials. Insights from her research have been used to inform policies, practices, and public understanding on contemporary gender inequalities in Canada, the UK, Australia, and Europe. Kaitlynn is also the Principal Investigator on 5-year project DIY: Digital Safety.
GEMS Lab Manager

Ms. Meaghan Furlano is a PhD student in Sociology at Western University. As a feminist media and cultural studies scholar, Meaghan’s research interests include gender inequality, feminism, neoliberalism, body culture, social media, antifeminism, AI, menstruation, and qualitative research. She has been published in Culture, Health & Sexuality and has another publication, co-authored with Dr. Kaitlynn Mendes, scheduled to be released in The Sage Handbook of Psychological Perspectives on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in 2025. Meaghan has received a Canada Graduate Scholarship–Master's and currently holds an Ontario Graduate Scholarship. In addition to managing GEMS, Meaghan works as a teaching assistant and research assistant.
People
Affiliated Professors
Affiliated Professors
Dr. Kaitlynn Mendes
Sociology, Western University
Dr. Robert Nonomura
Sociology, Western University
Dr. Manfred Asuman
Sociology, Western University