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Francesca Scala, PhD

  • Professor, Political Science
  • Associate Dean, Graduate Studies, Faculty of Arts & Science

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Biography

Dr. Francesca Scala’s research focuses on gender and public policy, with an emphasis on gender and public governance, reproductive politics, work-care reconciliation policy, and assisted reproduction. Her research also explores issues related to policy deliberations in the life sciences and the role of experts and citizens in policy-making.  She has authored and co-authored articles published in several journals and edited volumes, including the Canadian Journal of Political Science, Policy Sciences, Politics & GenderPolicy and Society, and Gender, Work and Organization. Her book, Delivering Policy: The Contested Politics of Assisted Reproductive Technologies in Canada (UBC Press) was published in February 2019. In 2018, she received the Faculty of Arts and Science Dean's Award for Excellence in Academic Service. She is currently serving as Associate Dean of Graduate Studies at the Faculty of Arts and Science. 

Current Research Projects
Dr. Scala is currently working on a SSHRC-funded study on the gendered dimensions of work-care reconciliation programs in Canada and a research project on menstrual equity activism, politics and policy. She is also collaborating with Dr. Stephanie Paterson on a SSHRC-funded research project investigating Gender-Based Analysis in Canada. 

Education
PhD (Carleton University)

Research and Supervision Fields

Dr. Scala is currently accepting new graduate students working on gender and public policy; reproductive politics and policy; assisted reproduction; work-care reconciliation policy; values and knowledge in policy deliberations.

Teaching activities

POLI 202              Introduction to Political Science
POLI 330              Principles of Public Administration
POLI 361              Government Society and Public Purpose
POLI 380              Comparative Public Bureaucracy and Administration
POLI 480              Comparative Public Policy
POLI 489              Citizen Engagement and Public Policy 
POLI 496              Honours Seminar
POLI 498              Gender and Public Policy
POLI 600              Public Policy and Governmental Processes in Canada
POLI 604              Comparative Public Policy
POLI 622              Comparative Public Administration
POLI 636/805       Theories of Public Policy and Public Administration
POLI 652/815D     Science, Technology and Power

Research activities

Recent works

February 2019

Recent publications

Delivering Policy: The Contested Politics of Assisted Reproductive Technologies in Canada. University of British Columbia Press. February 2019. **Shortlisted for the 2020 Donald Smiley Prize for the best book published in English or French in a field relating to the study of government and politics in Canada.

"Capitalising on Twitter for Policy Learning during Crises: The Case of the Covid-19 Pandemic" (with Lihi Lahat and Omer Keynan). International Journal of Public Administration. Forthcoming.

"Menstrual Activism, Insider-Outsider Alliances and Agenda-Setting: An Analysis of the Campaign to End the ‘Tampon Tax’ in Canada". Journal of Women, Politics & Policy, 44: 2, 228-244, 2023. DOI: 10.1080/1554477X.2022.2081913

"Problematising Older Motherhood in Canada: Ageism, Ableism and the Risky Maternal Subject" (with Michael Orsini). Health, Risk & Society, 24:3-4, 2022; 149-166. DOI: 10.1080/13698575.2022.2057453

"Understanding Gender Expertise in the Post-Truth Era: Media Representations of Gender-Based Analysis Plus in Canada" (with Stephanie Paterson). International Review of Public Policy[Online], 3.3 | 2021.

“The Gender Dynamics of Interest Group Politics: The Case of the Canadian Menstruators and the Campaign to Eliminate the ‘Tampon Tax’”. In M. Tremblay and J. Everitt (eds.), The Palgrave Handbook of Gender, Sexuality and Canadian Politics. 2020.

"Feminist Government or Governance Feminism? Exploring Feminist Policy Analysis in the Trudeau Era" (with Stephanie Paterson). In Fiona Macdonald and Alexandra Dobrowolsky's (eds) Turbulent Times, Transformational Opportunities? Gender and Politics Today and Tomorrow. University of Toronto Press, Spring 2020.

"The Gender Logic and Effects of Instrument Mixes: Implementing Eldercare Policy in Canada" (with Stephanie Paterson and Laurence Richard-Nobert). Policy and Society, 38 (4), 2019, pp. 554-571. 

"Morality Policy: Abortion and Gay Rights" (with Gary Mucciaroni). In Paul Quirk’s (ed), The United States and Canada: How Two Democracies Differ, and Why It Matters. Oxford University Press, 2019.

"Stories from the Frontline: Making Sense of Gender Mainstreaming in Canada" (with Stephanie Paterson). Politics & Gender, 2018, 14 (2), pp. 208-234.  

"Bureaucratic Role Perceptions and Gender Mainstreaming in Canada" (with Stephanie Paterson). Gender, Work & Organization. 24 (6), November 2017, pp. 579-593.

“Gendering Public Policy or Rationalizing Gender? Strategic Interventions and GBA Practice in Canada” (with Stephanie Paterson) Canadian Journal of Political Science, 50 (2), June 2017, pp. 427-442. 

"Gender Mainstreaming and the Discursive Politics of Public Service Values" (with Stephanie Paterson).  Administrative Theory & Praxis, 39 (1), 2016, pp:1-18. 

"Making Gender Visible: Exploring Feminist Perspectives Through the Case of Anti-Smoking Policy (with Stephanie Paterson). In Frank Fischer, Doug Torgerson, Michael Orsini, and  Anna Durnova's (eds).  Handbook of Critical Policy Studies. Cheltenham: Edward Elgar. 2015.http://www.e-elgar.com/shop/handbook-of-critical-policy-studies

Fertile Ground: Exploring Reproduction in Canada. Co-editor with Stephanie Paterson and Marlene K. Sokolon. McGill-Queen's University Press, 2014.

"IVF Policy and the Stratification of Reproduction in Canada". In Fertile Ground: Exploring Reproduction in Canada (Co-editor with Stephanie Paterson and Marlene K. Sokolon). McGill-Queen's University Press, 2014.

"The Framing of Scientific Governance in Canada: Policy Change and the Royal Commission of New Reproductive Technologies". In Gregory J. Inwood and Carolyn M. Johns' Commissions of Inquiry and Policy Change: A Comparative Analysis. University of Toronto Press, 2014.

Public outreach publications

"Could a Roe v. Wade-style reversal of abortion rights happen in Canada?" (with James Kelly and Stephanie Paterson). The Conversation, July 3, 2022. 

https://theconversation.com/could-a-roe-v-wade-style-reversal-of-abortion-rights-happen-in-canada-185988


"Should we publicly fund IVF in Canada? Policy Options, April 30, 2019. https://policyoptions.irpp.org/magazines/april-2019/publicly-fund-ivf-canada/


"A feminist take on the Canadian federal election" (with Yasmin Jiwani and Stephanie Paterson). The Conversation, October 14, 2019.  

https://theconversation.com/a-feminist-take-on-the-canadian-federal-election-124682


"Opinion: Gender-conscious federal budget falls short on helping women" (with Stephanie Paterson). The Gazette, March 28, 2017.  https://montrealgazette.com/opinion/opinion-gender-conscious-federal-budget-falls-short-on-helping-women


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