Dr. Frankie Cachon is an Adjunct Associate Professor in the Department of Sociology, Anthropology, and Criminology — AND Sessional Instructor in Women’s and Gender Studies. I have the pleasure of being her student this semester in “Being Heard: Advocating for Social Change”. Throughout the course of this semester, I have been moved by Dr. Cachon’s passion for social justice and the ways in which she embodies her activism. I can also confidently say that I am not the only student who looks up to her and admires her mandate and dedication towards gender equality and social justice.
I had the honour of interviewing Frankie Cachon for my first profile on HerCampus, and it went a little something like this:
How long have you been a professor at the University of Windsor?
I have taught at the University of Windsor since September of 2004. The majority of my appointments have been in the Department of Sociology, Anthropology, and Criminology, and more recently I have been appointed to teach in Women’s and Gender Studies.
Where did you study and what were some of your interests as a university student?
My undergraduate studies were at the University of Western Ontario, where I majored in Sociology. I also earned my M.A. in Sociology at Western, My disciplinary roots in Sociology meant that I developed a deep understanding of structural inequality and a commitment to public intellectualism–for me Sociology, at its best is critical public discussion of social issues. I became very interested in social movements resisting neoliberal economic restructuring (i.e. the so-called anti-globalization movement/aka: the global social justice movement). This activism in turn shaped much of my undergraduate and graduate studies in the areas of development, social movements, and postcolonial studies. I studied and participated in social movements critical of dominant international ‘development’ initiatives, becoming a long-time advocate of fair trade. I joined anti-poverty coalitions. I sought to reduce tuition and ensure access to higher education. Looking back, I guess my activism and scholarship have always been interrelated.
My doctoral studies were undertaken at the University of Windsor, where I earned a PhD in Sociology with a specialization in Social Justice.
What inspired you to become a professor?
Following black feminist scholar, bell hooks, I teach to transgress. My teaching is positioned within the traditions of intellectual activism: the myriad ways that people place the power of their ideas in service to social justice (Hill Collins, 2013). I’ve always aspired to facilitate critical analysis of prevailing power arrangements, to encourage public engagement about interlocking systems of oppression (i.e. colonialism, racism, poverty) and to contribute to a broad and inspiring array of scholarly and social movements against multiple and inter-locking form of oppression (i.e. sexism, heteronormativity, class exploitation). My goal is to cultivate a transformative learning environment–for the students and for myself. My students teach me and challenge me and keep the struggle for social justice awake in me.
You’re well involved and invested in many activist movements on and off campus, can you tell us more about what drives your activism and some of the campaigns that you are currently working on?
As a feminist I reject the separation between scholarship and activism–I see the university and society, thinking and doing as inherently interwoven.I am currently working with the provincial grassroots organizing around $15 & Fairness, which seeks to address poverty by creating fairness at work (i.e. equal pay for equal work, access to paid sick days, a living wage). I understand poverty as a public policy decision. Alleviating poverty is not rocket science–we have a well-developed understanding of the causes of poverty, what we lack is the political will to implement cohesive and meaningful anti-poverty policies (i.e. universal childcare, affordable housing, universal access to post-secondary education).
A few weeks ago we noticed that you hosted a Fair Employment Booth at the CAW with WUFA, can you tell us more about the challenges of being a contract faculty member at our university and the demands of this campaign?
I am a vocal advocate for contract faculty–casualization of labour is a far-reaching labour trend, where more and more employers are relying on part-time/contract or insecure workers vs. full-time or secure workers. Although most people don’t think of professors as precarious workers–the reality is that a growing number of professors are working on short-term (i.e. semester to semester contracts) or limited two or three-year appointments. This essentially means that contract professors don’t have basic employment security. I personally don’t know what I am teaching from semester to semester or even if I have a job! I literally had better job security working at Burger King in high school than I do as a professor with a Phd., with an active research portfolio, years of teaching experience etc. It’s very unfair and not in keeping with the mission statements of Canada’s post-secondary education institutions. Really, the idea of sessional professors as “part-time” employees is really a misnomer, a misclassification of our work. I am a long-serving employee of the University of Windsor. I have worked here for over a decade, I have taught over 34 courses, and well over a thousand students–but I am still considered “sessional”. Plus, many if not most sessional professors are engaged in research and are active scholars–these contributions are not enumerated nor are they recognized or supported. Essentially contract faculty and our allies are struggling for fairness, we are active and contributing members of our academic communities and we ought to be recognized and more fully integrated within the academy.
As a social justice educator and an activist, do you have any words of advice for students who are passionate about social justice issues and activism?
Challenging and unlearning oppression is difficult and often painful, depressing and even isolating. My students and my advocacy/activism sustain my intellectual activism for social change. For me, anti-oppression teaching and learning is about cultivating a loving and caring space of mutual respect from which to transgress the status quo. That’s the hope, we don’t always arrive there, but when we do it is a space rich in connection and engagement, a place where we confront suffering and inequity in order to advance a shared commitment to fostering justice and advancing a more equitable and inclusive society. It’s an absolute gift and a privilege and despite my insecurity as a contract professor I cannot imagine loving my work more. It is enriching and rewarding.
In your opinion, why is it important for students to become engaged and knowledgeable about social justice?
Social justice is not just acting for other, for example working for the rights of oppressed/vulnerable/marginalized peoples, social justice is about a larger vision for humanity, our collective liberation from oppression. Our shared humanity–our freedom, our dignity, and our collective futures are inextricably bound together.
Do you have any final words you’d like to leave for our readers?
Donald Trump’s presidential election in the U.S. is indicative of reactionary and regressive forces (i.e. anti-reproductive health, anti-immigrant, anti-environment, anti-consent culture, anti-Muslim etc.) Many are expressing fear and despair given the inherent racism, sexism/misogyny, ableism, and xenophobia in Trumps rise to power. However, this is also a time of great opportunity for us to build a broad movement to address the unfinished promises of social justice in the contemporary period. His win makes visible the contradictions between the American Dream and its actualization. Themes that are echoed throughout the world as vulnerable and marginalized people struggle to achieve dignity, inclusion, and recognition. Our view of history must be wide, our analysis deep and our commitment to challenge/undo oppression unrelenting. We can’t be silent on hate, oppression and human suffering, we must continue the tradition of social justice movements–a path of beautiful resistance.