NOTE: This is one in a series of articles on Brock’s 2023-24 Horizon Graduate Student Scholarship recipients. Read other stories in the series on The Brock News.

Genevieve (Evie) Jones was inspired by her daughter to pursue her PhD and driven by her lived experience to reflect and respond to the working world for mothers and caregivers through creative exploration. 

A recipient of Brock University’s Horizon Graduate Student Scholarship and PhD student in Interdisciplinary Humanities, Jones’ research explores the adversities and discrimination experienced by single mothers in the workforce.

After achieving undergraduate and master’s degrees in performance studies and theatre arts, Jones began applying for various arts administration jobs to support her family — jobs she was often overqualified for.

She was shocked to learn many employers considered her single mother status a liability, voicing concerns about her ability to both work and provide appropriate child care.

These lived experiences sparked urgent questions for Jones about the current state of motherhood identities in the Canadian arts industry, and what needed to change.

“At my core, I am a creative learner. My ways of knowing are through making discoveries in studio and in creative processes,” Jones said. “When I merged my creativity with my perspective as a low-income, single mother, I realized I could make this the centre of my research.”

Prior to embarking on her PhD at Brock, Jones worked extensively in the arts as an educator and performer in Italy. She also travelled as a puppeteer and engaged with performance as social justice activism by co-ordinating events and directing performances. Through these efforts, she’s helped to raise $100,000 for women’s shelters.

Jones has also written three full-length plays since becoming a mother in 2015.  One of the plays, Mommy Shark! — Jones’ response to unsolicited parenting advice and facing your fears — is an important creative component of her doctoral project exploring motherhood identity.

Inspired by her daughter and her experience as a mother, Jones’ research framework examines shame resistance and identity from a low-income artist perspective.

“Finding a way to grapple with the injustices mothers face in the workforce, and attempts to reconcile this via live performance, continues to my drive my research and creative practice,” she said.

Jones intends to advocate for strengthened child services and family support in Canada by demonstrating the value of mothers (and parents) through her creative work and social investigations, while simultaneously validating and acknowledging their efforts.

“Raising children is a fundamental component of humanity and I think our efforts should be seen as not only valuable but crucial to human survival and society’s emotional, physical and mental well-being,” Jones said.

She expressed gratitude for the support of the Horizon scholarship as she continues on her path.

“My curiosities have led me to pursue both theatre creation and academia. In my life, every dollar counts. This funding has helped me to support my family and continue my academic journey,” she said.