SheWrites Circle: Racialized women in academia come together and create a community where they can thrive.

 

As international and racialized graduate students at Memorial University, Iroda Abdunazarova and Bahareh Razavian found themselves navigating more than just a new country and culture – they were also immersed in an unfamiliar and confusing academic landscape.  

“Entering graduate school,” says Iroda, “I carried with me not only academic goals, but also cultural expectations, gendered assumptions, and a quiet pressure to succeed without being “too visible.” 

Graduate studies also introduced a whole new academic culture, one with a host of unspoken rules, hidden barriers, and invisible norms. These aspects of academic life, “which are rarely taught and are often assumed, shape how students participate, communicate with professors, and interpret feedback,” says Bahareh.

The challenges of adjusting to life in a new country and dealing with endless transitions left the Faculty of Education students understandably exhausted, with little energy to navigate traditional university resources.

 

Coming Together in Community

Seeking support, understanding, and belonging, the students joined the Racialized Graduate Student Collection (RGSC). Centered on the experiences of racialized graduate students within the Faculty of Education, the collective is a vibrant and inclusive community where students can come together to share experiences, access resources, and support one another.

It was here that Bahareh and Iroda met and partnered on a new initiative for women in academia.

 

Building a Space for Women

Their collaboration culminated in SheWrites Circle, a writing-support group designed for graduate students who identify as women. Founded on feminist principals, SheWrites is not just about productivity – it is about being in community, showing up as you are, and nurturing joy in your academic journey. The group offers graduate students a consistent space to write, share, rest, and reconnect with their voice.

“Graduate studies have been more than an academic journey for me,” says Iroda. “It has been a process of learning how to claim space, lead with intention, and redefine what leadership looks like as an Asian woman.” Iroda’s experiences in the Faculty of Education reinforced for her “that education is not only about knowledge production, but also about creating spaces where people feel supported, heard, and empowered to contribute meaningfully.”

For Bahareh, SheWrites was an opportunity to “create the kind of support I had needed when I began my own academic journey, support that acknowledges not only writing, but also the hidden labour of learning a new academic culture.”

This support was built through a deliberate culture of vulnerability. By sharing the personal challenges that often sit outside the formal curriculum, Bahareh and the other members began to see their hurdles in a new light. "Naming our difficulties aloud created trust; no one needed to perform or hide," Bahareh notes. Through this process, the very struggles that once felt isolating became the foundation for their community, "they were no longer signs of inadequacy but openings for connection."

“What I did not expect was what (SheWrites) gave back to me,” says Bahareh, “The writing circle became more than a workshop; it became a community built through honesty, vulnerability, and the quiet realization that we had been walking similar paths alone.”

 

Creating a Bright Future

SheWrites has since grown into a vibrant and thriving community, with strong attendance that reaffirms the need for such spaces. The group maintains an active schedule, offering weekly online sessions with relevant discussion topics, helpful resources, and guest speakers.

While Iroda and Bahareh have both completed their graduate programs ([M.Ed. in Curriculum, Teaching, and Learning Studies and M.Ed. in Educational Leadership Studies, respectively) and moved on from Memorial, they have left the SheWrites community in capable hands.

Faith Kinyua is a current graduate student in the Curriculum, Learning, and Teaching Studies program in the Faculty of Education. She currently facilitates the SheWrites Circle and is an active contributor to the community. In her role she helps create supportive spaces for graduate students where they can share their writing, reflect on their research journeys, and build confidence in academic writing through peer discussion and mentorship.

Since joining the program, Faith has been inspired by witnessing participants’ transformation over time.  “Many attendees start the sessions feeling unsure about their writing or research ideas,” says Faith. “However, through supportive dialogue and shared learning, they gradually gain confidence, clarity, and a stronger academic voice. Additionally, I have had the opportunity to conduct one-on-one sessions with graduate students seeking extra guidance and consultation, which has been incredibly inspiring. Observing their growth and renewed confidence in their work is both encouraging and rewarding.”

So, what does the future hold for the SheWrites Circle program? "The future of the SheWrites program looks very promising,” says Faith. “I envision it continuing to grow into a vibrant community where women scholars feel empowered to share their ideas, support one another, and confidently develop their research and writing skills. Programs like SheWrites are crucial for fostering inclusive academic spaces and amplifying diverse voices in scholarship.”

 

Click here to learn more about the SheWrites Circle and to view the current schedule of offerings.

 

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SheWrites Circle

SheWrites Circle is an online weekly writing space for graduate students who identify as women. SheWrites is an initiative of the Racialized Graduate Student Collective (RGSC) at the Faculty of Education, Memorial University.

Learn more about the SheWrites Circle here.
 

Racialized Graduate Student Collective

The Racialized Graduate Student Collective (RGSC) is a vibrant and inclusive community dedicated to supporting and removing barriers for racialized graduate students within the Faculty of Education at Memorial University. The RGSC program is sponsored by the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador.

Learn more about the Racialized Graduate Student Collective here.

Bahareh Razavian

Bahareh Razavian is a recent graduate of the Master of Education in Educational Leadership program at Memorial University of Newfoundland, where she also worked as a research assistant. Her work focuses on culturally responsive education, refugee parental involvement, and equity in higher education.

Read more about Bahareh’s experiences with the SheWrites program here.
 

Iroda Abdunazarova

Iroda Abdunazarova graduated from the M.Ed. program in Curriculum, Teaching, and Learning Studies at Memorial University. She has worked as a research assistant on several international and Canadian research projects, including REAP, The 4K Transition: 1st Grade Textbooks, as well as studies on student persistence in STEM and student teachers’ internship experiences. Her research interests include feminist and intersectional perspectives in education, immigrant and newcomer educational experiences, and home-school relationships.

Read more about Iroda’s experiences with the SheWrites program here.
 

Faith Nkirote Kinyua

Faith Kinyua is a graduate student in the M.Ed. Curriculum, Teaching, and Learning program at Memorial University of Newfoundland, where she also works as a Graduate Assistant. She holds a Master’s degree in Applied Computing, a postgraduate diploma in Project Management, and a Bachelor’s degree in Education with a focus on Computer Science and Business Studies. With over ten years of experience teaching computer studies and mentoring students, her interests include equitable education, technology integration, and empowering diverse voices in research and writing. Through the SheWrites Circle, she fosters collaborative spaces that build confidence and promote scholarly growth among women researchers.