Dr. Naomi Lightman
Areas of Expertise
migration; care work; gender; inequality; critical social policy; research methods
Research
My ongoing program of research uses both quantitative and qualitative research methods as praxis-oriented strategies for social justice. I examine: 1) the consequential gaps and uneven trajectories of migrant and racialized women working in low-wage occupations in health and education (鈥渃are work鈥�) in national and cross-national comparative perspective, and 2) the intersections of gendered immigration policies, transnational identities and practices, and precarious employment in Canada鈥檚 labour market, in a context of related stratifications tied to race, gender and country of birth.
To date, my research has involved community-based collaborations with four social agencies, including the Calgary Immigrant Women鈥檚 Association, the Calgary Local Immigration Partnership, Social Planning Toronto, and the Wellesley Institute, while providing extensive undergraduate and graduate training opportunities. My research has led to twenty peer-reviewed publications in highly ranked journals, including Gender & Society, European Sociological Review, International Migration Review, and Health and Social Care in the Community, and has been supported by seven tri-council and institutional grants for which I was Principal Investigator (jointly valued at over $215,000).
Currently I am Principal Investigator of an Insight Grant funded by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Counsel of Canada titled 鈥淧recarities and Disparities: Female Immigrant Care Workers Over the Life Course.鈥� This project involves community-based interviews with immigrant women personal support workers in Toronto, examining how the pandemic has impacted their livelihoods, health, and well-being.
Websites
Courses
- SOC 411: Introduction to Quantitative Analysis
- SSH 301: Research Design and Qualitative Methods
- PD 9103: Social Policy
Community & Professional Service
- Communications Officer,
- Member, Steering Committee,
- Member, Advisory Board, (2021-2022)
- Member, Gender Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Subcommittee, Social Wellbeing Advisory Committee, City of Calgary (2021-2022)
- Member, Advisory Board, Immigrants in Essential Work Project, (2021-2022)
- Mentor, Canadian Sociological Association鈥檚 Mentorship Programme for Black, Indigenous and Racialized Graduate Students,
- Chair, John Porter Tradition of Excellence Book Award Nominations Committee, (2020-2021)
- Member, Research Advisory Committee 鈥� Understanding Experiences of Inclusion Project, (2018-2020)
Recent Publications
Kevins, A. and N. Lightman. 2025. International Journal of Social Welfare 34(e12710): 1-19.
Lightman, N. 2024. Canadian Public Policy 50(1): 38-50.
Lightman, N. 2023. Journal of Industrial Relations 66(1): 79-103.
Good Gingrich, L., R. Banerjee & N. Lightman. 2023. Canadian Ethnic Studies 55(2): 1-23.
Lightman, N. and A. Hamid. 2023. Journal of Aging and Social Policy 25(3): 261-286
Thomas, C. and N. Lightman. 2022. Canadian Ethnic Studies 54(1): 29-58.
Lightman, N. 2021. Health and Social Care in the Community 30(4): e1343-e1351.
Lightman, N., R. Banerjee, P. Kelly, E. Tungohan and C. de Leon. 2021. International Migration 60(2): 29-48.
Kevins, A. and N. Lightman. 2021. Social Science Research 104: 102666.
Lightman, N. and A. Kevins. 2021. Gender & Society 35(5): 778-805.
Lightman, N. 2021. Social Politics: International Studies in Gender, State & Society 28(4): 971-998.
Lightman, N. and C. Link. 2021. Journal of Comparative Family Studies 52(2): 206-244.
Lightman, N. 2021. Canadian Studies in Population 48(1): 29-57.
Kevins, A. and N. Lightman. 2020. Comparative European Politics 18: 460-484.