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Posting Information:

DEADLINE: September 1st, 2026, 11:59 PM

Academic department: School of Social, Political, and Historical Research

Academic term: Fall 2026 - to Spring 2027

Mode of delivery: Hybrid

Appointment Load Available

0.25 appointment = 0

0.50 appointment = 1

0.75 appointment = 0

Full 1.0 appointment = 0

Total load available = 0.5

QUALIFICATIONS

Educational Requirements

Enrolled in the Philosophy MA program, or enrolled in an MA program within the School of Social, Political, and Historical Research with an undergraduate background in philosophy, bioethics, or feminist theory.

Experiential Qualifications see above

Course Specific Requirements

Project overview

“Freebirthing” refers to the practice of giving birth outside of the medical system, “free” of intervention from regulated health professionals (i.e. physicians, nurses or licensed midwives) (Johnston and MacDougall 2026). Ontario’s Obstetrics and Perinatal Death Review Committee has raised particular concern about a growing number of freebirths in Ontario, noting a series of recent stillbirths (and one maternal death) (Payne 2025; BORN Ontario and Obstetrics and Perinatal Death Review Committee 2026).

Pregnant people choosing freebirth often engage with unregulated birth workers (e.g., “birthkeepers,” “birth companions,” “traditional birth attendants,” “sovereign birth advocates” ) who provide guidance and advice, and who also may attend the birth itself. When attending freebirths, unregulated birth workers may provide a range of services, from setting up a birthing pool, preparing food,



and offering words of support as well as practices that would constitute the illegal practice of midwifery in Ontario, including monitoring the progress of labour and assisting in vaginal deliveries (College of Midwives of Ontario, n.d.).

This project is an exploratory study that will investigate the experiences of unregulated birth workers supporting freebirth in Ontario. Using both documentary research and interviews with unregulated birth workers, it will examine how unregulated birth workers navigate their commitments to enabling people to exercise their reproductive autonomy—to choose freebirth—amidst concerns about the safety of the practice, and in light of a legal and regulatory workplace that constrains what kind of care they can (legally) provide.

Objectives. The project has three intersecting objectives:

RO1. Mapping key ethical, legal, and policy concerns related to freebirthing in Ontario

RO2. Outlining challenges experienced by birth workers supporting freebirth, particularly the limits of when they can and cannot safely (and/or legally) provide care

RO3. Identifying key issues for future law and policy reform related to freebirth The MA Research Assistant will be supervised primarily by Dr. Katy Fulfer (Philosophy)

Key tasks

· Co-conducting the literature review (scholarly and grey literatures)

· Co-write key knowledge translation outputs (e.g., academic commentary, policy brief, report to research participants)

· Meet with research team

Compensation

- $49.14 / hour, plus 4% vacation pay (GRA – Masters)

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Facing technical issues? Email wservice@uwaterloo with subject "CUPE 5524 Support".

All applicants must be eligible to work in Canada, specifically at the University of Waterloo,



before applying for an academic work assignment. All successful applicants must perform their work in Ontario and must be able to attend on-campus in-person meetings as required.

Graduate Teaching Assistant work assignments are unionized with CUPE 5524.01, and their terms and conditions of work are covered by the collective agreement between the University and CUPE 5524 (email contact: [email protected]).

The use of AI to perform job responsibilities must be directed by or approved beforehand in writing by the supervisor or course instructor.

Equity Statement The University of Waterloo acknowledges that much of our work takes place on the traditional territory of the Neutral, Anishinaabeg, and Haudenosaunee peoples. Our main campus is situated on the Haldimand Tract, the land granted to the Six Nations that includes six miles on each side of the Grand River. Our active work toward reconciliation takes place across our campuses through research, learning, teaching, and community building, and is coordinated within the Office of Indigenous Relations.

The University values the diverse and intersectional identities of its students, faculty, and staff. The University regards equity and diversity as an integral part of academic excellence and is committed to accessibility for all employees. The University of Waterloo seeks applicants who embrace our values of equity, anti-racism and inclusion.

As such, we encourage applications from candidates who have been historically disadvantaged and marginalized, including applicants who identify as First Nations, Métis and/or Inuk (Inuit), Black, racialized, a person with a disability, women and/or 2SLGBTQ+.

Positions are open to qualified candidates who are legally entitled to work in Canada.

The University of Waterloo is committed to accessibility for persons with disabilities. If you have any application, interview, or workplace accommodation requests, please contact Human Resources at [email protected] or (phone hidden), ext. 45935.

📌 Graduate Research Assistant - Freebirth and the Limits of Reproductive Autonomy (Ontario)
🏢 University of Waterloo
📍 Ontario