Madeleine Kenyon | PhD candidate, Applied Philosopy
For Madeleine Kenyon, philosophy was a discovery she couldn’t ignore. “During my first term of university, I took an introductory course in critical thinking and knew that there was something in that work that scratched my brain in the right way.” That initial discovery blossomed into a focus on feminist philosophy and critical questions about harm and accountability.
Drawn to the University of Waterloo to work with Dr. Jennifer Saul, a leading expert in feminist philosophy of language, Madeleine (who was originally from Kitchener) began her graduate studies in 2021. “My research journey brought me home to Kitchener-Waterloo,” she says. Her work now examines the social construction of sexual violence perpetrators and the challenges of teaching sexual consent in ways that are both truthful and effective at reducing harm.
A department where women belong
Beginning graduate studies during the pandemic, Madeleine found a department deeply committed to community and care.
“My department worked hard to develop camaraderie and warmth towards and between incoming graduate students, even when gathering in physical spaces was limited or impossible. When I mentioned to my supervisor that I had been feeling isolated from my feminist philosophy community in light of my required courses and pandemic restrictions, Dr. Saul sent out an email that same day to solicit members in our department for a weekly online feminist philosophy reading group – one which still runs now, almost five years later.”
That support quickly became central to Madeleine’s experience. “Ultimately, I found myself surrounded by an academic community that cared for me. They were making me a better educator, researcher, and human.”
As a woman in a male-dominated field, Madeleine emphasizes how distinct her experience at Waterloo has been.
“For those who want to know what a feminist department looks like, I offer you some of these basic but extremely important features of my PhD studies: when I give talks in my department about my research in feminist philosophy, my colleagues – both fellow students and faculty – show up. This includes philosophers who work in the philosophy of science, of math, of language, of mind, of cognitive science, of artificial intelligence, bioethics, and much more. They also engage with my work by asking questions, reading my papers, bringing me case studies they spot in the world that make them think of my work.”
That supportive culture is reflected throughout the faculty and its members. “In my department, I am surrounded by faculty and students who are kind, clever, generous, and are working hard to critically connect the insights from academic philosophy to the real world, so that we can contribute to something bigger than our own scholarly lives…. this, I would suggest, is what has made my time as a queer woman in philosophy at the University of Waterloo so special.”
Applied philosophy in action
“Pursuing my PhD in Applied Philosophy at UW is easily one of the best decisions I’ve ever made.”
A defining feature of the program has been the applied placement component, which allowed her to earn credit for community-based work with the Sexual Assault Support Centre of Waterloo Region. “This was real, tangible good for my community,” she says, made possible by a program that “pushes PhD students outside of the confines of academia.”
Teaching has also shaped her growth in the program. “The teaching experience is possibly the most fun I’ve had so far during my PhD,” she says of leading her own large undergraduate course with strong faculty mentorship.
Looking ahead, Madeleine is exploring careers in academia, public education, and policy related to sexual violence prevention. For prospective students her advice is clear: “I would encourage them to apply – especially for the Applied program.” For Madeleine, Waterloo is a place where philosophy connects to the world—and where women scholars are supported to thrive.