Ladysmith

Ladysmith is a feminist research consultancy.

Policymakers, program designers, and social movements use data to craft the futures they want to see. A smith is a craftsperson. Throughout history, crafting has typically been associated with men’s work (think blacksmith, tinsmith, locksmith, silversmith). At Ladysmith we believe that women and their life experiences are critical to crafting a more just and caring world.

Guided by the principle “no research about us, without us,” we help international organizations collect, analyze and take action on gender data. 

Research and data collection

Our team members are experts in mixed-methods, feminist research methodologies. We conduct field research and desk reviews, and use digital technologies to collect gender data in new ways.

Strategic advising

We believe that we ‘need everyone on the bus’ to achieve gender equality. For that reason, we work with partners who are new to feminist theories of change, providing thoughtful guidance on how they too can contribute to a more just and caring world.

Research communication

Achieving gender equality doesn’t only require data–it also requires political will. We work with partners to communicate gender data to change hearts and minds. This includes editing existing research, and producing briefs and opinion editorials.

Our approach is technical as much as it is structural. We collect data to identify and change the beliefs, practices and policies that contribute to gender injustice and inequality. Our work seeks to challenge explicit forms of harm, and also more mundane, everyday experiences of discrimination and exclusion— all of which impede women from fully exercising their rights.

Our team weaves together qualitative and quantitative research methods, analytical rigour, familiarity with women’s movements, open source data collection technology, and public communications expertise to produce gender data with an impact.

We’d be happy to work with you in English, Spanish, Hindi, French, or Portuguese.