Maria Cheung

Education

  • Doctor of Philosophy (Social Work) - Wilfrid Laurier University, 1999
  • Master of Social Science (Social Work) - University of Hong Kong, 1985
  • Bachelors of Social Science (Social Work) - University of Hong Kong, 1978

Research

Dr. Cheung’s research focuses on human rights in China and human rights education in social work. She specializes in the following areas:

  • Global human rights issue and its local impacts
  • Lived experiences of spiritual minorities in Canadian immigrant communities
  • Genocides that are understudied
  • Women and social development

Over the last decade, she has done several empirical studies on the spiritual minority group of Falun Gong including:

  • The marginalization and discrimination the Falun Gong meditators in diaspora Chinese communities in Canada (2012)
  • A cross-national study on the psychological impact of torture experienced by Falun Gong practitioners (2018)
  • A digital project on creating empathy on human rights atrocities (2019)
  • An ongoing international comparative study of Hong Kong and Canadian social work curriculum on global human rights issues.

In the 2000s, Dr. Cheung was co-principal investigator of a multi-million CIDA Tier One project (2004-2010). The China Project on Building Human Capacity – Social Work with Rural Women examined gender equality and protection of human rights in China.

She is also Research Affiliate of the Centre for Human Rights Research at the University of Manitoba.

Publications

Selected publications:

Cheung, M. (2022). “Genocide prevention: A forgotten obligation in social work?” in Shaikh, S.S., LeFrançois, B.A., & Macias, T. (Eds.). Social Work Theory and Praxis (pp. 96-111). Fernwood Publishing.  https://fernwoodpublishing.ca/book/critical-social-work-praxis

Cheung, M. (2019). Canada must end complicity in China’s brutal organ trafficking regime” The Conversation, June 12, 2019. https://theconversation.com/canada-must-end-complicity-in-chinas-brutal-organ-trafficking-regime-118331

Cheung, M., Trey, T., Matas, D., & An, R. (2018) "Cold Genocide: Falun Gong in China," Genocide Studies and Prevention: An International Journal 12 (1), 38-62. Available at: http://scholarcommons.usf.edu/gsp/vol12/iss1/6

Cheung, M. (2016). The intersection between mindfulness and human rights: The case of Falun Gong and its implications for social work. Journal of Religion and Spirituality in Social Work: Social Thought, 35(1-2), 57-75.

Cheung, M., & Heinonen, T. (2015). A Positive Peace Initiative with Rural Women in China. M.P. Flaherty, T., Matyok, J. Senehi, S. Byrne, & H. Tuso, H. (Eds). Gender and Peacebuilding: All Hands Required. Lexington Books

Cheung, M., Luo, H. & Heinonen, T. (2014). Meeting point of indigenization: Analysis of the results of the project of cooperation in social work training between China and Canada from the perspective of Chinese traditional culture and social work theory. In K. T. Tsang, M. C. Yan, J. G. Guo, and R. Sin (eds). Multiple snapshots of the development of Social Work in China: Perspectives of Chinese Canadian Scholars, (pp. 156-172). Social Sciences Academic Press (China)

Cheung, M. (2012). “Invisible minorities” of the Falun Gong community: Challenge to social inclusion and integration in Canada. In M. Baffoe with M. Cheung, L. Asimeng-Boahene, & B. Ogbuagu, Strangers in New Homelands: The social deconstruction and reconstruction of “home” among immigrants in the diaspora. UK: Cambridge Publishing Press.

Matas, D. & Cheung, M. (2012). Concepts and Precepts: Canadian Tribunals, Human Rights and Falun Gong. Canadian Journal of Human Rights, 1(1), 62-91.

Cheung, M. & Heinonen (2012). Grassroots change for rural women in China: Building human capacity. In T. Heinonen & J. Drolet (Eds). International social development: Social work experiences and perspectives (pp. 213-231). Halifax & Winnipeg: Fernwood.

Cheung, M., Liu, M., & Heinonen, T. (2010). Women and patriarchy in rural China. In P. C. Sarkar (Ed), Women in Patriachal Society (pp. 233-253). New Delhi: Serials Publications.

Lee, T.Y., Kwong, W.M., Cheung, C.K., Ungar, M. & Cheung, M. (2009). Children’s resilience-related beliefs as a predictor of positive child development in the face of adversities: Implications for interventions to enhance children’s quality of Life. Social Indicators Research, 95(3),437-453. 

Cheung, M., Heinonen, T., Liu, M. (2008). Gender Analysis of the Marginalization of Rural Women over the Life Span after the Initiation of Economic Reforms in China Journal of Social Development Issues, 30(2), 59-77.

Cheung, M. (2008). Resilience of Older Immigrant Couples: Long-term marital satisfaction as a protective factor. Journal of Couples and Relationship Therapy, 7(1), 19-38.

Heinonen, T. & Cheung, M. (2008). Views from the village: Photonovella with women in rural China. International Journal of Qualitative Methods,6(4), 35-42.

Cheung, M. & Li, H. T. (2008).  Marital relationships of Chinese couples: Marital satisfaction of long-term married couples. In S. Neymeth, M. Liu, X. B. Chen (Eds).  Social Work and Chinese Women. Beijing: Chinese Women’s University Press.

Cheung, M., Lesperance, D. (2006). Comparing narrative therapy and psycho-educational approach in intervention with men who batter. China Social Work Research, 4, 237-250.

Cheung, M. (2005). A cross-cultural comparison of gender factors contributing to long-term marital satisfaction: A narrative analysis. Journal of Couples and Relationship Therapy, 4(1), 51-78. 

Presentations

Selected presentations:

Cheung, M. (2021). The impact of forced organ harvesting on our society. The World Summit on Combating and Preventing Forced Organ Harvesting Conference, September 2021. https://worldsummitcpfoh.info/events/the-impact-of-forced-organ-harvesting-on-our-society/

Cheung, M., Allison, K., Trey, T., & An, R. (2019). Twenty years of Cold Genocide against Falun Gong – Resistance and lessons learned. International Association of Genocide Scholars Bi-annual Conference, July 14-19, 2019. Phnom Penh, Cambodia.

Cheung, M., (2019). Community Resilience of victims of torture and CIDT (Cruel, Inhumane, Degrading Treatment). Canadian Association of Schools of Social Work conference. June 3-6, Vancouver, Canada.

Cheung, M. (2018). State-sanctioned violence: Forced Organ Harvesting in China. Poster Presentation at Joint Conference of IASSW, IFSW and ICSW (SWSD). July 4-7, 2018. Dublin, Ireland.

Cheung, M., Russo, J., & Cheng, C. (2018). Psychological Impact of Torture and Cruel, Inhumane, Degrading Treatment: A case of the Falun Gong in China. Paper presentation at the 16th International Symposium of the World Society of Victimology. June 10-14, 2018. City University, Hong Kong.

Cheung, M., He, M. (2017). Forced organ harvesting in China: Implication to public health. Paper presentation at the American Public Health Association Annual Conference. November 5-8, 2017, Atlanta, USA.

Cheung, M. (2017). From global to local: Does social work has a role in genocide prevention? Paper presentation at the Annual CASWE conference, Congress of the Humanities and Social Sciences. May 29-June 1, 2017, Toronto, Ryerson University.

Cheung, M. (2017). Forced migration and lived experiences of the Falun Gong refugee community in Canada. Poster presentation at the 19th National Metropolis Conference, March 16-18, 2017, Montreal, Canada.

Cheung, M. (2016). Revisiting social work and human rights: Ethical responsibility in the context of forced organ harvesting. Paper Presentation at the Joint World Conference on Social Work, Education and Social Development, COEX, June 27-30, 2016, Seoul, South Korea.

Cheung, M. & Matas, D. (2016). Realizing freedom of movement of Falun Gong practitioners through refugee protection and effective resettlement. Canadian Association for Refugee and Forced Migration Studies (CARFMS). May 11-14, Winnipeg, Canada.

Cheung, M. (2016). Reflections from the peaceful resistance of the Falun Gong community on decolonization strategies. Paper presented at the National Indigenous Social Work Conference, October 23-25, 2016, Winnipeg, Canada.

Chau, S., Cheung, M., Richmond, T. & Choo, Q. (2016). Economic Integration of New Canadians from Mainland China. Workshop presentation at the 18th National Metropolis Conference, March 3-5, 2016, Toronto, Canada.

Trey, M. & Cheung, M (2016). The Mindfulness of Falun Gong: Applications to Counselling & Psychotherapy. Paper presentation at the 2016 American Counselling Association Annual Conference, March 31-April 3, 2016, Montreal, Canada.

Chau, S., Cheung, M., Lai, D. & Hughes, J. (2016). A Canadian Tri-city report on Chinese immigrants and economic integration. Paper Presentation at the Joint World Conference on Social Work, Education and Social Development, COEX, June 27-30, 2016, Seoul, South Korea.

Cheung, M. (2015). Mindfulness and diversity: An experiential learning. Paper Presentation at the Strangers in New Homelands Conference, University of Manitoba, November 5-6, 2015.

Chau, S., Cheung, M., Lai, D., & Hughes, J. (2015). Understanding new Chinese immigrants’ social capital: A tri-city comparison. Paper presentation at the Annual CASWE conference, Congress of the Humanities and Social Sciences. June 1-4, 2015. University of Ottawa.