Francine Descarries, a pioneering Canadian sociologist and a leading figure in feminist studies in Quebec, passed away suddenly on March 12, 2026, in Montreal, at the age of 84. Her death was announced on March 13, 2026. Descarries dedicated her life to advancing the understanding of gender relations and championing women's rights through her extensive academic work and activism, leaving an indelible mark on Canadian sociology and feminist thought.

Born in Montreal in 1942, Francine Descarries faced early life challenges that shaped her resilient spirit. At the age of 16, following the death of her father, Auguste Descarries, she left school to work as a legal secretary and then a travel agent, ensuring her brother could pursue his medical training. This early experience with societal expectations and gendered roles undoubtedly fueled her later academic pursuits. Descarries returned to her education at the age of 27, shortly after the birth of her second child, attending Cégep Édouard-Montpetit before embarking on her higher education journey at the Université de Montréal, where she earned undergraduate, master's, and doctoral degrees in sociology. Her scholarly interest in women's issues and feminism quickly became the cornerstone of her academic career.

A pivotal moment in her career came in 1978 when she, along with two other lecturers, designed the first course on the condition of women at the Université de Montréal, a groundbreaking initiative for a French-speaking Quebec university. In 1980, she published her influential book, "L'École rose… et les cols roses" (The pink school... and the pink collar), based on her master's research. This work provided an early feminist analysis of the sexual division of labor and social reproduction in Quebec's workplaces and schools, significantly contributing to the rise of gender relations analysis in the province. She joined the faculty at the Université du Québec à Montréal (UQAM) in 1985, teaching there from 1986 to 2022, and held the title of 'professeure émérite' (emeritus professor) at the institution. In 1990, she became a founding member of the Institute of Feminist Research and Studies (IREF) at UQAM, further institutionalizing feminist scholarship within the academic landscape.

Descarries was a specialist in the history of the women's movement, contemporary feminist discourses, maternity-family-work relations, social representations of feminine and masculine, and the role of women in various professional sectors. Her research was notably influenced by French materialist feminism. In 1988, she co-authored "Le mouvement des femmes et ses courants de pensée: essai de typologie" with Shirley Roy, a seminal work that was translated into English and Portuguese and remains a key reference for feminist teaching and research.

Her commitment to fostering feminist research extended beyond UQAM. In 2011, she co-founded the Réseau québécois en études féministes (RéQEF), a network aimed at strengthening research capacities in feminist and gender studies across Quebec, and served as its scientific director. She also served as the scientific committee director for the 7th International Congress of Feminist Research in Francophonie, held in Montreal in 2015, demonstrating her international influence. Descarries created an interactive web tool called 'Ligne du temps de l'histoire des femmes au Québec' (Timeline of the History of Women in Quebec), making historical information accessible to a wider public. She directed and co-authored several influential studies for Réalisatrices Équitables, including 'La Place des réalisatrices dans le financement public du cinéma et de la télévision au Québec (2002-2007)' (2008), which caused a 'tidal wave' in the film industry and led to significant collective reflection, as well as 'Encore Pionnières, parcours des réalisatrices québécoises en long métrage de fiction' (2011), and 'L'avant et l'arrière de l'écran'.

Throughout her distinguished career, Francine Descarries received numerous accolades for her profound contributions. She was awarded the Prix femmes de mérite in 2002, the Prix d'excellence en recherche et création, volet Carrière, from the Université du Québec in 2011, the Prix Ursula Franklin for Gender Studies from the Royal Society of Canada in 2012, and the prestigious Prix Marie-Andrée-Bertrand in 2019, recognizing her remarkable social innovations. In 2023, a collective work titled 'Une bâtisseuse remarquable. Francine Descarries et le féminisme québécois' (A Remarkable Builder. Francine Descarries and Quebec Feminism) was published in her honor, celebrating her enduring impact.

Francine Descarries leaves behind an indelible mark on Canadian sociology and feminist thought. She considered her greatest pride to be having trained many doctoral and master's students, and she created a graduate scholarship with her husband to further support future generations. Tributes poured in, with UQAM publishing a retrospective on March 17, 2026, highlighting her inspiring role as a feminist and sociologist, including statements from Vice-Rector Guylaine Landry and the Faculty of Human Sciences. Réalisatrices Équitables and RéQEF also paid heartfelt tributes, recognizing her as an inspiration, mentor, and role model. Her tireless advocacy, groundbreaking research, and dedication to education have inspired generations of scholars and activists, profoundly transforming the discourse surrounding gender and equality in Quebec and beyond. Her legacy as a fierce intellectual and a compassionate advocate will continue to resonate.