Gender, race and education research
Explore our work in gender, race and education, one of our areas of research expertise in Education
Social exclusion sometimes works in subtle ways, and it can be hard to identify when children and young people are being deprived of the same opportunities to do well and thrive.
Through our research in Gender, Race and Education, we aim to identify, explore and engage with these subtler forms of discrimination, in order to find new ways of bridging the gap and make an active contribution to a fairer, more equal world.
For example, we're looking into the ways in which dimensions of identity can lead to specific forms of inclusion and exclusion in schools, how pregnancy and parenthood can act as constraints to educational attainment, and whether the gender of teachers matters in relation to learning.
Our work is regularly published in leading academic journals within the field, including Gender and Education, Discourse: Studies in the Cultural Politics of Education, and Compare: A Journal of Comparative and International Education.
Our research focuses on the following key topics
- Gender, race and education
- Gypsy identities
- Intersectionality
- Gender in the Global South
Partnerships
Through the Erasmus programme, we benefit from a number of partnerships with other universities in Europe, and we also have collaborative relationships with organisations in the rest of the world, including in South Africa, India, Pakistan and China.
Locally, we're connected with a number of charities, such as The Girls Network, whose work aims to broaden the aspirations and possibilities for young girls coming from contexts of disadvantage.
Within the University, we also work collaboratively with other schools and faculties – and we're currently carrying out a study, with the Faculty of Engineering, on the participation and engagement of girls with STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) subjects. Our work is also frequently funded by organisations such as the British Academy.
Recent publication highlights include
The regulation of pregnancy in Mozambican schools:
from policy, to practice, to identities (2019); Comparative Education Review, Dr Francesca Salvi
‘Bastard’ daughters in the ivory tower
illegitimacy and the higher education experiences of the daughters of single mothers in the UK, Teaching in Higher Education, 23:5, 563–575, DOI: 10.1080/13562517.2018.1449743, Dr Jessica Gagnon
Gypsy students in the UK
the impact of ‘mobility’ on education; Race Ethnicity and Education, 21:3, 353–369, DOI: 10.1080/13613324.2017.1395323, Martin Myers
Discover our areas of expertise
Gender, race and education is one of our four areas of expertise in Education research – explore the others below.
Early years education
In this area of expertise, we're exploring the experiences and opportunities that play a role in the development of young children.
Higher education
We're researching into issues in higher education, and finding solutions to them. Explore our higher education research.
Youth and digital networking
Our research in this area of expertise is investigating how young people aged 13–19 use social media and digital technologies in their daily lives.
Research groups
Global Education, Children And Outreach (GECO) Research Group
We're researching education and childhood, with a focus on social justice and the right of the child.
Education, Social Justice and Transformation Research Group
We're seeking to open up opportunities to share and explore critical, radical, alternative and liberatory approaches to the research and practice of education across multiple global contexts.
Interested in a PhD in Education?
Browse our postgraduate research degrees – including PhDs and MPhils – at our Education postgraduate research degrees page.