Inequalities and diversities

We investigate the role of structural inequalities, social identities, discrimination and exclusion in contemporary societies. Our work covers a range of aspects of division and diversity, including social class and income inequalities, gender, sex and sexualities, ‘race’/ethnicity, religion and migration, and identity and exclusion in communities and institutions. Several members of the group are involved in the interdisciplinary Sex, Gender and Sexualities research centre.

Research areas

Several members of the group are involved in the interdisciplinary Sex, Gender and Sexualities research centre.

Research Group Leadership

Lead: Peter Hemming
Deputy Lead: Gilang Wicaksono

Research Themes

Class, Wealth and Poverty
Sex, Gender and Sexuality
‘Race’/Ethnicity, Religion and Migration
Identity and Exclusion in Communities and Institutions

Research Theme

Globalisation and flows of mass migration have led to ethnically and religiously diverse populations in countries across the globe. This research theme collectively delves into themes of ‘race’, ethnicity, religion and migration, and the intersections between them. This encompasses a focus on identities and exclusion, transnational contexts and processes, the complexity of indigenous and migrant communities, the role of ‘race’/ethnicity and religion/spirituality in families and collectives, understanding whiteness, subcultural practices, politics and citizenship, the influence of colonialism, transformations over time, and the multifaceted impacts of the above processes on society.

Academic and Research Staff Members

Postgraduate Researcher Members

Thi Bogossian
Moslem Boushehrian
Nivedita Chatterjee
Silfana Nasri
Emily Oputa
Filipus Gilang Wicaksono
Harry Godfrey

Research Projects

Linguistic minority families and technology in bilingualism (Das – with Dippold, 2023-2025, British Academy).
Becoming Citizens of ‘Post-secular’ Britain: Religion in Primary School Life (Hemming & colleagues, 2023-2025, Leverhulme Trust).
The Hate Crime Experiences of Those from Alternative Subcultures: Results from a Survey Conducted by the Sophie Lancaster Foundation (Garland & Boushehrian, 2023, Sophie Lancaster Foundation).
Exploring 'Race' and Ethnicity with Students on Social Science Degree Programmes in UK Universities (2021-2024, Hemming, Teegen & colleagues, Santander Universities).
The intersections of gender, race and popular culture in the construction of Brexit (Weidhase, 2020 - 2023, University of Surrey).
Scrolling Down One's Life: The Importance of Information and Communication Technologies for the (forced) Migrants in Greece (Boursinou, 2020, Doctoral Thesis).
South Asian mothers, health communication, perinatal wellbeing (Das, 2018; 2019; 2020; British Academy, Wellcome Trust).
The role race can play in the case of the families of incarcerated young people (Adams & McCarthy, 2016-2018- ESRC).
Diversity of religion and belief in primary schools: engagement and impact project (Hemming, 2016, Cardiff University).
Non-religion in rural primary schools (Hemming, 2014, Royal Geographical Society with IBG).
Activities, impact and membership of the English Defence League (Garland, 2009-2013, University of Leicester).
Islam in Greece was the first study of its kind to compare indigenous and migrant Muslim communities, exploring the important intersections of ethnicity, religion and citizenship (Evergeti, 2009-2011, AHRC).
Youth On Religion: young people and religious identities in multi-faith localities (Hemming & colleagues, 2009-2011, AHRC-ESRC).
The experiences and support networks of lone white mothers of mixed-parentage children (Harman 2002-2007, ESRC funded PhD with NSPCC).
Racism, anti-racism and disorder in football (Garland, 1994-2002, European Commission; University of Leicester; Charlton Athletic FC).

Research Theme

This theme forms a key strength of the Department, with colleagues researching a range of issues in the study of sex, gender and sexualities and their intersections. This encompasses, but is not limited to: the past, present and future of sex and sexuality; intersex studies; queer histories and communities; trans cultural participation and social activism; sexual behaviours and inequalities; gender and labour inequalities; life transitions and sexualities; queer digital media use; media representations; images of femininity; relationships and sex education; and gender, families and care.

Several members of the group are involved in the interdisciplinary Sex, Gender and Sexualities research centre, which brings together colleagues from across the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences. Please contactDavid Griffiths for more information about this research theme.

Academic and Research Staff Members

Postgraduate Researcher Members

Thi Bogossian
Nivedita Chatterjee
Jo Murphy
Filipus Gilang Wicaksono

Research Projects

Porn literacy: A critical relationships and sex education programme to tackling harmful sexual behaviours in schools (Setty, 2024-2026, ESRC IAA).
Food in women’s prisons: developing a food educational programme (Harman, Garland, Adams & McCarthy, 2024, ESRC IAA).
Influencer Culture: Activities and Resources for Positive Change (Muir & Setty 2024, ESRC IAA).
Postfeminist dandyism in popular music (Weidhase, 2024, University of Surrey).
Navigating Masculinity among Heterosexual Men Who Dance with Men (MDM) (Hall, 2023-2025, BA/Leverhulme Small Grant).
Images of Femininity within the Disney Princess Phenomenon (Muir, 2023, University of Surrey).
Learning Gender: Building Gender Literacy in Education Settings (Muir, 2023, University of Surrey).
Queer and trans affirmative histories of LGBTQI+ aversion therapy (Hubbard, 2022-2024, Society for the Social History of Medicine/Wellcome Trust).
Dream Big Princess? Consumer Meaning Making in the Disney Princess Phenomenon (Muir, 2022-2024, BA/Leverhulme Small Grant).
Re-imagining the relationship between schools and police in responding to harmful sexual behaviour in schools (Setty, 2022-2024, ESRC).
Influencer Culture in the Digital Age (Muir & Setty, 2022-2023, UKRI eNurture Network).
Transgender reporting in the British press: editorial standards and discursive harms in the post-Leveson era (Akrivos, 2022, University of Surrey).
Gender Based Violence and Harassment in Supply Chains, focusing on Floriculture (Timms, 2022, FCDO and various).
Safer Schools: Evaluating initiatives designed to tackle harmful sexual behaviour in schools (Setty, 2021-2025, KPMG and Lucy Faithfull Foundation).
Educating teenage boys about sexual consent (Setty, 2021-2023, University of Surrey).
‘Doing Porridge: Understanding Women's Experiences of Food in Prison’ (Adams, Harman, Garland & McCarthy, 2021, ESRC).
Food, families and visiting rooms in a women's prison (Adams, Harman & Garland, 2021 British Academy).
Feminist Histories of Psychology and the experiences of feminist psychologists (Hubbard, 2020-2022, Open University and British Psychology Society).
Impacts of lockdown on young people’s uses of digital media in relationships (Setty, 2020-2022, Leverhulme Trust).
Futuresex (Griffiths & Hubbard 2019-2021, Wellcome Trust and British Sociological Association).
Improving school cultures through relationships and sex education (Setty, 2019-2021, ESRC IAA).
The Sexual Politics of Ballroom Dancing (Harman, 2019, University of Surrey).
CILIA-LGBTQI+, a cross-cultural investigation of the impact of inequalities experienced by LGBTQI+ people during youth, mid-life and transitions into retirement (King, 2018-2021, NORFACE, Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft, Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC), Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia, Dynamics of Inequality Across the Life-course).
Queer feminist histories in Britain (Hubbard, 2018-2020 Wellcome Trust).
Towards a UK History of Intersex (Griffiths, 2015-2021, Wellcome Trust).
Transnational networks of care among migrant families (Evergeti & colleagues, 2002-2004, ESRC Families and Social Capital Research Group): Exploring critical reflections of social capital, transnational families and care; living and caring across different cultures and negotiating the gendered organisation of care.

Research Theme

The dynamics of social identity and processes of exclusion within and across communities and institutions are the focus of this research theme, including the ways in which certain social divisions intersect and interact. This encompasses a range of issues, such as the enhancement of community amidst inequalities, community building and activism amongst minority and political groups, identity and exclusion in crime, criminal justice and prisons, promoting inclusion in social housing, the accommodation of diversity within education systems and settings, and the role of social institutions within the wider community.

Academic and Research Staff Member

Postgraduate Researcher Members

Thi Bogossian
Nivedita Chatterjee
Jingyu Chen
Emily Oputa
Harry Godfrey
Silfana Nasri

Research Projects

Homosexuality, Defamatory Meaning and Reputational Injury in English Law (Akrivos & Antoniou, 2024).
Editorial Standards in transgender reporting: how do the UK press regulators navigate complaints and controversies? (Akrivos, 2024, University of Surrey).
Hate Crime Victimisation and Reporting (Garland, 2024, British Academy/Leverhulme).
The Life House Project – using theatre to understand and communicate older LGBTQ+ people’s concerns around housing (King and colleagues in GSA and Health Sciences, 2024, University of Surrey).
Pride in Property – exploring LGBTQ+ inclusivity in the private property sector (King, 2024, Propertymark).
The CIRCLE project - Creating Inclusive Residential Care for LGBTQ+ Elders (King & colleagues at University of Kent and Hertfordshire, 2022-2024, NIHR).
‘Doing Porridge: Understanding Women's Experiences of Food in Prison’ (Adams, Harman & Garland, 2021, ESRC).
Food, families and visiting rooms in a women's prison (Adams, Harman & Garland, 2021, British Academy).
Developing family engagement models with front-line youth justice practitioners - Nuffield Foundation (Adams & McCarthy, 2021).
Housing with Prideknowledge exchange project developing and progressing the HouseProud Pledge scheme to address LGBTQ+ inclusivity in social housing (King, 2018-2022, ESRC).
Feminist identity and community within Psychology (Hubbard, 2017-2024, see 2019; 2022, BPS and Open University).
Beyond Personal Wellbeing: Mapping the Social Production of Mindfulness in the UK (Hemming, 2017-2021, Leverhulme Trust).
LGBTQ+ social housing includes the ‘HomeSAFE’ study on LGBTQ+ inclusivity in social housing (King, 2017-2018, HouseProud/University of Surrey).
CYCLES - Understandings of what makes for a good life in specific localities in the UK (Burningham, Venn & Loukianov, 2017 ESRC).
Work with intersex communities on the effects of medicalisation and pathologisation (Griffiths, 2015-2021, Welcome Trust).
Possessions and the liminal self: Portraits of overcoming domestic violence (Harman, Cappellini and Campos, 2015, Royal Holloway).
An examination of the provision of support to police officers and police civilian staff injured on duty (Garland, 2015-2017; Police Dependents’ Trust).
Leicester Hate Crime Project (Garland, 2012-2015, ESRC).
Muslim minorities in Greece, identities of Muslims in Britain and the role of British Muslim ‘elites’ in the UK (Evergeti, 2010, 2011, Middlesex University).
Religion and primary schools in multi-faith urban neighbourhoods (Hemming, 2006-2009, ESRC-funded PhD).
Evaluation of Police Diversity Training (Garland, 1999-2002; Home Office).
Rural Racism (Garland, 1995-2005; various local authorities and police forces).