“The walls speak for themselves”: Exploring belonging, identity and safety among Muslim women in London universities

PBS Departmental Seminar Series

While universities often present themselves as inclusive spaces, students and staff of colour describe feeling isolated and struggling to fit in. The intersection of race, ethnicity and other identities e.g. religion, further compound these experiences with detrimental consequences for success, retention and progression. Yet, much research fails to unpack these nuances which are important for understanding the complexity of these experiences. With universities claiming to place equality, diversity and inclusion high on their agendas, it becomes an opportune moment for the intersecting experiences of marginalised groups at universities to be heard and recognised, resulting in steps being taken to address some of the challenges they face.

This talk will draw on insights from an ongoing research project highlighting some of the experiences of Muslim women, both students and staff, in universities across London, bringing to the fore the intricate interplay of ethnicity, religion and gender which shapes their experience – particularly in relation to belonging and safety – and how, as a result, they navigate these spaces in their attempts to survive and thrive.

Amena is a social and political psychologist, and a Lecturer in Social Psychology at the Social Research Institute (Thomas Coram Research Unit), UCL. Her research explores intersectional identities, experiences of belonging and power asymmetries, and inter- and intragroup dynamics, particularly among minoritised and marginalised groups. She draws on multi-disciplinary methods including art and creativity to bridge her academic research with practice, informing and facilitating real-world understanding of identity and social inequality.

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