My academic journey has been shaped by my transformative views of the world. I began my journey by reflecting on the social injustices that we currently face and how I can contribute by making a positive impact on our society. These social injustices include class- and race-based inequalities within the current education system.
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How it all began
I had started my career training as a history teacher and mostly taught in secondary schools in south London. Growing up in South London, I have seen shifts in the socio-demographics of the area over time. These experiences inspired my PhD thesis, where I am currently researching at Goldsmiths, University of London, into parental school choice through the lens of class and gentrification: a case study into the London boroughs of Southwark and Lewisham. I have chosen to explore these two boroughs, as I lived, grew up and spent a lot of time in these areas. Therefore, I wish to explore the education impacts of gentrification in diverse places such as Lewisham and Southwark.
As I continued with my doctoral journey, I attained the position of a research assistant for the Generation Delta project at Goldsmiths. This position provided me with the opportunity to further contribute to tackling race inequalities that exist in academia. The project is designed to lay the foundations for a long-term increase in the representation of Black, Asian and minority ethnic female professors in higher education institutions in England. As the representation of female professors from a Black, Asian or minority ethnic background is low. The position has trained me to develop core academic skills vital for an academic career and learn about barriers minoritised researchers may encounter along their path.
In addition, I work with other team members on creating a network of female Black, Asian and minority ethnic PhD students at Goldsmiths. It was my pleasure to reflect on these
experiences at the Close the Gap symposium in Oxford. Where I shared insights into how we develop our network, carve safe spaces, address challenges and create events tailored for our postgraduate community.
I hope, reflecting on this experience, I can inspire more women from minority backgrounds to undertake doctoral studies and enter a career in academia.
