Collectives in/of solidarity: student activism by women of colour at the University of Oxford

Thesis

There are myriad historical and contemporary narratives about the University of Oxford as an ancient, elite university dedicated to intellectual advancement and education. Yet these narratives actively exclude the experiences of present-day women of colour students who navigate the politics and pressure of today’s Oxford. I argue that by exploring the intersections of race and gender alongside other axes of oppression, a more comprehensive current history of Oxford can be told by and for women of colour students. My doctoral research explores the lived experiences of women of colour students through their participation in and engagement with student activism movements. Through a mixed qualitative methods study using narrative interviews with 47 former and current women of colour students and critical ethnography with two student organisations, this project foregrounds the voices of women of colour students and how they view their interactions and leadership within student activism that then shape their emerging political and personal identities. The research examines key themes of feminist action, spatial politics, identity and meaning-making, and the inherent possibilities forged through solidarities committed to social justice. My research found that there is strength in collective action and solidarities in service of change within and beyond the HE academy in the United Kingdom. The thesis concludes with the research impacts of my findings and how Oxford and other British HEIs can apply its lessons in the future to better support future generations of women of colour students. Given the recent global wave of action across universities for Palestinian liberation, including at Oxford, it is clear that institutions of learning continue to be potent sites of revolution worth studying. My research seeks to situate women of colour students as central actors in critical junctures of social change that have wide-ranging impacts on the broader UK HE sector.

Authors: Lin, YFG

• DOI: 10.5287/ora-4je6ryymx
• Type of award: DPhil
• Level of award: Doctoral
• Awarding institution: University of Oxford
• Language: English
• Keywords: collective organising; student politics; student activism; women of colour; university studies; feminism; higher education; identity
• Subjects: Feminism and higher education; Racial justice in education; Student movements; Education (Higher)