Sexuality, Citizenship and Belonging: Trans-National and Intersectional Perspectives (Routledge Advances in Critical Diversities)

This book brings together a diverse range of critical interventions in sexuality and gender studies, and seeks to encourage new ways of thinking about the connections and tensions between sexual politics, citizenship and belonging. The book is organized around three interlinked thematic areas, focusing on sexual citizenship, nationalism and international borders (Part 1); sexuality and "race" (Part 2); and sexuality and religion (Part 3). In revisiting notions of sexual citizenship and belonging, contributors engage with topical debates about "sexual nationalism," or the construction of western/European nations as exceptional in terms of attitudes to sexual and gender equality vis-à-vis an uncivilized, racialized "Other." The collection explores macro-level perspectives by attending to the geopolitical and socio-legal structures within which competing claims to citizenship and belonging are played out; at the same time, micro-level perspectives are utilized to explore the interplay between sexuality and "race," nation, ethnicity and religious identities. Geographically, the collection has a prevalently European focus, yet contributions explore a range of trans-national spatial dimensions that exceed the boundaries of "Europe" and of European nation-states

Introduction

This collection seeks to encourage new ways of thinking about the connections and tensions between sexual politics, citizenship and belonging by bringing together a diverse range of critical interventions within sexuality and gender studies. The book is organised around three interlinked thematic areas, focusing on sexual citizenship, nationalism and international borders (section 1); sexuality and ‘race ’ (section 2); and sexuality and religion (section 3). In revisiting notions of sexual citizenship and belonging, contributors engage with topical debates about ‘sexual nationalism’, or the construction of western/European nations as exceptional in terms of attitudes to sexual and gender equality vis-à-vis an uncivilised, racialized ‘Other’. The collection explores macro-level perspectives by attending to the broader geopolitical and socio-legal structures within which competing claims to citizenship and belonging are played out; at the same time, micro-level perspectives are utilised to explore the interplay between sexuality and ‘race’, nation, ethnicity and religious identities, both in individuals’ lived experiences and in activism and forms of collective belonging. Geographically, the collection has a prevalently European focus, yet contributions explore a range of trans-national spatial dimensions that exceed the boundaries of ‘Europe’ and of European nation-states. They consider, for example, links between former European imperial powers and their former colonies; the construction of a European ‘core’ and its ‘peripheries’ in discourses on sexual and reproductive rights; and forms of belonging shaped by migration from within and outside ‘fortress Europe’

Restorative Justice: What are Restorative Justice Strategies for Community Interventions?

With the rise of a victim focussed agenda, what is noted to be an influential development in recent years, within the Criminal Justice System (CJS), is the use of Restorative Justice (RJ) (Dignan & Maguire, 2005). The study had two interrelated aims: 1. To explore ways in which communities could be strengthened with the use of Restorative Justice (RJ), whilst also investigating. 2. If community RJ improves the life chances/ well-being, of individual members of the public. (Dignan & Maguire, 2005). To meet the aims, the study investigated what level of RJ Strategies are currently in practice to build, or restore, understandings of different cultures and beliefs, within communities, with an aim of providing harmony and peace among residents. The aims were addressed by examining differences of opinion between individual members of society who have partaken in the RJ process as, either a victim of crime or an offender, together with the opinions of individuals representing institutions such as South Yorkshire Police and RJ services. Interviews were conducted using ten participants, four represented institutions who deliver RJ, three had been a victim of crime and three were ex-offenders, who had been RJ service users (Participant table included in Appendix 8) The researcher chose thematic analysis to transcribe collected data and concludes that the findings support much existing data around the use of RJ. However, the study found that although RJ is a contemporary way of thinking, and many strategies are in place to strengthen Communities and improve life chances, limitations and some concerns exist. Public awareness and Education were two of the four themes found within this study which could prove problematic within the field of RJ. Findings revealed, there is a lack of understanding of RJ from the public. Education proved to be of concern both from an academic education, which links in with offending behaviour, together with a lack of education on RJ services. The two other themes, which arose during transcript, were Life chances and Victim focus, the latter echoes existing data, however, limitations around victim recruitment of services were found to be problematic. Results showed a positive change in lifestyle choices from individuals who participated in RJ services

Bringing transnational families from the margins to the centre of family studies in Britain

Britain, alongside other Western contemporary societies, has undergone important social and demographic transformations resulting from increased migration, ethnic plurality and multiculturalism. One important change is that family life is increasingly practised across national borders. Research on transnational families, specifically within the field of migration studies, has been pivotal in highlighting the maintenance of family networks across national borders and geographical distance, as well as the mechanisms, processes and practices sustaining these family relations. Yet, rather surprisingly, a detailed analysis of family relationships that are practised across international borders is a marginal field of enquiry within British family studies. In this article, therefore, we argue the case for bringing transnational family studies into the ‘mainstream’ academic field of family studies, by highlighting the importance of transnational families as an analytical concept for understanding contemporary family life in Britain. We do so by drawing on examples from our respective studies on Caribbean and Italian transnational family relationships to (re)frame concepts typically associated with British family studies, such as for example what is meant by the ‘normative family’, everyday practices involved in ‘doing family’ and the notion of ‘families of choice’

Migrant mothers: Kin work and cultural work in making future citizens

This themed issue explores the caring, cultural and emotional labour of migrant mothers in raising their children, highlighting the ways in which their mothering and family practices contribute to creating future citizens in contemporary societies, increasingly characterised by ethnic, racial, religious, cultural and social diversity. A key objective of the themed issue is to probe into the practices, processes and structures shaping migrant mothers’ ‘kin work’, while recognising the family as a site of internal and societal contestation. Kin work highlights the importance of women’s culture and care work that takes places across public and private boundaries (di Leonardo, 1984), and also the way in which the link between ‘race’, racialisation and motherhood encourages particular kinds of mothering practices. The themed issue is multidisciplinary, combining cutting-edge work by leading and early-career researchers. The collection of articles originally emerged out of an Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) Network, ‘Migrant mothers caring for the future’ (2013–15) (www.open.ac.uk/ccig/research/projects/migrant-mothers-caring-for-the-future). In addition to the substantive articles in this issue, the Open Space section offers shorter reflective pieces whereby contributors address key policy issues affecting migrant mothers

Participatory theatre for transformative social research

Reflecting on the transformative potential of participatory theatre methods for social research, the paper draws on a project with ethnically diverse migrant mothers in London. The research reframes the experiences and practices of socially and ethnically marginalized migrant mothers as active interventions into citizenship. We also challenge recurring public discourses casting migrant mothers as threats to social and cultural cohesion who do not contribute but instead draw on the resources of the welfare state. We highlight how participatory theatre methods create spaces for the participants to enact social and personal conflicts. It also validates migrant mothers’ subjugated knowledges of caring and culture work creating new forms of citizenship. By enacting different versions of collective stories, the theatre sessions therefore become rehearsals for socio-political transformations

Studies of the maternal: black mothering 10 years on

In this article, I reflect that 10 years on the study of the maternal continues to offer a critical space in to centre black mothering in the UK. Not only does it provide an analytical lens in which to document and reflect on black women’s daily lived encounters, but it also provides a framework in which to assert the validity of black mothers’ knowledge. This is particularly necessary for countering cultural messages that seek to deny their knowledge or tell black women that they are inadequate mothers. In the ensuing years, since the publication of my article in the inaugural collection, my research has continued to focus on black mothers, always with the intention to move them from the margins to the centre of maternal studies. Indeed, my central message is unchanging: for black mothers, operating at the intersections of race, class and gender; black women, inhabit and navigate different understanding of motherhood. I similar highlight ways that the practice of Black mothering signifies a political act of resistance against intersecting inequalities

Borders, risk and belonging: Challenges for arts-based research in understanding the lives of women asylum seekers and migrants ‘at the borders of humanity’

This article critically discusses the experiences of women who are seeking asylum in the North East of England and women who are mothers with no recourse to public funds living in London to address the questions posed by the special issue. It argues both epistemologically and methodologically for the benefits of undertaking participatory arts-based, ethno-mimetic, performative methods with women and communities to better understand women’s lives, build local capacity in seeking policy change, as well as contribute to theorizing necropolitics through praxis. Drawing upon artistic outcomes of research funded by the Leverhulme Trust on borders, risk and belonging, and collaborative research funded by the ESRC/NCRM using participatory theatre and walking methods, the article addresses the questions posed by the special issue: how is statelessness experienced by women seeking asylum and mothers with no recourse to public funds? To what extent are their lived experiences marked by precarity, social and civil death? What does it mean to be a woman and a mother in these precarious times, ‘at the borders of humanity’? Where are the spaces for resistance and how might we as artists and researchers ‐ across the arts, humanities and social sciences ‐ contribute and activate

UTAH: Using Telemedicine to improve early medical Abortion at Home:a protocol for a randomised controlled trial comparing face-to-face with telephone consultations for women seeking early medical abortion

Introduction Early medical abortion (EMA) is a two-stage process of terminating pregnancy using oral mifepristone (a progesterone-receptor antagonist) followed usually 1–2 days later by sublingual, vaginal or buccal misoprostol (a prostaglandin analogue). There are no published randomised controlled trials (RCTs) on the use of telemedicine for EMA. Our proposed research will determine if telephone consultations for EMA (the most common method of abortion in the UK) is non-inferior to standard face-to-face consultations with regard to the efficacy of EMA.Methods and analysis This study will be conducted as an RCT. The recruitment target is 1222 participants.The primary outcome is success of EMA (complete abortion rate). This will be determined based on a negative low-sensitivity urine pregnancy test result (2 weeks after misoprostol use) and absence of surgical intervention or diagnosis of ongoing pregnancy (within 6 weeks of misoprostol).Secondary outcomes include total time spent at a clinic appointment to receive EMA, self-reported preparedness for EMA, level of satisfaction with consultation and effective contraception uptake compared with when women attend for a face-to-face consultation.The main analysis will be a modified intention-to-treat analysis. This will include all randomised women (with a viable pregnancy) using EMA and follow-up for the main outcome. The study initiated on 13 January 2020 and is anticipated to finish in late 2021.Ethics and dissemination Ethical approval was given by the South East Scotland NHS Research Ethics Committee, reference: 19/SS/0111. Results will be published in peer-reviewed journals, presented at clinical and academic meetings, and shared with participants via the clinic website.Trial registration number NCT04139382