125th Anniversary PhD Scholarship in Social Policy and Society - PhD Project: Decolonising the Mind: Self-Care and Anti-Racism.

About the project

There is a growing and productive body of work around a post- and decolonial social science which can analyse and confront racism. However, relatively little attention has been paid to the subjective experience of decolonisation and anti-racism, and specifically strategies at the individual level to combat, for example, unconscious harm produced by structural racism and racial trauma.

Simultaneously, we are experiencing a proliferation of technologies of the self – everyday practices often labelled as self-care – aimed at enhancing cognition, wellbeing, resilience and mental health (e.g. mindfulness meditation, yoga, the self-optimisation movement). Yet the political dimensions of these practices remain underexamined, and in particular the ways in which they may reproduce – but also challenge – racism.

This project unites these dimensions to understand:

• the potential role of practices of self-care in managing the experience of racism and developing anti-racist strategies and;
• reciprocally, what an anti-racist lens might reveal about the burgeoning social field of self-care.

The study will be of interdisciplinary, theoretical and empirical interest to disciplines including sociology, political science, cultural studies, social policy, education, political geography, social psychology, mental health/wellbeing and the overarching fields of de- and postcolonial studies. It will also generate applied knowledge – and a potential toolkit – for practitioners in anti-racism and building racial understanding.

Research Questions

1. What are the knowledge gaps for attending to subjectivity in the experience of racism?
2. What contemporary empirical practices of self-care (potentially) engage with anti-racism? How?
3. What potential do such practices have to form a basis for wider, collective anti-racist work?
4. What does this indicate more broadly about race and politics in relation to technologies of the self?

Proposed Research Design

1. Theoretical scoping – critically analysing existing literature on subjective dimensions of ‘decolonising the mind’. Indicative examples include the historical contributions of e.g. Bourdieu, Davis, Fanon, Foucault and Lorde and contemporary interventions such as e.g. Mukherjee (2022) and Kinouani (2022).
2. Historical precedents – identification and critical analysis of historical case studies to frame the present study. Examples might include e.g. Fanon’s work on developing an anti-racist psychiatry; training in non-violence in US civil rights movement; use of meditative techniques in Engaged Buddhism.
3. Contemporary empirical case study – this will identify and track the practices and experiences of individuals who explicitly build practices of self-care into their political identity. The methodology will emphasise an anti-racist and social-justice oriented participatory approach, based on co-creation that centres the issues faced by (racialised) actors. We will support you in identifying an appropriate case study (relevant to your experiences and objectives) and method e.g. an arts-based methodology such as collage-making and/or focus groups or diary-writing.
4. Data analysis appropriate to the method adopted. Discussion in relation to the theoretical literature and historical precedents.
5. Development of a toolkit for anti-racist self-care, shaped by the specific practices engaged e.g. a re-framing of mindfulness practices to incorporate anti-racism.

Intended Impacts

The project will have potential to make a significant contribution to interdisciplinary academic debates in de- and post-colonial theory; theories of race and identity; theories of new political subjectivities and agency; practices of self-care and their relationship to wellbeing – with reference to their political potential for challenging societal discrimination.

The project will also have potential to develop a toolkit with widespread appeal to practitioners in wellbeing, anti-racist and other social movement activism. Through this work, there will be the opportunity to develop practitioner networks and impact, as a potential basis for a variety of careers in addition to academia e.g. campaigning, third sector, research/policy.

Research Training and Support

Our College of Social Sciences is a recognised Doctoral Training Centre and offers a comprehensive suite of research design, data collection and analysis modules. In addition, you will have the option of participating in topic-relevant MA modules in our School, such as Sociology of Race & Racism and Transforming Identities, as well as becoming a member of our vibrant PGR community. Our School houses the leading Institute for Research into Superdiversity (IRiS) - an influential community of faculty, PGRs, postdoctoral researchers, international civil society and policy networks and a busy events calendar. We also play an active role in the the UoB-wide Stuart Hall Archive Project – a unique resource and network for local and global researchers of race and identity. There are opportunities to become involved in teaching undergraduates across our degree programmes.

Find out more

Who can apply?

These scholarships are designed to create opportunities and address the underrepresentation of talented Black or Black mixed heritage students in academia. Applicants who meet all of the following criteria are eligible to apply:

1. Students classified as 'Home' for tuition fee payments
2. Members of one of the following ethnic groups:

• Black African
• Black Caribbean
• Black Other
• Mixed – White and Black Caribbean
• Mixed – White and Black African
• Other mixed background (to include Black African, Black Caribbean or Black Other)

    3. Not already enrolled on a PhD programme at the University of Birmingham

What does the scholarship provide?

1. Financial Support: Recipients of these scholarships will receive substantial financial support, including a stipend at UKRI rates, which is set at £20,780 per year for the 2025/26 academic year, and will be paid to you in regular instalments. Successful awardees will also have their tuition fees covered at a minimum of £5,006 per year. This support is designed to alleviate the financial burden often associated with pursuing a doctoral degree, such as covering tuition fees, living expenses, and research-related costs.
2. Mentorship and Guidance: Scholarship recipients will benefit from mentorship opportunities and guidance from accomplished faculty members who are dedicated to helping them succeed in their academic and research endeavours.
3. Research Opportunities: We are committed to providing an exceptional research environment. Students will have access to state-of-the-art facilities, cutting-edge resources, and a vibrant scholarly community.
4. Community Building: A key component of the scholarship programme is the creation of a supportive community of Black British researchers pursuing PhDs. This network will foster collaboration and peer support among scholars.
5. Research Training Support Grant: In addition to financial support, scholarship recipients will receive a research training support grant at £2,250 across the duration of the PhD. This grant is intended to support conference attendance, fieldwork, and other essential activities that enhance their research and academic growth.
6. Commitment to Inclusivity: We are dedicated to building an inclusive academic environment that values diversity and ensures equitable access to education.