Forced marriage in the UK, and the role of schools
Lead Research Organisation:
University College London
Department Name: Education, Practice & Society
Abstract
Forced marriage occurs where one person has not consented or is coerced. The UK government has put schools at the centre of attempts to detect and prevent forced marriages. Teaching about forced marriage is now mandatory as part of the DfE Personal Social and Health Education (PSHE) curriculum. This ESRC PhD will produce high quality, action-oriented research on UK policy and community engagement on forced marriage, and evidence on initiatives in UK schools which strengthen girls' agency.
Using an intersectional approach to social research, I will explore how school communities are enacting government policies to prevent forced marriage in a context of gendered, racial and socioeconomic inequalities. I will investigate how young people engage with sources of support to prevent or respond to forced marriage in schools, through the lens of capabilities (Nussbaum 2011) and agency (Giddens 1984) from international development theory, relational elements of gendered performance from feminist theory (Schippers 2007), and reference groups and mutually-held expectations from social norms theories (Bicchieri 2011).
In alignment with ESRC's remit to meet the needs of users and beneficiaries, I will use co-production principles to guide my research questions, methods and analysis in collaboration with non-academic partner Freedom Charity, and research participants. Data collection will have two key elements. First, I will develop case studies in 2-3 schools in locations with a high level of concern relating to forced marriage. I will collect data through in-depth-interviews, focus groups, observations and participatory methods with students, teachers, families and other stakeholders. In a secondary component, I will analyse Freedom Charity helpline data about reasons for calls and follow up, with consideration of changes over time (including COVID-19 lockdowns), and geography and demographics. Throughout, I will employ my expertise on ethical research on gender-based violence with adolescents, with support from Freedom Charity and my supervisors.
Using an intersectional approach to social research, I will explore how school communities are enacting government policies to prevent forced marriage in a context of gendered, racial and socioeconomic inequalities. I will investigate how young people engage with sources of support to prevent or respond to forced marriage in schools, through the lens of capabilities (Nussbaum 2011) and agency (Giddens 1984) from international development theory, relational elements of gendered performance from feminist theory (Schippers 2007), and reference groups and mutually-held expectations from social norms theories (Bicchieri 2011).
In alignment with ESRC's remit to meet the needs of users and beneficiaries, I will use co-production principles to guide my research questions, methods and analysis in collaboration with non-academic partner Freedom Charity, and research participants. Data collection will have two key elements. First, I will develop case studies in 2-3 schools in locations with a high level of concern relating to forced marriage. I will collect data through in-depth-interviews, focus groups, observations and participatory methods with students, teachers, families and other stakeholders. In a secondary component, I will analyse Freedom Charity helpline data about reasons for calls and follow up, with consideration of changes over time (including COVID-19 lockdowns), and geography and demographics. Throughout, I will employ my expertise on ethical research on gender-based violence with adolescents, with support from Freedom Charity and my supervisors.
People |
ORCID iD |
| Jenny Parkes (Primary Supervisor) | |
| Lottie Howard-Merrill (Student) |
Studentship Projects
| Project Reference | Relationship | Related To | Start | End | Student Name |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ES/P000592/1 | 01/10/2017 | 30/09/2027 | |||
| 2574332 | Studentship | ES/P000592/1 | 01/10/2021 | 30/06/2025 | Lottie Howard-Merrill |