This episode is a collaboration between the Sex, Research and Resistance Podcast and the Centre for the Global Study of Development at the Open University.
In this episode, hosted by Elizabeth Ascroft (co-founder of the podcast), we discuss girlhood in the context of international development. We are joined by Dr Jane Doka and Dr Alison Buckler, both experienced researchers in the field of education, inclusion, and youth transitions.
In Part 1, we focus on the idea of girlhood and identify some of the tensions around these narratives in the international development sector. Drawing from their own research in Zimbabwe, South Africa, Nigeria, the UK, Ghana and Kenya, Jane and Alison speak to girls’ agency in navigating girlhood and how this may differ at home, the community or within development-based programmes.
This two-part episode is a window into some of the issues that arise with dominant narratives around what youth transition should look like. The speakers advocate for celebrating alternative transition pathways and provide examples of how to better align our research approaches with girls’ realities.
Bios:
Dr Jane Doka is a Research Associate in International Education and Development at the Open University. She recently completed PhD research focused on the agency and education of marginalised girls in Sub-Saharan Africa. Her expertise lies in the intersection of girls’ education and youth transitions. Currently, Jane is a co-researcher on the OpenSTEM Africa project, an initiative aimed at enhancing girls' transitions into tertiary education, specifically within STEM-related subjects, through stakeholder engagement across West and East Africa. She is experienced in narrative research approaches and participatory action-based methodologies. Dr Doka is an active member of the Centre for the Study of Global Development, where she collaborates with other experts to address global educational challenges and promote sustainable development.
Dr Alison Buckler is a Senior Research Fellow at The Open University where she is a convenor of the International Education research group and Deputy Co-Director of the Centre for the Study of Global Development. Her work focuses on using creative and narrative approaches to researching education, and she is the co-founder of the Ibali Network which supports people interested in using storytelling methodologies. She also co-leads a research strand of the SAGE (Supporting Adolescent Girls' Education) Programme, which is an FCDO-funded collaboration between the OU and Plan International.
Elizabeth Ascroft is a PhD research at Open University and her research explores the process of co-creating sexuality education materials with young people in Aruba. Prior to her PhD Elizabeth worked at Girl Effect, a programme provider for girls and young women in development contexts. Elizabeth is a researcher, activist and a creative and is most inspired when delving into her never-ending creative methods.
Follow us on X: @JaneDoka @AlisonBucklerEd @ElizAscroft
This episode has been produced by Elizabeth Ascroft.