Doctoral research seminar Hilary term 2023
Part of the Graduate School training programme
The Doctoral Research Seminars are designed to give part-time doctoral students an opportunity to share their research in a supportive environment, with their student peers and interested academic colleagues.
Each seminar will last approximately an hour and a half, and will be chaired by a member of department’s academic staff. It is envisaged that two or three students will speak for 20 minutes each, to be followed by questions, and then a group discussion. Students who are interested in speaking should discuss this in the first instance with their supervisors, and then notify gradschool@conted.ox.ac.uk who will co-ordinate the events.
Hilary term 2023 seminar (hybrid)
Open to all Oxford University students and staff.
Speakers:
- Marion Lagadic (DPhil in Sustainable Urban Development). Presentation title: More helpful than Dad? Tokyo mothers’ cycling mobilities in a context of gender inequalities.
- Marcus Bateman (DPhil in English Local History) Living in a Covenant Community - Baptists in Woolverstone and Ipswich (Suffolk) 1758-1851
- Oliver Harman (DPhil in Sustainable Urban Development). Presentation title: People, power and place: Decentralisation and (local) socio-economic development in Africa
When and where
Friday 10 February 2023, 1-2.30pm (UK time).
This event will take place in Number 11 conference room, Rewley House and online using Microsoft Teams. Joining instructions will be sent via email in advance.
How to register
Postgraduate students and staff from the across the University can register for this, and all our training sessions, on the Graduate School training events pages.
Abstracts
Marion Lagadic
More helpful than Dad? Tokyo mothers’ cycling mobilities in a context of gender inequalities.
Abstract
Past research has found care and domestic responsibilities to be barriers to bicycle use. These responsibilities tend to be unequally shared, excluding many women from everyday cycling – mothers in particular. This research discusses the critical case of Tokyo, where the archetypical bicycle is the mamachari or “mother’s bicycle”. Based on qualitative interviews with 39 cycling mothers, this presentation discusses mother’s cycling practices as embedded within an unequal gender contract that ties them to the domestic realm. In this study, mothers cycle because it allows them to feel in control of their time, efficient as they endeavour to conform to demanding gender roles, and autonomous in the absence of fathers who are absorbed by their work. It is argued that gender inclusiveness in cycling can only be understood by engaging with the wider context of gender inequalities, including those related to childcare provision, labour market inequalities, and patriarchal gender norms.
Student biography
Marion Lagadic is a fourth year DPhil candidate in Sustainable Urban Development, working under the supervision of Dr. Nihan Akyelken. Her research explores how structural gender inequalities and gender norms influence women’s cycling practices in Tokyo. Her interest in the case of Tokyo stems from the following observation: past research, mostly based on Western cases, has found the unequal sharing of domestic tasks and lack of secured infrastructure to be the main barriers to women’s bicycle use. Yet, in Tokyo, women represent the majority of cyclists, while infrastructure provision is limited, and Japan is marked by strong gender inequalities. Marion studies the role cycling plays in gendered daily lives, in the specific urban context of Tokyo. In parallel to her doctoral studies, Marion works as project manager in the Research Center of the International Transport Forum (OECD); before joining this institution, she worked for 6 years as a transport consultant. She is based in Paris.
Marcus Bateman
'Living in a Covenant Community - Baptists in Woolverstone and Ipswich (Suffolk) 1758-1851
Abstract
Ipswich is a historic market town in Suffolk. The population grew three-fold from 11,000 in 1801 to 33,000 in 1851. In 1758 in Ipswich there were 12 Anglican parish churches, as well as Quaker, Independents, Presbyterian congregations and a Jewish Synagogue. At this time a small Baptist congregation, was formally established at Woolverstone, a village 7 miles SW of Ipswich, with just 12 members. In 1775 this congregation moved to Stoke Green on the edge of Ipswich. This Baptist congregation like others had a defined membership, requiring baptism by immersion and holding each other to account for uploading the church rules. Disagreement and theological divergence led to founding of several Baptist churches in Ipswich. By 1851 four Ipswich Baptist churches are recorded with a combined Sunday morning attendance of 1,880. How did this often inwardly focused congregation became the catalyst that established a strong Baptist tradition in Ipswich and East Suffolk?
Student biography
Following studies in theology and local history, Marcus undertook the University of Oxford's MSc in English Local History with a dissertation on the funding of the Church of England in Ipswich 1800-1900. Since 2019 he has been undertaking a DPhil with the title “The development of Non-conformity Religion in Ipswich, Suffolk 1777-1881 and the Church of England’s response”. This presentation is focused on one aspect of a larger picture of Ipswich church congregations and church denominations responding to changing demographics and expectations in Ipswich. Marcus is particularly interested in a cross denominational perspective and the extent to which the churches are influenced by wider religious changes and movements.
Marcus works part-time for a financial technology company in London. He is a Licensed Lay Minister with the Church of England and also a member of a local Baptist Church.
Oliver Harman
People, power and place: Decentralisation and (local) socio-economic development in Africa
Abstract
This research project will look at decentralisation in low income, quickly urbanising countries in Africa—specifically, West, Central and primarily East Africa. The research intent is twofold. Firstly, it will theoretically outline and measure over twenty years a new index for decentralisation in urban Africa. Secondly, with this measure it will statistically test a number of key questions and hypothesis from the fiscal federalism and decentralisation literature to analyse the potential consequences for sustainable urban development.
Currently the work is approaching Transfer of Status and thus the presentation itself will share early stage data, methodological intent and some proof of concept for discussion, feedback and friendly picking apart.
Student biography
Oliver began his DPhil in Sustainable Urban Development in 2021 as a Clarendon Scholar. His research looks at decentralisation and development in low income and fast-growing cities—primarily in Africa. He is an urban economist by trade and economic geographer by training—his work makes both camps (mostly) unhappy as a result.
Professionally, Oliver attempts to bridge the gap between research and policy translating economic literature into clear urban policy guidance for emerging country city governments.
He firstly does this as a Cities Economist for the International Growth Centre's (IGC) Cities that Work initiative based at Blavatnik School of Government, University of Oxford. He is also Associate Staff and Occasional Researcher at the London School of Economics (LSE).
In the latter role he just published a Policy Impact Book called ‘Harnessing Global Value Chains for regional development’ with the open access overview here appreciating the clicks. More at https://www.oliverharman.me
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