Apologies for cross-posting.
PhD
Studentship in Geographies of Care, Disability and Family Relationships in
Sub-Saharan Africa
Directly
funded project (Living costs plus European/ UK student fees only)
Application
deadline: 31st March 2009
Despite
the growing interest in geographies of care, disability and illness, few studies
have explored the socio-spatial dimensions of young caregiving within families
or the effects of caring responsibilities, disability and illness on family
members’ mobilities and gendered lifecourse transitions in Sub-Saharan
Africa. Recent research with children caring for parents/relatives with HIV and
with young people caring for their siblings and elderly grandparents has
highlighted the reciprocity and interdependence that characterises caring
relationships and practices of care. Further in-depth qualitative and
participatory research is sought into the socio-spatial and temporal effects of
caring responsibilities, disability and illness on the experiences, identities
and life transitions of both ‘carers’ and the ‘cared
for’ within families in Sub-Saharan Africa.
Applications
are invited from students interested in investigating geographies of care,
disability and family relationships in Sub-Saharan Africa. Research on one of
the following themes would be particularly welcome:
• Young caregiving and intergenerational relationships in
grandparent-headed households.
• Diverse childhoods, disability and lifecourse transitions
• Masculinities, caring identities and mobilities
• Social movements and participation of people living with HIV and other
disabled people
• Sexuality, disability and spaces
Geographies of Children, Youth and Families constitute a major research theme
of a number of academics within the Department of Geography, with a particular
focus on disability and the diverse socio-spatial experiences of children and
young people in Sub-Saharan Africa. Research on childhood and youth is also a
major cross-cutting research theme and area of interest for many Schools across
the University.
Applicants should preferably hold a Masters degree or at least a 2(i) Honours
degree in human geography, development studies, social anthropology or related
disciplines in the social sciences. Applicants should also have experience of
working in Sub-Saharan Africa.
Funding Notes
(http://www.reading.ac.uk/geography/
and http://www.reading.ac.uk/shes/shes-index.asp).
Informal enquiries about the project should be addressed to the project
supervisor: Dr Ruth Evans, Department of Geography, SHES, University of
Reading, Whiteknights, Reading, RG6 6AB (tel.: +44 (0)118 378 7755; e-mail:
[log in to unmask]).
To apply, please complete the Postgraduate Application Form available from http://www.reading.ac.uk/Study/apply/pg-applicationform.asp.
For
the project proposal, applicants should submit a 500 word statement addressing
(i) why they think the research project is important; and (ii) why they are the
most appropriate candidate to conduct the research, with reference to their
academic background, skills, and experiences.