http://bura.brunel.ac.uk/handle/2438/266 Sat, 27 Jun 2026 03:50:54 GMT 2026-06-27T03:50:54Z http://bura.brunel.ac.uk/handle/2438/33503 Title: Negotiating compounded stigmatised identities: An examination of contemporary trans-disability Authors: Mitchell, Cavyn R Abstract: In this dissertation I examine trans-disabled individuals’ lives and communities to argue that trans-disabled individuals have a shared sense of stigma which is compounded by having dual marginalised identities. This qualitative research deploys theories of intersectionality and of stigma, bringing these together to further explore how trans-disabled individuals strategically navigate ableist and transphobic spaces within wider society. The theoretical perspective I use within this dissertation is “symbolic interactionism,” combining Erving Goffman’s theories of stigma and strategic interactionism with intersectionality. My research methods include twelve semi-structured interviews with trans-disabled individuals, and autoethnography. The spatio-temporal context of this dissertation is queer and disabled spaces in the UK that are both physical and virtual, and the period in question is 2019-2020 (before the COVID-19 pandemic). I analyse data using thematic analysis. I explore a number of themes that I identify within the data including intersectional fear; in/visibility (including coming out); identities (including feeling “othered”); and lack of support. Through this work, I aim to highlight and explore the specific kinds of stigma felt by trans-disabled individuals, both within and outside of their own communities, and the resilience that shines through in the face of these stigmatised experiences. Using humour, resilience, the evasion and embracing of stigma, and the strategic negotiation of complex identities, trans-disabled individuals continue to push through societal boundaries. This research shows how trans-disabled individuals strategically navigate a society from which they experience dual marginalisation. This project’s original contributions to knowledge are twofold. I demonstrate that an intersectional framework is applicable to an analysis of the difficulties of accessing health care or necessary support whilst being trans-disabled, which is a key and original finding. Secondly, my use of a trans feminist framework when analysing the intersection between transgender identity and disability is unique. Description: This thesis was submitted for the award of Doctor of Philosophy and was awarded by Brunel University London Thu, 01 Jan 2026 00:00:00 GMT http://bura.brunel.ac.uk/handle/2438/33503 2026-01-01T00:00:00Z http://bura.brunel.ac.uk/handle/2438/33471 Title: Exploring the use and implications of comedy and humour in science and public science communication in Ghana Authors: Osei, Jennifer Anima Abstract: This study explores the use of comedy and humour as tools for science communication in Ghana, where public understanding of and engagement with science remains limited. While science communication bridges the gap between experts and lay audiences, traditional dissemination methods often fail to resonate with diverse communities. Globally, humour has gained traction in science communication, yet its effectiveness in Ghana’s unique cultural context remains underexplored. This research examines how humour can enhance public understanding of science, focusing on audience preferences, the willingness of STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics) advocates to adopt humour-based approaches, and the overall reception of comedic science performances. Using a mixed-methods approach, including surveys, interviews, and participant observation, the study evaluated the effectiveness of stand-up comedy and other humorous formats in simplifying complex scientific concepts and fostering public engagement. Key findings reveal that participants reported improved message recall, heightened engagement, and reduced feelings of intimidation when scientific content was delivered through humour-based approaches. Audiences responded most positively to formats rooted in local cultural expressions, such as satire, storytelling, and dramatized performances. The research also found that integrating humour helped connect the linguistic and educational divides, making science more accessible to marginalised communities. However, challenges such as balancing entertainment with scientific accuracy and limited institutional support were noted. These findings offer cultural and societal insights into the role of comedy in science communication in Ghana and provide practical strategies for engaging diverse audiences. Ultimately, the study contributes to global discussions on innovative science communication by demonstrating that humour can translate scientific knowledge effectively while fostering trust and a deeper connection between scientists and the public. Description: This thesis was submitted for the award of Doctor of Philosophy and was awarded by Brunel University London Wed, 01 Jan 2025 00:00:00 GMT http://bura.brunel.ac.uk/handle/2438/33471 2025-01-01T00:00:00Z http://bura.brunel.ac.uk/handle/2438/32020 Title: An exploration of shifting constructions of human trafficking: A study of newspaper discourses between 2000 and 2020 Authors: Burroughs, Janine Renee Abstract: Newspaper focus on forced migration has increased over the last two decades, highlighting the significance of human trafficking for policymakers. Prior research on American newspapers and human trafficking concluded data collection in 2006, overlooking power dynamics and promoting a liberal democratic view, obscuring the understanding of how dominant discourses are shaped by power within socioeconomic and presidential agendas. This study expands previous research by examining how five major U.S. newspapers discursively constructed human trafficking across four presidential administrations from 2000 to 2020, exploring the power dynamics behind discourses used in the meaning-making process. Using a political economy approach and a Foucauldian understanding of power, the study bridges the fields of criminology and media theory. The findings are contextualised within a historical discursive archive, tracing the emergence of trafficking discourse from the early 1900s and its resurgence through the 2000 Palermo Protocol. The study begins with a thematic content analysis that maps newspaper engagement patterns and key themes, followed by three chapters of critical discourse analysis that explore the meaning-making surrounding human trafficking. The content analysis revealed that human trafficking remains a relevant topic for newspapers despite fluctuations. Outlets varied in approach but presented consistent views. The thematic analysis noted shifts in presidential agendas shaped by socio-political imperatives, which met with varying support depending on the newspaper's ideologies, suggesting a liberal democratic theory. This thesis argues that this view is reductionist due to minimal divergences from the dominant discourses identified in the CDA chapters, which identified ongoing discourses around the criminalisation of human trafficking, victimhood, and national security, with few counter-discourses on decriminalisation. The study identified an archive of trafficking discourse dating back to the early twentieth century. These discourses gained legitimacy through legal codification and presidential agendas. The thesis examines how the discourses employed in the human trafficking debate evolved to justify geopolitical and socioeconomic agendas. Description: This thesis was submitted for the award of Doctor of Philosophy and was awarded by Brunel University London Wed, 01 Jan 2025 00:00:00 GMT http://bura.brunel.ac.uk/handle/2438/32020 2025-01-01T00:00:00Z http://bura.brunel.ac.uk/handle/2438/31376 Title: An emergent sense of place: Examining the socio-cultural impact and experiential change of the new London museum in Smithfield Authors: Butler, Tom Abstract: In 2026 the London Museum opens in former market buildings in Smithfield, a historic working district on the edge of the City of London. The Museum’s £437m relocation is a major component of a culture-led development scheme, one that is radically transforming the local area. This interdisciplinary research interrogates what constitutes the identity and social experience of an area undergoing accelerated change, a ‘sense of place’ that I conceptualise as simultaneously socio-cultural, political, embodied, and imagined. This frames an analysis of how a museum that is both an instrument and agent of change can establish an equitable relationship with its new locality. Undertaken between 2020-2024 as a Collaborative Doctoral Award with the London Museum, this study follows a grounded theory approach, engaging with the diverse experiences of Smithfield’s social actors as well as the strategies of municipal and institutional agents. I apply a mixed methodology incorporating document analysis, ethnographic observation, walking interviews, and participatory workshops. This thesis argues that local identity and experience is relationally mediated by shared material, sensory, and imagined cues, produced through the rhythmic expression of power over time, and given meaning through real-and-imagined encounters. My research reveals the tangible and intangible effects of culture-led development processes, and their multiple aesthetic and experiential strategies of commodification and control. Ultimately, I argue for the reconceptualisation of a ‘sense of place’ into a dynamic concept that accounts for the inter-dependence of place and processes of urban change, the multiplicity of experience, and the uneven and negotiated effects of globalised capitalism. Drawing together literature from sociology, urban studies, and museum studies, I make key methodological, theoretical, and practical contributions to researching cultureled development. Respectively, these comprise the adaptation of Lefebvre’s (2004) rhythmanalytical method through Massey’s (1991) notion of place as process, a theory of accommodation within senses of place, and the development of a strategic blueprint for equitable museum approaches to new local contexts. The latter is disseminated as a research output through an online resource for museum professionals. Description: This thesis was submitted for the award of Doctor of Philosophy and was awarded by Brunel University London Mon, 01 Jan 2024 00:00:00 GMT http://bura.brunel.ac.uk/handle/2438/31376 2024-01-01T00:00:00Z