Soraya Beg
School of Health & Society
Biography
Soraya Beg is a PhD researcher at the Â׸£ÀûƬ whose research examines the experiences of White women who convert to Islam in the United Kingdom. Her work explores how processes of racialisation, gendered Islamophobia, and securitised governance shape the everyday lives, visibility, and belonging of converts. Drawing on Critical Race Theory and Postcolonial Theory, the project investigates how conversion can destabilise the assumed stability of whiteness, revealing its conditional and contested nature. Using qualitative and arts-based methods, including narrative interviews and writing workshops, her research foregrounds the lived experiences and voices of converts while contributing to debates on race, religion, identity, and belonging in contemporary Britain.
Areas of Research
White subalternity
Conditional and fluid whiteness
Islamophobia
Gendered Islamophobia
Religion, race and ethnicity
Soraya Beg is an hourly paid lecturer and seminar tutor in criminology and sociology. As a qualified adult educator, she facilitates discussion-based seminars that encourage critical engagement with sociological and criminological theory. Her teaching supports students in applying theoretical concepts to contemporary social issues, including race, identity, religion, and social inequality. Drawing on her doctoral research, she encourages reflexive and inclusive learning environments where students can explore how power, identity, and belonging are negotiated within contemporary society.
Qualifications
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Sociology
2024 - 2027