2023-Nicholas Burton
An intersectional perspective to meaningful/less work: disabled academics in UK universities
Dr Nicholas Burton (PI), Northumbria University; and Dr Padmali Rodrigo (Co-I), Northumbria University - An intersectional perspective to meaningful/less work: disabled academics in UK universities
Grant Ref: 2023-326-T2
Grant Amount: £3,988.69
Project summary: Disabled academics face various barriers in their work such as inaccessible physical spaces, lack of support and negative attitudes from colleagues and students (UCU, 2018). They are also underrepresented in senior management positions and face barriers in terms of career progression (ECU, 2018). Such experiences can significantly affect experiences of meaningful/less work (eg, Bailey et al., 2019, Lasser & Bolton, 2021). An intersectional perspective (Williams & Mavin, 2012) can help illuminate the impact of social categories of marginalised groups and differences in disability, gender, race, ethnicity, class, sexuality, religion, etc., (Ruiz Castro & Holvino, 2016) on subjective experiences of meaningful work. Yet, the intersection of individual differences is fragmented, and the literature has primarily relied upon exploring a single individual characteristic. This study will draw upon an intersectional lens (Collins, 1990; Crenshaw, 1991) to explore how intersecting sources within disabled academic communities in UK universities can shed new insight to the literature and propose implications for meaningful diversity initiatives in higher education institutions.
We address this interest through a qualitative study of disabled academics in UK universiities (England, Scotland and Wales). We advance research on disability and meaning-making by exploring the conditions whereby disabled employees construct and deconstruct their positive, negative, or neutral experiences (Lepisto & Pratt, 2017) that could form their perceptions of meaningful/less work. Our data will enable us to construct both thematic representations of experience, as well as critical case studies that outline the key challenges facing the sector. This deeper understanding will lead to opportunities for knowledge exchange and impact