WiDER
The WiDER Group at the University of Westminster developed
from a collective interest in the difficulties and dilemmas facing
university students who identify as members of minority groups, for
example as Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Black, Asian or mixed race. We
use a range of qualitative and quantitative methods to explore the
lived experience of students with a particular focus on the complex
relationships between individuals, groups, institutions and their
wider social and cultural context. We draw on a range of
theoretical frameworks including critical and feminist
psychological perspectives.
Group Members
Current Project:
Mapping Exclusion in Undergraduate Psychology: Towards
a Common Architecture of the Minority Student
Experience
This project aims to document and analyse the experiences of
minority students (black and ethnic minority, lesbian, gay and
bisexual students) who have studied/are studying psychology at
University/HE level. Using a qualitative approach, informed by
Grounded Theory techniques, students will be interviewed concerning
their experiences in relation to 1) their expectations, 2) the
curriculum, 3) their personal and social environment and 4)
learning and teaching (departmental) environment. There is a
particular focus on psychology’s treatment of race, ethnicity and
sexuality/sexual identity within its subject matter and the ways in
which students relate to the discipline in general, and the
department in particular. Findings will be disseminated and
presented as a foundation for intervention strategies, including
increasing staff and student awareness, curriculum design, staff
training and other strategies for inclusive learning and teaching
practices.
Publications:
Hodges, I (2009) Towards More Inclusive
University Teaching and Learning Practices for Lesbian, Gay and
Bisexual Psychology Students. Lesbian and Gay Psychology
Review. Vol. 10 (1).
Hodges, I. & Pearson, C. (2008). Silent
Minority: Exploring British Gay Men's Experience of the Nature and
Content of Psychology as a Discipline, Hellenic Journal of
Psychology, 5(1), 33-57
Conference Presentations:
Hodges, I. & Pearson, C. (2006) Psychology
at the Crossroads: Gay and Bi Men's Accounts of Learning and
Teaching in U.K. Psychology Departments. Poster presented at the
4th
Annual Conference on Teaching & Learning, Galway,
Ireland.
Hodges, I. & Pearson, C. (2005) Out From
The Margins: Exploring Gay Men's Accounts of Learning and Teaching
in U.K. Psychology Departments. Paper presented at the BPS Annual
Conference, Manchester, UK.
Hodges, I. & Pearson, C. (2004) Exploring
Gay Men's Experience of Undergraduate Psychology. Paper Presented
at the Quality of Life and Psychology Conference, Aristotle
University of Thessaloniki, Greece.
Jobanputra, S. (2006) How do Ethnic
Minority students experience psychology in Higher Education? Poster
presented at the 4th Annual Conference on Teaching and Learning:
Challenge of Diversity Conference, Galway, Ireland. 8-9 June
Jobanputra, S. (2006) Invited
Seminar given on Diversity issues for new lecturers.
Higher Education Academy 1 day conference on Handling Diversity:
Teaching psychology to a diverse student group. University of York,
January 11.
Jobanputra, S. (2005) 'Racism and Psychology:
Learning from Black Students'. Paper presented at the International
Critical Psychology Conference, Durban, South
Africa, June 28-July 1
Jobanputra, S. (2005) 'Psychology and Racism: A study of black
students' experiences'. Paper to be presented at the BPS
Quinquennial Conference, Manchester, March 30-April 2
Pearson, C., and Smith, S. (2006) Diversity in
Higher Education: Lesbian & Bisexual psychology undergraduate's
experiences of studying psychology. Poster presentation at the
Challenge of Diversity Conference, Galway, Ireland. 8-9 June.
Smith, S., Pearson, C. (2005) Diversity in
Higher Education: Lesbian Psychology Undergraduate's Experiences of
Studying Psychology. Widening Participation Symposium. Paper
presented at the BPS Quinquennial Conference, Manchester, 30
March-1 April.
Smith, S., Jesson, A., Hodges, I., Jobanputra,
S. & Pearson, C. (2006) Mapping Exclusion in Undergraduate
Psychology: Towards a Common Architecture of the Minority Student
Experience. Paper presented at the 4th
Annual Conference on Teaching & Learning, Galway,
Ireland.
Sue Smith
Sue Smith was a lecturer in various branches of psychology and
module leader for the Psychology of Women at the University of
Westminster for 6 years and also contributed to an MA distance
learning programme in Applied Social Research.
She is now a Licensed Homeopathic Practitioner based in
Nottingham, but has maintained her research interests in psychology
and extended these into the field of homeopathy, specialising in
women’s health and well-being.
Her publications to date are:
Smith, S., Jessen, A., Hodges, I., Jobanputra, S. &
Pearson, C. (2006) Mapping Exclusion in Undergraduate Psychology:
Towards a Common Architecture of the Minority Student Experience.
Paper presented at the 4th Annual Conference on Teaching and
Learning: Challenge of Diversity Conference, Galway, Ireland
8-9 June 2006
Pearson, C.and Smith, S (2006). Diversity in Higher Education:
Lesbian & Bisexual psychology undergraduate's experiences of
studying psychology. Poster presentation at the Challenge of
Diversity Conference, Galway, Ireland. 8-9 June 2006
Smith, Sue & Pearson, Carol (2005): Diversity in
Higher Education: Lesbian Psychology Undergraduate’s Experiences of
Studying Psychology. Widening Participation Symposium. Paper
presented at the BPS Quinquennial Conference, Manchester, 30
March-1April 2005.
Smith, Sue (2004): Review of Paludi, Michelle A (2002): The
Psychology of Women (Second Edition), Prentice Hall, in
Lesbian & Gay Psychology Review Vol 5, Part 3, Nov
2004
Smith, Sue (2002): Review of Minas, Anne (2000): Gender
Basics: Feminist Perspectives on Women and Men (2nd
edition), Grove, CA: Brooks/Cole, in Lesbian & Gay
Psychology Review Vol 3, Part 2, Jul 2002
Smith, Sue (2001): Review of Munt, Sally R (ed) (1998):
butch / femme: inside lesbian gender, London, Cassell, in
Lesbian & Gay Psychology Review Vol 2, Part 3, Nov
2001
Smith, Sue (2000): ‘Why Sections are both relevant and
necessary’ The Psychologist Vol 13, 8 p 392
Smith, Sue (1998): Review of Feminism and Sexuality: A Reader,
Jackson S & Scott S (eds) (1996), in Feminist Forum,
Women's Studies International Forum Vol 20, 7 (1998)
Smith, Sue (1997): Review of Feminist Foremothers in Women's
Studies, Psychology and Mental Health, Phyllis Chesler, Esther
Rothblum, Ellen Cole (eds) (1995), Harrington Park Press, in
Feminist Forum, Women's Studies International Forum Vol 19, 6
(1996)
Smith, Sue (1996): Report on New Sexual Agendas Conference,
July 1995 in Feminist Forum, Women's Studies International
Forum Vol 18, 5/6, pp I‑III
Smith, Sue (1995): Review of Female Sexuality: Psychology,
Biology & Social Context, by Choi P & Nicolson P (eds)
(1994) in Feminism & Psychology Vol 5, No 3, pp
391‑394
