Intersectional approaches to research and practice

Nuffield Foundation hosted a knowledge exchange afternoon, exploring intersectionality and its implications for research, policy and practice. Delegates brought a wealth of expertise and experience from research, policy and practice, with the event specifically interrogating the the benefits of, and barriers to, undertaking intersectional research.

At the event we shared a film featuring Professor Ann Phoenix in conversation with Carey Oppenheim, our Early Childhood Lead, discussing what intersectionality means, how intersectional approaches can help us to understand inequalities and what the implications are for policy and practice. Ann Phoenix is a Nuffield Foundation Trustee and Professor at UCL’s Institute of Education. Her experience spans everything from studies on educational attainment among children from diverse backgrounds to working with the Office for National Statistics’ Inclusive Data Taskforce Unit.

Watch the film

We have also published an extended version of the conversation between Ann and Carey. You can watch the longer version here.

The event also featured presentations from Nuffield Foundation grant holders that provided tangible examples of the benefits of applying an intersectional lens, as well as highlighting particular challenges. These projects were:

1. Race, religion and representation among care-experienced children – Dr Sariya Cheruvallil-Contractor, Coventry University
2. Understanding local legal needs and supporting early intervention – Dr Tara Mulqueen, University of Warwick
3. Children living with domestic violence: effects on children’s well-being – Dr Valeria Skafida, University of Edinburgh
4. Designing inclusive remote and hybrid working to support disabled workers – Dr Paula Holland, Lancaster University