The representation and experience of black muslim women: Changing behaviours.

The representation of Muslim women is a critical area of research that challenges traditional narratives in the academy and in wider UK society and emphasises intersectionality. Black Muslim women's study provides a distinctive perspective on the interplay of gender, ethnicity, religion, and space. Additionally, the representation of Black Muslim women as researchers with a voice has the potential to challenge stereotypes. It can also promote a commitment to social equity and justice, and fairer behaviours inside the academy and beyond. This project seeks to enhance the visibility of Black Muslim women as researchers with the capacity to challenge prevailing stereotypes and also inform behavioural change as follows: 1. Translation of behavioural research to knowledge exchange and impact. I will deliver a lecture to geography graduate and undergraduate students at the University of Birmingham on Muslim geographies. This lecture will introduce and analyse the content of my thesis, focussing on Islamic feminism. This aims to enhance their understanding regarding diversity in the discipline of geography. Subsequently, I will collaborate with the RGS and their networks to enhance diversity in geography by organising a CPD workshop for professional geographers to engage in discussions about Muslim women beyond prevailing stereotypes. This workshop will address my thesis and explore professional perspectives on Muslim women, particularly black Muslim women. Additionally, I will record a podcast using the RGS and their network to discuss Muslim women beyond negative stereotypes. I will present my research on the experiences of Muslim women, focussing on aspects that go beyond stereotypes. Finally, I will develop content for the RGS website which will concentrate on Muslim geographies, Islamic feminism, and the experiences of Muslim women beyond negative stereotypes. 2. Development as behavioural researcher. Researchers need to know how social media works in order to look at the trends, behaviours, and feelings that affect how people behave online. Researchers can get useful information from huge amounts of data if they know how to use these platforms correctly and have had the right training. I will participate in training for social media research, since it is increasingly vital for behavioural research, equipping researchers with the skills required to effectively navigate the intricate and evolving online environment. As social media becomes integral in influencing behaviours and beliefs, comprehending these digital interactions is essential for behavioural scientists. Social media is crucial for behavioural science research as it frequently mirrors real-time societal transformations, rendering it a rich resource for researching emergent behaviours. Secondly I will attend 3 academic conferences for career advancement, knowledge exchange, professional relationship and networking opportunities. - Royal Geographical Society conference (August 2026). - International Conference on Equality diversity and inclusion studies (Dubai) (April 2026). - The Northern Ireland, Equality Diversity and Inclusion in workplace conference (Belfast – November 2025). 3. Further behavioural research Due to my limited opportunities for publications during my PhD, I intend to produce a minimum of two articles during the year. I will publish with Transactions of the Institute of British Geographers as well as Ethnic and Racial Studies. Outcomes Outreach will result in enhanced knowledge translation and exchange through the collaboration with the Royal Geographical Society, while training as a behavioural researcher will advance my expertise in behavioural research. Finally, publishing and presenting research papers provides the opportunity to disseminate knowledge within the academic and professional community.