In this month’s newsletter, we would like to introduce PhD graduate, Jayme Wearn from College of Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences.
Jayme’s recently submitted thesis, “In the wilderness and the lab, one learns to be a woman: the gendered constitution of experience in male-dominated school subjects” received outstanding results from the examiners.
We asked Jayme to share what her research was about and advice to new students.
What was your research about in 1-2 sentences?
My research investigated how girls navigate male-dominated school subjects, particularly in the areas of STEM and outdoor education. It highlighted the complexities of their experiences while demonstrating the significant impact teachers could have on girls’ participation by challenging gendered constructions and fostering rich, place-based experiences.
What have you been doing since you completed?
Alongside my ongoing teaching practice, I have stepped into a Senior Project Manager role at an NGO, specialising in public and global health and with a particular focus on disability. This role is research focused, with an honorary research fellow designation at The University of Melbourne. This work has allowed me to apply the research and communication skills developed during the PhD journey, while carrying forward the critical commitments of my thesis, attending to the ways bodies, places, and power are entangled in shaping health and dis/ability. Our team is currently preparing several articles for publication, contributing to the evidence base that informs more inclusive and equitable health outcomes.
What was the topic of your PhD and why was it important to you?
The topic of my PhD emerged from my practice as a classroom teacher, where I kept seeing the same underrepresentation of girls in some areas of school, despite sustained efforts to increase participation. Having been in the education system for some time, I had observed the ramifications of this underrepresentation; any barriers to participation limits students from meaningful ways of understanding the world, and, in some STEM areas particularly, it can limit them from pathways that foster economic security. My research sought to move beyond deficit narratives of girls’ participation by examining the complex interplay of discursive, material, and spatial forces that shape who feels they belong in particular subjects and who does not. This work remains pressing, and I am committed to continuing research that broadens the possibilities for how young people come to imagine and inhabit their futures.
What was been one of the most enjoyable parts of the journey?
I have found the opportunity to undertake a PhD a real privilege. I have really enjoyed the opportunity to be immersed in new ideas, meet passionate researchers and practitioners doing interesting things, and learning new skills. Most of all, I appreciated the incredibly articulate and thoughtful young people who shared their experiences and perspectives and who have inspired me to continue finding ways to make their voices heard.
What advice would you give to those who are about to undertake a PhD?
My advice would be to invest time early in identifying the resources that are available to you. I completed my PhD while working full time, so I understand the challenge of carving out space for these activities, but I now know the time and effort it would have saved me! Working with your supervisors or the library to ensure your referencing software and knowledge of databases is well established from the start, attending workshops, and forging connections with the many teams of knowledgeable people in the university can be really useful. Participating at conferences early on is also a wonderful way to get motivated and be inspired and encouraged by others