Postgraduate research students

Over the past four decades, the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (hereafter referred to as HIV) has been positioned as a global epidemic, affecting an estimated 40 million people worldwide (UNAIDS, 2024). Despite notable reductions in new infections, mortality, and morbidity, young South African women (YSAW) remain disproportionately vulnerable: in 2023, new HIV infections in women aged 15 and above were nearly twice those of their male counterparts (USAIDS, 2024). Prompted by a fundamental curiosity about why YSAW experience this gender health disparity, this thesis adopts a holistic approach to HIV management within the broader context of global public health in South Africa. Undertaking this study required moving beyond my relatively privileged positionalities and engaging in a ‘radical journey of empathy,’ illuminating the historical, structural, and socio-cultural power dynamics that shape YSAW’s everyday lives and personhood across their intersectional identities, including including age, race, class, gender, sexuality, and health status.

Building on critiques of colonial legacies in HIV research (Medeiros et al., 2022), including modernist, reductionist, individualist, essentialist and neoliberal paradigms (Smith, 2021), this thesis challenge these stances of binary applications, overlooking the interplay of historical, structural, cultural, and relational forces, which become embedded in everyday life constructed through offline and online interactions. To bridge the previous binary approaches to HIV research in the context of YSAW, the thesis employs interdisciplinary or multi-dimensionally intersectional perspectives drawn from sociology (Smart, 2007; Goffman, 1969; Butler, 1991), anthropology (Douglas, 1966; Farmer, 2020), and digital sociology (Turkle, 1995; Wessels, 2010).

Particularly, as digital engagement increasingly shapes personal and social narratives, significantly influencing everyday decision-making, this trend inspired the present study’s design. The research is informed by scholarship highlighting both the potentials and challenges of digital contexts in identity development (Turkle, 1995), sexual agency (Haraway, 1988; Richardson, 2018), emotional support (Hargreaves, 2018), and digital sociality (Wessels, 2010). Although digital spaces hold promise for reconceptualising the vulnerabilities of young South African women (YSAW)—particularly those navigating socially or digitally marginalised contexts—previous HIV research has not sufficiently captured the underlying intersectional dynamics across online and offline environments.
Specifically, existing literature has inadequately explored the factors shaping or constraining YSAW’s digital personhood as they rebuild sexual citizenship and negotiate HIV-related challenges affecting both their bodies and minds. By employing sociologically informed, interpretive, and digitally grounded methods, this study embraces a more expansive notion of personhood and relationality, aligned closely with Smart’s (2007) concept. Consequently, the research provides a nuanced understanding of how YSAW navigate complex challenges linked to their intersecting social and health identities—including age, race, class, gender, sexuality, and HIV status. These experiences remain intricately embedded within South Africa’s historical legacies, structural inequalities, socio-economic disparities, religious moral frameworks, and heteropatriarchal constructions of sexuality, which shape relational dynamics across offline and online spheres.

After obtaining ethical approval in September 2021, narrative data collection and generation took place during the COVID-19 pandemic (2021-2022) through online mixed methods: conducting 1) content analysis on Springster (a digital platform run by the UK NGO Girl Effect) online comments (n=12,763) written by South African girls and young women aged 13-24 years, and 2) thematic analysis on in-depth interviews with 21 young women aged 16-28 years, living with or without HIV, recruited in three cities, Cape Town (n=9), Pretoria (n=9), Johannesburg (n=3). Grounded on interpretivism, decolonial postfeminism, and pragmatism, this thesis examines the implication of both narrative data. Initially, the Springster data were coded manually through an iterative process, which then informed the development of a codebook for the interview transcripts. I identified and categorised fifteen themes under four overarching frameworks—structural, cultural, relational, and personal—using a socio-ecological lens. Psychological factors were treated as the outcome of the interplay among the other dimensions, consistent with sociological principles. NVivo software was used to facilitate systematic data management and analysis.

Themes derived from both narrative data demonstrate how structural and cultural hegemonies, informed by the lingering legacies of apartheid, simultaneously reinforce communication barriers and perpetuate HIV-related stigma. Black YSAW—whether HIV-positive or HIV-negative—consistently encountered difficulties discussing gender, sexuality, and HIV status in face-to-face settings, including households and communities. These challenges arose from interwoven systematic, socio-economic constraints (i.e., limited sexuality education and limited digital access) and religious and patriarchal norms that conflate ‘feminine virtue’ with silence. By contrast, the experiences of two White women from privileged households highlight open communication and a distinct economically previleged, including higher education, digital access, and literacy. Such disparities in communication, entrenched by race and class, reflect the historical legacies of South African society, operating as subtle forms of social division. Such a fragmentation shapes a different landscape about YSAW sexual citizenship and HIV management.

Unlike the communication difficulties encountered in offline settings, digital spaces serve as crucial—albeit imperfect—sites for expanding relationships, community-building, reflexivity, and resistance. Reflecting Goffman’s (1969) and Butler’s (1991) emphases on performative and reflexive practices respectively, participants noted how online forums, such as Springster, enable YSAW who are at risk of HIV to seek nuanced information about sexuality, relationships, and HIV prevention. Similarly, YSAW living with HIV can share their stigmatised vulnerabilities and build empathetic solidarity with online peers around emotional wellbeing and HIV treatment. However, unlike micro-managed platforms such as Springster, digital environments are neither uniformly accessible nor free from ideological influences. Neoliberal logics, algorithmic gender biases (Banet Weiser et.al., 2020), heteronormative power structures and moralities (Carter et al., 2021)—such as anti-choice positions on women’s reproductive rights, misogyny, and anti-feminist rhetoric—(Clark, 2025) continue to restrict women’s digital personhood and narrow the performative scope for discursive or resistant self-expression. Without urgent, responsive, and culturally sensitive interventions, these forces risk reaffirming authoritarian, religious, and heteronormative ideologies, thereby undermining the principles of health equity, multilaterally informed sexual citizenship, and gender equality.

In conclusion, this thesis recognises that multi-dimensional barriers to open communication about HIV-related issues go beyond narrowly defined notions of relationality and personhood; rather, they are social products shaped by intersectional power dynamics in South Africa. Without a sociologically informed understanding of these concepts, YSAW’s sexual citizenship and HIV management risk being placed solely on individual shoulders—already weighed down by historical, structural, and cultural marginalisations, as well as relational violence across both offline and online spaces. To address these intersecting vulnerabilities, this thesis highlights the importance of cultivating more expansive and interconnected understandings of personhood and relationality. Central to this is fostering open dialogue in families, communities, and healthcare settings, whether these interactions occur offline or online. By building on feminist-informed approaches, this research contributes to public health and gender studies beyond the traditional binary of individual versus systemic factors. The findings call for a multilayered strategy, integrating both offline and online methods, to promote health equity and empower YSAW in their HIV prevention and management efforts. This should foreground bodily autonomy, psychological support, and gendered health rights. Consequently, the insights and directions offered here may serve as a valuable reference for future research in similar contexts across sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) and the broader Global South.

Research Interests: 
Sociology in Global Public Health, Multiple Identities, Decolonial Feminism, HIV Young Voices, South Africa, Qualitative Research, Interactionism, Interdisciplinary Approaches(Anthropology, Sociology and Digital Interventions for Illness Management). 

Academic Journal (1), Book Chapters (1), Book (1), and Policy Reports (11)

1. [A Journal Under the review] “Digital Commentary Activities to Manage Mental Health and Identities among Young South African Women and Girls (13-24) Living with(out) HIV: Content and Thematic Analysis with Sociological Frameworks". Elsevier  
2. [Book Chapter] “Silence as a Source of Poverty among Young South African Women aged 16- 28 around HIV”. [Ed] Rajendra Baikady. The Oxford Handbook of Power Politics and Poverty. Oxford University Press. NewYork. 2025
3. [Policy Report] Exploring the trends of hate crime (racism-based) in the UK and the Great London Authority’s key policies for social inclusion, Policy Report, The Seoul Institute. 2023.
4. [Book] Scenario Planning for 2 Koreas in the Korean Peninsula 2019- 2029, Book, 2019.
5. Global Agribusiness Annual Report: Sugar and Bio-Ethanol Industries, Policy Report, Korea Rural Economic Institute, 2017.
6. The Cases Study of Urban Agriculture in Singapore, Policy Report, Korea Rural Economic Institute, 2016.
7. Overview of Agriculture Policy in Myanmar and its Outlooks, Policy Report, Korea Rural Economic Institute, 2016.
8. The Abstract and its Implications of the Philippines’ National Budget, Policy Report, Korea Institute for International Economic Policy, 2016.
9. The Repercussions and Overall Prospects after the Myanmar General Elections. Policy Report, Korea Institute for International Economic Policy, 2015.
10. The Results and its Significance of Myanmar Population and Housing Census for Myanmar’s Future and Political and Economic Transition Process, Policy Report, Korea Institute for International Economic Policy, 2015.
11. The Backgrounds and Prospects of the New Notification of the Minimum Wages Act in Myanmar, Policy Report, Korea Institute for International Economic Policy, 2015.
12. Vietnam's Economic Transition and its Implication on North Korea, Policy Report, Korea Development Institute and Ministry of Economy and Finance of South Korea, 2015.
13. Korean DMZ World Ecological Peace Park Accompanying with People, Policy Report, Korea Development Institute and Ministry of Economy and Finance of South Korea, 2014.
14. Joint Consulting Project; Policy Instruction for Green Growth (Case studies: Bangladesh, Indonesia, and South Korea), Policy Report, Korea Development Institute, Ministry of Economy and Finance of South Korea, and World Bank, 2013.

• Professor Jude Robinson
• Professor Bridgette Wessels

Annette Lawson Charitable Trust 2024 (Sociology: Gender Health Inequalities)

I received funding from The AL Charitable Trust, around 1500 pounds

This funding is allocated for the production of digital materials as a strategy for disseminating my PhD research.

ASR (The Association of Sociology of Religion) Gallagher Grant 2024

I received this grant including a $500 stipend plus two nights of hotel (approx. $420 value).

PGR Conference Fund 2024

I received funding from the school for the conferences' presentations, around 800 pounds.

PGR Conference Fund 2023

I received funding from the school for the conferences' presentations, around 750 pounds.

PGR Fieldwork Fund 2022

I gained a PGR fund for the data collection from the school, around 500 pounds.

15 Academic Conferences Proceedings, Papers (13) & Posters (2) with Interdisciplinary topics on 

1. [Accepted] "Racial Disparities in Comprehensive Sexuality Education among Young South African Women aged 16-28 years.” Cambridge University Press and Assessment's Racial Equality and Ethnicity Balance Network (REEBN), UK, August 2025 
2. [Accepted] “Understanding Intersectional Identities in Young South African Women’s Emotions around HIV-related Issues as Sexual Agency Voices on the Springster Platform: A Sociological Qualitative Study.” Gender and Social Justice: Global Intersectional Perspectives, Nottingham, UK, 24-27th of April. 2025. 
3. "Digitalised Voices of Young South African Women and Girls (aged 13-24) about Social Taboos on the Springster Platform”. 2024 World Anthropological Union Congress. Johannesburg South Africa 11-15th. Nov. 2024. 
4. “Religion and Identities’ Intersectionality in the Context of Young South African Women (16-28) Around HIV” Annual Conference hosted by the Association for the Sociology of Religion. Montreal, Canada. 9-11th of August 2024.
5. “Understanding Anthropological Perspectives of Emotions as a Strategy to Address Intergenerational Conflicts”, Royal Anthropology Institute. Panel, P45: Anthropology and Education, in Senate House, London, 25-28 June 2024.
6. “Conceptualising an Indigenous Knowledge-Based Model for A Co-existing Pathway of the Global North and South” at the Conference of Utopia and the Return of History at the University of Manchester, 29-30 April 2024.
7. “Invisible Young Women’s Voices by Intergenerational Conflicts on Femininity in the South African context.’ at the Conference of CIVIS Blended Intensive Programmes: ‘Making visible the invisible’ Research on inequalities and injustices in cities and urban environments, Brussels, Belgium, 27-29 of September 2023.
8. “Intergenerational different memories of HIV/AIDS based on Young South African women and girls (16-28) voices” at the 11th International Health Humanities Conference-History and Practice of Human Care, in Derby, UK, 21-23 September 2023.
9. “A Sociological Qualitative Study: Intimate Relationships as a Social Pressure Around HIV-Related Issues Among Young South African Women and Girls (16-28)” at ICAIDS 2023: International Conference on HIV, AIDS and Sexually Transmitted Infections. Malaga, Spain. 04-05 September, 2023.
10. “Pragmatist Approaches to Intergenerational Conflicts on Sexual Health and Rights in the Context of Young South African Women and Girls (16-28)” at the Annual Conference of British Association for International & Comparative Education (BAICE), University of Cambridge, UK, 5-6 August 2023.
11. “HIV stigma as a Legacy of Apartheid in the Context of Young South African Women and Girls” at (De)colonial care workshop: place, practice, politics by the Centre for Peace and Conflict Studies at the University of St Andrews, UK, 28 June 2023.
12. [Poster] “Social Identity Reconstruction via Digital Interactions among South African Youths (16-28) living with HIV” in the session of social-political consideration at the Trustworthy Digital Identity International Conference held by the Alan Turing Institute, London, UK, 16 September 2022.
13. [Poster] “A Conceptual Framework: Social Mental Health with Multiple Identities Reconstruction”, awarded the People’s Choice prize at the Annual Scientific Conference of NHS Research Scotland Mental Health: ‘Adaption and Renewal: Navigating our Recovery’, Edinburgh, UK, 2 November 2021.
14. “Decolonising Sexual Health Choices and Rights in the Context of Young South African Women and Girls (16-28)”: ‘Decolonising Gender, Sexuality and Health at the Conference of Moving the Centre 2021: Toward Radical Futures, Cross-Disciplinary Research Conference on Post/Decolonial and Global Studies, Glasgow, UK, 4-6 August 2021.
15. “Indigenous Women’s Knowledge Value Development for Sustainable Development with Tajikistan Practices”, awarded the 1st prize for excellent thesis presentation at the Spring Academic Conference of the Korea Society of Environment Impact Assessment (KSEIA) at Seoul National University, South Korea, 15 May 2015.

• GTA in Qualitative Methods at the University of Glasgow in the second term 2021/22 and 2022/2023.
• Twice, Special lectures on health communication in public health with youths' case studies of the UK and South Africa. It was part of the course, namely, Modern Society and Public Health Environment at the Graduate School of Public Policy and Civic Engagement and the Graduate school of International studies at the University of Kyung Hee in South. Korea in April and May respectively, in 2022. 
• Twice, Invited Seminars on Policy experiences sharing strategy (web-based) of the Seoul Metropolitan Government for the cooperation with overseas governments and international organisations at the Seoul National University in 2017 & the University of Daegu, South Korea, 2018.
• An Invited Seminar on: Communication Skills for CEOs at the MBA School of the University of Yeung-nam, South Korea 2013.
• Twice, Mentorship Seminars on How to build my careers at the Catholic University of Korea in 2016 & the Sinsu Secondary School in 2015.

Awards

• ASR (the Association for the Sociology of Religion) Gallagher Grant 2024
• PGRs Funds from the School of Social and Political Sciences, University of Glasgow, 2021/2022 & 2022/2023
• The People’s Choice Prize for Poster Presentation, the Annual Conference of NHS Research Scotland Mental Health, 2021
• The Recognition Award: Excellent Researcher for The Year, The Seoul Institute, 2016
• The 1st Prize Award for Thesis Presentation, The Korea Society of Environment Impact Assessment (KSEIA), 2015
• Scholarship of Academic Excellence, KDI School, 2013-2015
• The New Artist Award, Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, 2008

Public Activities & Memberships

• A Journalist role as the weekly UK correspondent working with the Korea Economic TV: 'Global Market' since Oct 2021.
• The 2021/22 President and the 2020/21 Vice President of the UK Association of Korean PhD Students and Researchers.
• A member of the Digital and Social Change Group, University of Glasgow.
• A member of the Social Scientists in Health Research Group, University of Glasgow.
• A member of the PhD society's Social and Wellbeing Committee in 2020/2021.

I have worked in both media communication fields for roughly 7 years and later development policy research for around 5 years as a broadcaster and a researcher, respectively. As a policy researcher affiliated with the Korean government institutes, my main research topics concentrated on development challenges in the least-developed countries economically, socially, and environmentally, suggesting governance services and relevant digital platforms based upon Korean development experiences. In this course, I have experienced working with multi-stakeholders and international organisations and overseas governments.

My academic backgrounds include international relationships and economics in BA (the Catholic University of Korea), development policy in MA (Korea Development Institute School), and political communication in MA (University of Leeds, UK). I hope my PhD journey would be the essence of what I have learned and experienced, in turn, to contribute to making a better world for the marginalised who was treated as the voiceless.