The Sex, Research & Resistance Podcast · The OU Research Group on Reproduction, Sexualities and Sexual Health

E7 Part 2: Navigating Girlhood: A closer look at the international development sector

·35 min·3 clips

Girls in Zimbabwe stand up when NGOs call them 'girls' to access opportunities, but find it offensive in their own communities.

This episode continues a conversation about girlhood and transition in international development, hosted by Elizabeth Ascroft with researchers Dr. Jane Doaker and Dr. Alison Buckler. They examine how labels like "girl" are used in aid programs and by young women themselves. Dr. Buckler shares findings from work in Zimbabwe, where married young mothers found the term "girl" offensive in their communities but strategically used it to access NGO opportunities. Dr. Doaker's research in Nigeria revealed how marginalized girls perform specific identities, like presenting as poor, to qualify for development programs. The discussion critiques the drive to feature girls' voices, referencing scholar Schnieler Kojimulji's concern that narratives are often co-opted to fit existing agendas. A film project with Plan in Zimbabwe captured a key message from girls: "stop trying to change our lives to fit your education system." The guests note that reasons for girls' absence from school today mirror those from decades ago, despite significant investment. They argue for education systems that align with local contexts and aspirations, especially where formal jobs are scarce. A surprising insight was that research participants often present varying narratives between interviews, telling researchers what they think is wanted. Dr. Buckler admitted feeling more anxious researching teenagers in the UK than in Zimbabwe, attributing this to the familiarity of the context. Dr. Doaker challenged the assumption that researchers from a local context automatically collect better data, noting participants might be more open with an outsider. Both emphasized the importance of collaborative, team-based research over solo PhD models to gather richer data. Methodologically, they advocate for creative, narrative approaches like storytelling and photo elicitation that make research enjoyable for young people. Informal conversations and focus groups were highlighted as often yielding more genuine insights than formal surveys or one-on-one interviews. The episode concludes with a call for research that actively challenges static policy narratives by capturing dynamic life trajectories over time. The tone is conversational and reflective, grounded in the researchers' personal fieldwork experiences. This episode would appeal to development practitioners, qualitative researchers, and students interested in participatory methods and the ethics of working with youth. Listeners seeking highly theoretical debates or quantitative data might find it less aligned with their interests.

As heard by us

A thoughtful discussion of girlhood, identity, and how development narratives shape what gets seen.

Part two stays with girlhood and transition in international development, with Elizabeth Ascroft in conversation with Dr. Jane Doaker and Dr. Alison Buckler.

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Why you'd press play

Press play for part two of a careful conversation about girlhood, transition, and who gets to define identity across development contexts.

Read the full recommendation in PlayNext →

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