Surveilling Motherhood: Digital Technologies and the Control of Maternal Bodies in the 21st Century
Surveilling Motherhood: Digital Technologies and the Control of Maternal Bodies in the 21st Century
CoRA (Centre of Research in the Arts) at Oxford Brookes University invites proposals for MA by Research projects studying the surveillance of motherhood through digital technologies. This is an opportunity to undertake an innovative exploration of how digital surveillance technologies shape maternal experiences in our contemporary moment.
Applicants are invited to propose their own topic, which would be honed by the supervisory team who would then support the development of the research project over 1 or 2 years. In particular we are able to support projects that integrate research from a wide range of disciplines, including Surveillance Studies, Medical Humanities, Feminist Theory, and Posthumanism to analyse the complex interplay between technology, culture, and motherhood.
Project proposals may include, but are not limited to:
- Digital Surveillance of Motherhood: Exploring how apps, social media, and wearable devices monitor maternal bodies and caregiving practices, reinforcing societal norms around motherhood while normalising self-tracking, self-surveillance, and the digital representation of maternal identities.
- Interdisciplinary Perspectives on the Maternal Body: Drawing on media analysis, literature, and cultural studies to examine evolving definitions of the maternal body, considering how cultural texts and digital technologies construct, regulate, and contest maternal identity and experience.
- Technology and the Reconfiguration of Motherhood: Investigating how digital tools and platforms shape contemporary conceptions of motherhood, focusing on how technological interventions—such as health apps, social media portrayals, and tracking devices—alter perceptions of maternal care, responsibility, and autonomy.
Mode: Full time (1 year) or part time (2 years).
Projects in this area will likely be supervised by Dr Antonia Mackay and Professor Tina Miller.
There are furthermore opportunities for collaborative studies, supported by the Oxford Perinatal Mental Health Services team such as Perinatal Psychiatrists, Nursery Nurses and Health Visitors.
Full time (1 year) or part time (2 years).
To apply for this MA by Research project, please apply directly through the Oxford Brookes website, selecting the option ‘Arts – MA (Research)’. In the box for ‘Area or Topic of Research’, please indicate that you are applying for the ‘Surveilling Motherhood Project’.
You will be invited to provide:
- A Summary of your Research Proposal (1500 characters) outlining how you would approach the project. This should give an idea of your intended approach and research interests. You will be supported to develop this fully during the early period of Registration.
- A Personal Statement (6000 characters) detailing your qualifications and/or relevant experience for the project.
- A short Curriculum Vitae (max. 2 pages)
- Either a sample of writing, or a portfolio of practice – as most relevant to your proposed project. (We would anticipate a writing sample for a theory-based project, and a portfolio of work for a practice-based project).
- References
For an informal discussion about this research project, please contact Dr Antonia Mackay: antoniamackay@brookes.ac.uk. Or for a discussion about the broader MA by Research programme please contact Dr Alex Bickley Trott: atrott@brookes.ac.uk
The initial deadline for applications is 25th May 2025. Late applications can be accepted at the discretion of the programme team, so please contact us to discuss any late applications you wish to have considered.
The full fees for the MA by Research can be found on the Oxford Brookes website. For 24/25 these are:
Home (UK) full time: £4,886
Home (UK) part time: £2,443
International full time: £17,100
International part time: £8,550