Maria Carbajales

PhD Researcher – Department of Sociology / GSRC

I began my PhD in October 2021, which is a mixed methods project that researches how people’s perceptions of sexuality and relationships change by using mobile dating apps. My research interests are technology and how it affects our daily life. Specifically the transformation of intimacy, postfeminism, neoliberalism, constructions of gender and sexuality.

I have always been interested in the dynamics of gender, inequalities, sexuality and power; to understand hegemonic structures. Probably influenced by the systems of traditional values and gender violence in Uruguay, my home country.

I first started researching about gender constructions in my MA in Marketing at Newcastle University where my final research project was an exploratory analysis of masculinity constructs in the UK. I currently work as a communications professional at Mind, the mental health charity, and I am helping the GRSC organising committee, alongside my PhD studies.